Project type: Land Use and Forestry
Project location: Lucerne, Switzerland
Project status: In operation, no credits available
Emission reduction over 50 years: 740 t CO₂e
This project is renaturalising an area of raised bog in the Bannwald forest in the canton of Lucerne, which reduces the release of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. In addition to contributing to climate protection, rewetting benefits biodiversity, the water balance and the local construction industry.
Natural peatlands are huge carbon reservoirs. Worldwide, they store around 30 per cent of soil carbon, although they only cover around three per cent of the land area. However, many Swiss raised bogs have been drained by drainage ditches in order to gain agricultural land or extract peat. This continuously releases CO₂. Only rewetting can ensure that a drained raised bog can store carbon again in the long term.
Moor at the foot of the Pilatus
The raised bog in the canton of Lucerne is located in the Bannwald forest near Schwarzenberg, at the foot of the Pilatus. The peat moss mountain pine forest is designated as a nature priority area and is managed in accordance with nature conservation objectives. In the past, the moorland was drained by ditches, but as part of the regeneration project, these are being dammed with wooden barriers to stabilise the water balance and rewet the peat body.
Why do we need myclimate funds?
The climate protection project closes the funding gap and is therefore crucial for the realisation of the renaturation. It is supported by cantonal (Lucerne) and federal contributions. The renaturalisation work was completed at the end of 2024.
Intact peat soils as sustainable carbon reservoirs
In drained peatlands, oxygen enters the soil, converting the carbon in the peat soil into CO₂ and releasing it. To rewet a moor, the drainage ditches must be closed structurally. An intact, near-natural state with a high water level prevents the decomposition of organic material and preserves the carbon in the soil. The Swiss Federal Research Institute WSL has developed a methodology to estimate the CO₂ emissions that are avoided by rewetting. According to this approach, the top 50 cm of the peat body binds potential emissions of over 1,000 tonnes of CO₂ per hectare over the next 50 to 100 years.
Multiple benefits
Moors are valuable ecosystems and important refuges for rare and endangered animal and plant species. Renaturalisation also strengthens flood protection, improves water quality, has a positive impact on the microclimate and contributes to the preservation of the landscape. Most of the funds earmarked for the restoration of the moor are channelled into regional industry.
Further peatland projects as part of the myclimate peatland programme can be found here.
*Status: end of 2024. Find out how myclimate reports these SDGs in our FAQ.
A renaturalised moor improves flood protection and water pollution control.
Renaturalised moors are large carbon reservoirs.
0.8 hectares will be rewetted and provide a valuable habitat for rare animal and plant species.
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