German Baltic Coast Research Articles

Turning the Tide: An Analysis of Factors Influencing the Adoption of Biodiversity-Enhancing Measures on Agricultural Land at the German Baltic Coast

The agricultural sector plays a major role in turning the tide of biodiversity loss. In the European Union, land use decisions and biodiversity are strongly influenced by the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). Despite massive investment in subsidies to incentivize environmentally friendly farming practices, the CAP has so far failed to preserve the biodiversity of Europe’s farmland. A simplistic understanding of farmers’ motivations, dominated by rational, economic cost–benefit considerations, is one of the reasons for this failure. Our study contributes to this discussion through the identification of factors influencing the decision making of farmers. Through a case study approach in a biodiversity-rich region on the German Baltic coast—the so-called hotspot 29—we classify a number of personal, social/group, and external factors relevant to the implementation of biodiversity-enhancing measures on agricultural land. Applying a model of pro-environmental behavior, we illustrate the interlinkages between factors and outline potential solutions to support biodiversity-enhancing behavior.

Bayesian extreme value analysis of extreme sea levels along the German Baltic coast using historical information

Abstract. Developed coastlines require considerable investments into coastal protection measures to mitigate the effects of flooding caused by extreme sea levels (ESLs). To maximize the effectiveness of these measures, accurate estimates of the underlying hazard are needed. These estimates are typically determined by performing extreme value analysis on a sample of events taken from tide-gauge observations. However, such records are often limited in duration, and the resulting estimates may be highly uncertain. Furthermore, short records make it difficult to assess whether exceptionally large events within the record are appropriate for analysis or should be disregarded as outliers. In this study, we explore how historical information can be used to address both of these issues for the case of the German Baltic coast. We apply a Bayesian Markov chain Monte Carlo approach to assess ESLs using both systematic tide-gauge observations and historical information at seven locations. Apart from the benefits provided by incorporating historical information in extreme value analysis, which include reduced estimate uncertainties and the reclassification of outliers into useful samples, we find that the current tide-gauge records in the region alone are insufficient for providing accurate estimates of ESLs for the planning of coastal protection. We find long-range dependence in the series of ESLs at the site of Travemünde, which suggests the presence of some long-term variability affecting events in the region. We show that ESL activity over the full period of systematic observation has been relatively low. Consequently, analyses which consider only these data are prone to underestimations.

Regional assessment of extreme sea levels and associated coastal flooding along the German Baltic Sea coast

Abstract. Among the Baltic Sea littoral states, Germany is anticipated to endure considerable damage as a result of increased coastal flooding due to sea-level rise (SLR). Consequently, there is a growing demand for flood risk assessments, particularly at regional scales, which will improve the understanding of the impacts of SLR and assist adaptation planning. Existing studies on coastal flooding along the German Baltic Sea coast either use state-of-the-art hydrodynamic models but cover only a small fraction of the study region or assess potential flood extents for the entire region but rely on global topographic data sources and apply the simplified bathtub approach. In addition, the validation of produced flood extents is often not provided. Here we apply a fully validated hydrodynamic modelling framework covering the German Baltic Sea coast that includes the height of natural and anthropogenic coastal protection structures in the study region. Using this modelling framework, we extrapolate spatially explicit 200-year return water levels, which align with the design standard of state embankments in the region, and simulate associated coastal flooding. Specifically, we explore (1) how flood extents may change until 2100 if dike heights are not upgraded, by applying two high-end SLR scenarios (1 and 1.5 m); (2) hotspots of coastal flooding; and (3) the use of SAR imagery for validating the simulated flood extents. Our results confirm that the German Baltic coast is exposed to coastal flooding, with flood extent varying between 217 and 1016 km2 for the 200-year event and a 200-year event with 1.5 m SLR, respectively. Most of the flooding occurs in the federal state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, while extreme water levels are generally higher in Schleswig-Holstein. Our results emphasise the importance of current plans to update coastal protection schemes along the German Baltic Sea coast over the 21st century in order to prevent large-scale damage in the future.

In situ baiting reveals occurrence of Heterorhabditis downesi at the German Baltic coast

ABSTRACT Entomopathogenic nematodes (EPN) are well-established plant protection tools for the control of insect pests. The release of EPN species is often limited to species that are endemic in the country. Therefore, surveys to check for the presence of EPN species in the country are necessary. Here, a sampling and baiting method based on the in situ attraction of EPN to insects contained in a plastic tube is described. Heterorhabditis downesi was isolated from overgrown dunes at the Baltic coast and Steinernema feltiae from chromic luvisol further inland. This is the first report of the presence of H. downesi in Germany.

Infection with swim bladder nematode Anguillicola crassus in relation to European eel growth, age, and habitat along the German Baltic coast.

One possible reason for the European eel (Anguilla anguilla) population decline is the neozoan eel swim bladder nematode Anguillicola crassus. To investigate whether the prevalence of A. crassus and the associated swim bladder pathology is related to eel habitat, growth rate, and age, 728 yellow eels from 6 habitats differing in salinity and located along the German Baltic coast were examined between 2005 and 2009. The prevalence of A. crassus varied between habitats, ranging from 9 to 57%. Infection prevalence and the percentage of eels with a damaged swim bladder were significantly higher in inner coastal waters compared to more saline open coastal water. In infected eels, 1 to 32 adult and preadult individuals of A. crassus were observed. The mean infection intensity varied between habitats from 2 to 7 nematodes per eel but did not significantly differ between inner and open coastal waters. Infection prevalence and intensity decreased significantly with age when all open coastal waters and all habitats were combined. Both the lower prevalence of A. crassus and the swim bladder damage of older eels and of eels originating from open coastal water habitats suggest that these eels have a higher fitness for spawning migrations than eels from inner coastal waters. The present study underlines the importance of eel screening on a sufficiently small geographical scale for the accurate estimation of eel recruitment and the identification of priority areas that are likely to produce healthy silver eels.

