Federal Minister for the Environment Carsten Schneider on Visit to the University of Greifswald

Rector Prof. Dr. Katharina Riedel and Dr. Franziska Tanneberger present elements of Greifswald’s peatland research to Federal Minister for the Environment Carsten Schneider and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern’s Minister of the Environment Dr. Till Backhaus.
© Elisabeth Böker
Rector Prof. Dr. Katharina Riedel and Dr. Franziska Tanneberger present elements of Greifswald’s peatland research to Federal Minister for the Environment Carsten Schneider and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern’s Minister of the Environment Dr. Till Backhaus.
Visit from the Federal Minister for the Environment: the ministers experience what peatland plants smell and feel like.
© Elisabeth Böker
Visit from the Federal Minister for the Environment: the ministers experience what peatland plants smell and feel like.
Visit from the Federal Minister for the Environment: peat mosses are typical peatland plants and highly efficient at storing water.
© Elisabeth Böker
Visit from the Federal Minister for the Environment: peat mosses are typical peatland plants and highly efficient at storing water.

Federal Minister for the Environment Carsten Schneider and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern’s Minister of the Environment Dr. Till Backhaus visited the Greifswald Mire Centre at the University of Greifswald on 3 July 2025. They learned about the protection and use of peatland areas and gained an impression of the renowned peatland research performed in Greifswald, which is a national and international pioneer in the fields of natural climate protection, biodiversity and paludiculture.

On his inaugural visit to Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Federal Minister for the Environment Carsten Schneider gained an insight into the peatland research being performed in Greifswald. Together with her colleagues, Dr. Franziska Tanneberger, Head of the GMC and peatland researcher, presented the research setup with 108 mini peatlands, the Global Peatland Database, the Peatland Library and the peatland and reed collection. 

During the visit, Federal Minister for the Environment Carsten Schneider said: “I am mightily impressed. Excellent applied research is taking place here. With its peatland research, the University of Greifswald has a unique selling point.” And this has been the case for hundreds of years, explained Rector Prof. Dr. Katharina Riedel: “Peatland research in Greifswald looks back on a history of more than 200 years. Our DFG-funded Collaborative Research Centre WETSCAPES 2.0 started in April 2025 and we plan to consolidate peatland research further in the future.” Around 100 people from three faculties currently perform research on peatlands. The only professorship for peatland sciences in Germany is based at the University of Greifswald. Seven further working groups provide specialised teaching for several degree courses and train experts in peatland sciences. 

“Peatlands are key ecosystems - for climate protection, water retention, and biodiversity. With the GMC, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern has established an excellent research institute. It would now be a strong signal if the Federal Government would join the State of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern in providing a long-term basis for this commitment,” commented Dr. Till Backhaus. 

In addition to Federal Minister for the Environment Carsten Schneider and Dr. Till Backhaus, Minister of Climate Protection, Agriculture, Rural Regions and the Environment in the State of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, a representative from the Ministry of Science, Culture, Federal and European Affairs, the Rector of the University of Greifswald, Prof. Dr. Katharina Riedel, and further guests took part in the exchange on peatland research and protection. The GMC is a joint initiative of the University of Greifswald, the Michael Succow Foundation and DUENE e.V. and functions as an interface between science, politics and practice. 

Contact at the University of Greifswald
Dr. Elisabeth Böker
Press Officer & Head of University Communications
Domstraße 11, 17489 Greifswald
Tel: +49 3834 420 1150
pressestelleuni-greifswaldde

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