LaTerra

Sustainable land-use by regional energy and material flow management using “Terra-Preta-Technology” on military conversion areas and low-yield-locations

 

Status: Projekt completed
End of project period: 31.12.2015


LaTerra-Homepage

Objectives

The interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary joint research project sought innovative system solutions for resource efficiency, climate protection and area revaluation by means of an integrative approach. The project’s fundament was set by implementing the zero-emission-strategy, launching a regional resource efficient material flow management as well as utilising “Terra-Preta-Technology” (TPS) as an innovative system component.

TPS is an anthropogenic produced black earth with high decomposition stability. In contrast to conventional soil improving measures TPS enables persistent enrichment of both organic substances and sustainable nutrient release and generally leads to high soil activity. In consequence, ecosystem substance conversion processes and soil productivity will be facilitated. Additionally, an increase of soil activity also leads to higher decomposition rates of organic soil pollutants. 

As the centrepiece of optimised regional biogenic material flows TPS was utilised exemplarily in model regions.

The goal thereby was to provide a substantial contribution for sustainable land management in regions with significant shares of military conversion areas, low-yield-locations in post-mining-landscapes and highly damaged forestry areas caused by extreme weather phenomena. To achieve this objective, the following tasks were pursued:

  • to analyse and optimise material flows of biogenic waste and renewable raw materials as basic materials for an added value by using TPS
  • to establish a regional material flow management
  • to verify a durable improvement of soil functions and area productivity by the use of TPS as a soil enhancing measure
  • to identify site-specific preconditions for the construction of Terra-Preta facilities in the study areas – implementation of regional value-added chains between cities and surrounding areas
  • to secure the quality of TPS-production and utilisation
  • to facilitate transferability to other regions
  • to support communication, public relations and stakeholder management in the study areas.