Monitoring Three Peatlands Affected by Fires in the Natura 2000 Site “Lieberoser Endmoräne und Staakower Läuche” on Land Managed by the Brandenburg Natural Landscapes Foundation

The Brandenburg Natural Landscapes Foundation and Eberswalde University are launching the joint project Monitoring Fire-Affected Peatlands in Lieberose on land managed by the Brandenburg Natural Landscapes Foundation. The project focuses on investigating vegetation development (succession) following fires in peatland areas. Between 2017 and 2019, approximately 700 hectares of land managed by the Brandenburg Natural Landscapes Foundation in the Lieberose Heath were affected by forest fires, some of which spread to peatland areas where the surface had dried out. The Brandenburg Natural Landscapes Foundation commissioned a vegetation monitoring programme, which is being designed, established and implemented by the Peatland – Grassland – Monitoring Working Group (headed by Prof. Dr Vera Luthardt).

The aim of the project is to investigate and document vegetation development (succession) following fires in peatland areas. A key research focus is the application of remote sensing methods, with their design and implementation being undertaken by the GIS and Remote Sensing Unit (headed by Prof. Dr Jan-Peter Mund) within the Faculty of Forestry and Environment. In addition, the two research areas described above are being synthesised.