Money4Moor: a comparative analysis of the costs of peatland restoration in Austria

Peatland restoration is increasingly recognized as a cost-effective way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and it is expected to play a key role in meeting national emission targets. In Austria, drained and cultivated organic soils are a significant potential source of emissions. However, there is currently a lack of comprehensive information on the cost-effectiveness of peatland restoration measures. Specifically, there is insufficient data on cost ranges, differences between restoration methods, and spatial factors that influence costs and effectiveness.

To address this gap, the Money4Moor project aims to systematically collect and analyze detailed cost data on peatland restoration and rewetting measures in Austria. The project will (i) compile a comprehensive database of restoration measures implemented since 2005 and (ii) analyze and categorize the costs, technical approaches, and spatial characteristics of restoration projects.

The ongoing data collection includes 44 peatland restoration projects implemented between 2007 and 2025 across eight Austrian provinces, excluding Vienna. Of these projects, 19 are in ombrotrophic bogs, 11 are in fens, and the remainder are in other peatlands. These projects vary substantially in scale, duration, and cost, ranging from small maintenance measures to large-scale restoration projects. Most projects were short-term, with 11 completed within one year and only three extending beyond six years.

First evaluations of 19 projects (14 ombrotrophic bogs, 5 fens) resulted in the following cost distribution. Annual restoration costs ranged from €2,600 to €246,000 for ombrotrophic bogs (mean: €60,300; median: €23,500) and from €7,600 to €400,000 for fens (mean: €92,000; median: €12,500). Next steps will allocate restoration costs to restored areas to improve comparability, include further spatial analyses to assess regional cost differences and the categorization of costs. By enhancing data availability and transparency, the project aims to support robust cost-effectiveness assessments and evidence-based decision-making for peatland restoration and climate policy.

This project is funded by the Climate and Energy Fund and is carried out under the program Austrian Climate Research Programme Implementation 2024 (ACRPI, Nr.: KC511213).