Erfurt (dpa/th) - The extreme drought this year has severely affected the Thuringian upland moors. This summer, the high moors were exposed to intense sunlight all day long, the state forest institute announced on Monday in Erfurt. The raised bogs were fed exclusively by precipitation. Dry phases endanger the sphagnum moss, which then regresses in the moor areas.
There are five large raised bogs in Thuringia - mainly in the high and ridge areas of the Thuringian Forest. Since long, dry, hot summer days are also increasing in the low mountain ranges, new approaches to moor protection must be considered, it said. The question arises as to whether large areas of moorland should always be freed from tree growth. It was said that even a few, single trees with broad crowns could provide shade and at least lower the temperatures on the moor surface a little.
Bog spruces and bog pines also need water and are therefore competitors for water. But there are no other ways to protect the sensitive peat moss from drying out. In the case of smaller moors, this effect works quite well due to the shadows cast by directly adjacent spruce forests, ThüringenForst said.
Just as the thickness of glaciers in the Alps is decreasing due to climate change, forest experts estimate that the extent of raised bogs will also decrease in the low mountain ranges. The decline can only be slowed down, at best stopped.
