In the following interview, Scarlett Eckert, Managing Director of the Intalcon Foundation, talks to Ann Christin Kornelsen, founder and scientific director of the non-profit organisation Mission to Marsh. With a passion for protecting and restoring peatlands, Ann Christin Kornelsen is committed to preserving these unique ecosystems, which play a key role in climate and nature conservation. Together they talk about the importance of peatlands, the challenges of peatland conservation and the vision for a sustainable future.
Scarlett Eckert: What is the vision of Mission to Marsh and what are the organisation's long-term goals?
Ann Christin Kornelsen: Our vision is to restore and permanently protect peatlands as valuable habitats and key players in climate protection. In the long term, we want to establish a Europe-wide network of conservation and renaturation projects to stabilise the water balance of these unique ecosystems and preserve their biodiversity. At the same time, we want to inspire people and involve them in our projects in order to gain broad social support for peatland protection.
Scarlett Eckert: Why are peatlands so important for climate protection and biodiversity?
Ann Christin Kornelsen: Peatlands are true climate heroes! They store twice as much carbon as all of the world's forests combined, preventing CO₂ from entering the atmosphere. But that's not all: they provide a unique habitat for countless specialised animal and plant species, regulate the water balance and help to prevent flooding. Their importance for climate and species protection is exceptionally high and plays a central role in preserving our natural resources.
Scarlett Eckert: What are the greatest threats to peatlands in Germany and worldwide?
Ann Christin Kornelsen: The biggest threat is drainage for agriculture, settlements, and infrastructure projects. Across Germany, more than 95% of peatlands have already been destroyed or severely damaged. In addition, there is peat extraction for horticultural products and the increasing stress caused by climate change, which can dry out peatlands even further. These developments mean that peatlands, instead of storing carbon, actually release large amounts of it.
Scarlett Eckert: Why do they release large amounts of carbon as a result? What is the process behind this?
Ann Christin Kornelsen: Peatlands store their carbon in peat – that’s partially decomposed plant material that doesn’t decompose under water and without oxygen. As soon as a peatland is drained, air reaches this peat. Then decomposition begins – similar to compost – and the stored carbon is released into the atmosphere. A climate protector thus turns into a climate threat.
Scarlett Eckert: What measures are necessary to effectively protect and restore peatlands?
Ann Christin Kornelsen: The most important step is rewetting, that is, returning water to the peatland landscape. To do this, drainage ditches must be closed and the natural water balance restored. In addition, sustainable land management, legal protection measures, and close cooperation with landowners, authorities, and scientists are needed.
Scarlett Eckert: What hurdles exist in implementing peatland protection projects, and what specific challenges do you face?
Ann Christin Kornelsen: Peatlands have a bad image. Many people first think of spooky swamps with mosquitoes and bog bodies when they hear about these wetlands. But intact peatlands are magical places that should be protected not only because of their benefits for us humans. Put simply, we want people like us to develop their "appreciation for peatlands" and to think that peatland protection is a good thing.
Scarlett Eckert: Can you tell us about one of your successful projects and what it has meant for the community?
Ann Christin Kornelsen: One of our flagship projects is the restoration of the Venner Moor near Osnabrück. Here, we worked with local partners to rewet a former drained moor, creating a valuable habitat for rare species. The project has not only benefited nature, but also raised awareness among local residents of the value of their moorland landscape. Through hands-on activities and campaigns such as the MOORATHON – our fundraising event where people donate their physical activity in support of peatland protection - we were able to get many people interested in moorland protection.
Scarlett Eckert: What exactly does rewetting mean? How can we visualise this?
Ann Christin Kornelsen: Rewetting means bringing the water back into the – peatland. To do this, drainage ditches are closed or dams are built so that the groundwater level rises. If the soil remains permanently wet, the important peat moss can spread again - and the moor begins to store carbon on its own instead of emitting it. It's like pressing the "pause" button for carbon emissions.
Scarlett Eckert: How do you measure the success of your projects?
Ann Christin Kornelsen: For us, success means visible environmental protection. We can look at the areas and say: everything used to be drained here and now nature lives here full of insects, birds and reptiles. As a result, we no longer talk about our ecological footprint, but about our handprint: what can we do for nature with our hands and skills!
Scarlett Eckert: Are there specific key figures that you measure?
Ann Christin Kornelsen: Yes, very specifically! For example, we measure the water level in the soil, the development of vegetation and CO₂ emissions with special sensors. We also monitor how typical peatland species are returning - for example, whether peat moss is growing again or whether insects that are typical of peatlands and therefore threatened with extinction are appearing. These are all measurable indicators of how successful a project is.
Scarlett Eckert: How does your work differ from other organisations with a similar goal?
Ann Christin Kornelsen: That's a very good question. We rely on new technologies in our work: we use the power of social media to get people excited about our mission, we rely on storytelling when it comes to reporting on peatland protection projects and we promote the use of artificial intelligence or drones. Other organisations prefer to rely on the "tried and tested" solutions, but we believe that moorland protection does not always have to be implemented with rubber boots and spades, but can be thought big.
Scarlett Eckert: What exactly do you use artificial intelligence and drones for?
Ann Christin Kornelsen: Drones provide us with high-resolution aerial images and compare them with data from our sensors in the moorland areas. The AI then helps to automatically evaluate these images - for example, to identify types of vegetation or analyse changes in the water balance. This allows us to assess more quickly and precisely how well a renaturation project is working - and even predict where interventions would make the most sense.
Scarlett Eckert: What new projects or initiatives are you planning in the coming years?
Ann Christin Kornelsen: In the coming years, we want to renaturalise more peatland areas in Europe and expand our offering. We have just released the Mission to Marsh cinema film and are touring Europe with it. At the same time, we are developing our own technologies such as peatland sensors and will be making a major announcement in this regard in 2025.
Scarlett Eckert: How can awareness of the importance of peatlands be raised in society?
Ann Christin Kornelsen: Awareness is created through experiences. That's why we rely on emotional and inspiring formats such as films, interactive events and hands-on activities. The more people understand how valuable peatlands are for our climate and our future, the greater the support for their protection!
Scarlett Eckert: Apart from donating to you, what can each of us do to protect the peatlands?
Ann Christin Kornelsen: Firstly, raise awareness - talk to others about peatlands or show them our film. Secondly, visit a bog - there are great guided tours and walks! Thirdly: Rethink consumption - many flowers and garden products contain peat. It's better to opt for peat-free alternatives. And if you want to actively support us: give a peatland sponsorship as a gift or take part in our MOORATHON, which starts again on 1st of September. People can donate their exercise for moorland protection. You can find out exactly how this works and how you can take part free of charge at MOORATHON.de.
Scarlett Eckert: Thank you very much for the interesting interview. I hope that you will be able to gain many more supporters for your mission in the future and wish you every success for all your future endeavours.
