Moorböden als Natur- und Kulturgeschichte in Schleswig-Holstein – Verfahren zur qualitativen Bewertung von Archivböden

The versatile functions of bog sides are in cultural history and climatic terms of ever-increasing interest. Since moors conserve anthropogenic evidence over a very long period of time and are regarded as a carbon sink, it is important to establish comprehensive protection of these ecosystems in order to maintain these functions. In this study, information from more than 140 bogs was compiled, evaluated and categorized based on a uniform evaluation matrix according to quality grades (A–D). For the quality classes parameters were chosen as the basis of evaluation, which are defined by a point system (1–5). The evaluation parameters are divided into three main categories: “cultural meaning”, “ecological meaning” and “pedological/geological meaning”. The evaluation showed that 15 % of the moor archives meet ecological requirements to a high degree and thus reached a score of > 4 and were classified in the highest quality grade “A”. Due to insufficient documentation or visible anthropogenic influences, 46 % of archive floors are assigned to quality class “B” and are considered “potential archive floors”. The grade “C” is assigned to 23 % and are, however, in a heavily anthropogenic state, which would result in costly and time-consuming renaturation. Moors of quality class “D” are subject to irreversible degradation, can no longer/hardly be considered as archive soils and account for 16 % of the assessed moors. With the elaborated evaluation matrix, a statewide evaluation and categorization of the bog sites in Schleswig-Holstein is aimed at responding adequately to the increasing influence of humans on the environment and ensuring the conservation of these ecosystems.