renaturation

Water bodies can contribute to climate change as sources of greenhouse gases – this is the conclusion of a new UBA study. Modified water bodies in particular emit carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide. Renaturalisation and the reconnection of floodplains can help to reduce these emissions and enable water bodies to act as greenhouse gas sinks.

Every industrialised economy is dependent on a secure supply of raw materials. Manufacturing industry and the energy sector in particular require immense amounts of such materials. It is for this reason that Germany extracts its own deposits and also imports significant amounts of those raw materials which are not available domestically.

In Germany the Federal States (Länder) have the responsibility for monitoring and assessment of surface waters. Important rules for these are defined in the Ordinance on the Protection of Surface Waters (Oberflächengewässerverordnung – OGewV). The requirements of the EC Water Framework Directive (WFD) were transposed into this german law.