Environmental Groups Demand Rewetting of Landscapes to Fight Wildfires

In response to severe wildfires in Germany's Hürtgenwald and Hohes Venn regions, major environmental organizations Nabu and BUND are urging a return to wetter landscapes. They emphasize that the rapid rewetting of drained moors, forests, and floodplains is essential not only for fire prevention but also as a defense against drought, heat, and heavy rainfall.

The organizations stress the importance of resilient landscapes in the face of the climate crisis. BUND state chairman Holger Sticht noted that intact moors are less susceptible to burning, and near-natural forest ecosystems have a lower fire risk than artificial plantations. Historically, many moors in North Rhine-Westphalia and surrounding areas were drained for agriculture and forestry up until the 20th century. Even in the Hohes Venn, only a small portion of the raised bog landscape has been renatured, posing a significant problem as increasing dry periods make these drained areas particularly vulnerable to fires.

Nabu president Jörg-Andreas Krüger highlighted that rewetting is vital for flood protection and that intact, wet moors act as natural water reservoirs during droughts. "The fire in the Hohes Venn is drastically showing us how vulnerable landscapes are in times of heat and drought," Krüger stated, emphasizing the need for a fundamental change in water management. He called for landscapes that can absorb water like a sponge and release it during dry periods, with moors being indispensable for this function. Farmers should be adequately compensated for maintaining a natural water balance, and political commitment and sufficient funding are needed for moor restoration.

Meanwhile, the Hauptverband der Deutschen Holzindustrie (HDH), representing the timber industry, supports an accelerated transition to climate-stable forests and sustainable forest management. HDH president Carsten Merforth pointed out that devastating wildfires in France spread particularly in unmanaged areas. He warned that unkempt forests with dense stands or high amounts of deadwood, increasingly common in Germany, can fuel fires and hinder firefighting efforts. HDH advocates for forest maintenance and regular thinning to reduce fire risks, recommending the removal of deadwood to prevent increased fuel load.