Deutscher Umweltpreis for CDRterra researcher Dr Franziska Tanneberger
© Peter Himsel, DBU
Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier presents the award in Mainz
Mainz, 27 October 2024 – Dr Franziska Tanneberger, one of the world’s leading experts in peatland research, is being awarded the Deutscher Umweltpreis today. The award from the German Federal Environmental Foundation (DBU), which is endowed with a total of 500,000 euros, recognises her outstanding commitment to the rewetting of peatlands in Germany and as a bridge builder between science, politics and agriculture. Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier presented the award at a ceremony in the Rheingoldhalle in Mainz.
Tanneberger is the director of the Greifswald Mire Centre in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and is researching the climate impact of peatlands and paludiculture in the BioNET project as part of the CDRterra research programme. She sees the rewetting of peatlands as a key measure to combat climate change. ‘Peatlands are not only important carbon sinks, but also essential habitats for many species,’ emphasises Tanneberger.
The scientist shares the prize with Thomas Speidel, Managing Director of ads-tec Energy. She plans to use her share to further expand the Greifswald Mire Centre’s work on mire research and protection. Tanneberger played a key role in preparing the Global Peatlands Assessment, the first global report on the state of peatlands, which will be published by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) in 2022. She also worked on the global peatland map and the peatland atlas.