Rescue for the last raised bog: Kaltenbronn threatened in climate change!

The importance of raised bogs for the ecosystem is often underestimated. The nature conservation and forest area Kaltenbronn in Baden-Württemberg is currently characterized as one of the last intact high bogs in Europe. According to Merkur.de are highly endangered worldwide. These unique habitats contribute to the biodiversity and house specialized flora and fauna, including threatened species. The loss of these habitats is driven by peat mining and the entry of mineral salts.

The Wildseemoor Kaltenbronn, the largest high bog area in the Black Forest, has been under nature conservation for over 60 years and was the first nature reserve in Baden-Württemberg. 95 percent of intact bogs consist of water and act as important carbon storage. The Wildsee, which is located in the center of the raised bog, has a sea surface of 1.4 hectares and is the largest high -MOOKOLK in Germany. Hikes through the Black Forest National Park offer visitors the opportunity to explore the raised bog via Bohlenwege.

climate change and its effects

climate change is a large threat to the raised bog. Higher temperatures, longer dry periods and reduced precipitation endanger the sensitive ecosystems. In the summer of 2024, temperatures above 35 degrees were measured in Baden-Württemberg, while massive rainy amounts may have contributed to the recovery of the raised bog, such as bwstiftung.de reported. Renate Fischer, deputy head of the Kaltenbronn Info Center, emphasizes the frequent questions about moor corpses during the tours and explains that human bodies do not fully sink into the moor sludge. These insights illustrate the fascinating and at the same time fragile nature of the Hochmoor Kaltenbronn.

The raised bog is created by the accumulation of melting and rainwater after the last ice age 11,000 years ago. The seepage of water prevented water -impermeable sound layers. Torfmoose, wool grasses and finally peat developed on these areas. With peat layers that are up to eight meters deep and consist of dead plant residues, bogs are among the most important carbon storage of the earth. They store around 30 percent of the earth -bound carbon, although they only cover three percent of the earth's surface.