First Steps towards a near Real-Time Modelling System of Vibrio vulnificus in the Baltic Sea.

Over the last two decades, Vibrio vulnificus infections have emerged as an increasingly serious public health threat along the German Baltic coast. To manage related risks, near real-time (NRT) modelling of V. vulnificus quantities has often been proposed. Such models require spatially explicit input data, for example, from remote sensing or numerical model products. We tested if data from a hydrodynamic, a meteorological, and a biogeochemical model are suitable as input for an NRT model system by coupling it with field samples and assessing the models' ability to capture known ecological parameters of V. vulnificus. We also identify the most important predictors for V. vulnificus in the Baltic Sea by leveraging the St. Nicolas House Analysis. Using a 27-year time series of sea surface temperature, we have investigated trends of V. vulnificus season length, which pinpoint hotspots mainly in the east of our study region. Our results underline the importance of water temperature and salinity on V. vulnificus abundance but also highlight the potential of air temperature, oxygen, and precipitation to serve as predictors in a statistical model, albeit their relationship with V. vulnificus may not be causal. The evaluated models cannot be used in an NRT model system due to data availability constraints, but promising alternatives are presented. The results provide a valuable basis for a future NRT model for V. vulnificus in the Baltic Sea.

Dune Erosion at the German Baltic Coast—Investigation and Analysis of a Large-Scale Field Experiment Compared to Life Dunes

A large part of the Baltic Sea coastline in the north-eastern provinces of Germany (Mecklenburg-Vorpommern and Schleswig-Holstein) is protected by coastal protection dunes, which are constructed and maintained to preserve a quasi-natural beach environment. The latest IPCC report predicts a significant sea level rise even in the Baltic, together with an increase in storm surges within the next decades. Sand dune constructions are particularly affected by these developments, in close connection to the increasing problems of sediment mining for beach nourishment and dune maintenance. In the BMBF research project PADO (Processes and Implications of Dune Breaching at the German Baltic Sea Coast), scientists from Rostock University and RWTH Aachen University investigated together with various partners how constructed sand dunes would fail during a storm surge, focusing on the erosion and the initiation and development of a breach. Therefore, a large-scale field experiment was installed at the beach of Rostock-Warnemünde, which was instrumented and surveyed in high resolution during the storm surge in November 2018, leading to the collapse of the dune, using innovative measurement systems, including terrestrial laser scanning and photogrammetry. The measurements were used to run a numerical model (XBeach) to simulate dune breaching for three different sections of existing sand dunes at the coast of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. Additional investigations were made to analyse the filling and emptying of the polder areas behind the coastal protection dunes and the consequences of the floods with respect to saltwater intrusion. In this paper, the field experiment and the results from measurements and simulations are compared to one of the real reference dunes, and the transfer of results to a dune breach incident near Rostock in 2019 is discussed.

Revealing different migration strategies in a Baltic Common Tern (Sterna hirundo) population with light-level geolocators

The Common Tern (Sterna hirundo) is one of Germany’s farthest migrating bird species. Ringing studies have shown the use of the East Atlantic flyway, and according to their main wintering areas at the western and southern African coasts, German and European Common Tern populations have been divided into two allohiemic groups. However, first ring recoveries of German Common Terns in Israel indicated that some of the birds breeding in eastern Germany cross central Europe and migrate along the eastern African coast. To investigate the migratory behavior of Common Terns from East Germany, we fitted 40 Common Terns breeding in a colony at the German Baltic coast with light-level geolocators. Twenty-four loggers with analyzable datasets could be retrieved, revealing two different migratory strategies within one population. Seventeen individuals (70.83%) used the eastern Atlantic flyway and spent the winter at the western African coast, the Gulf of Guinea and the southern African coast, while the other individuals (n = 7; 29.17%) crossed central Europe, migrated along the eastern African coast and overwintered in the Mozambique Channel and South African coast. We, therefore, suggest to add a third allohiemic group to complement the picture of European Common Tern migration. Moreover, our results provide new knowledge and open new questions, which can be used for future studies regarding the evolution of different migratory strategies and its consequences in relation to climate change.

Sympatric occurrence of Ixodes ricinus with Dermacentor reticulatus and Haemaphysalis concinna and the associated tick-borne pathogens near the German Baltic coast

BackgroundIxodid ticks from the Northern Hemisphere have registered a northward expansion in recent years, and Dermacentor reticulatus is such an example in Europe, its expansion being considered a result of climate change alongside other factors. The aim of this study was to identify the composition of questing tick species and the associated pathogens at different sites near the German Baltic coast.MethodsQuesting ticks were collected monthly at four sites (May–November, 2020), mainly grasslands, and in October and November 2020 at a fifth site. Molecular screening of ticks for pathogens included RT-qPCR for the tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV), qPCR for Anaplasma phagocytophilum, PCR for Babesia species and Rickettsia species, and nested PCR for Borrelia species.ResultsAltogether 1174 questing ticks were collected: 760 Ixodes ricinus, 326 D. reticulatus and 88 Haemaphysalis concinna. The highest activity peak of I. ricinus and D. reticulatus was in May, in June for H. concinna while a second peak was observed only for I. ricinus and D. reticulatus in September and October, respectively. All samples tested negative for TBEV. For A. phagocytophilum, 1.5% of I. ricinus adults tested positive while the minimum infection rate (MIR) in nymphs was 1.3%. This pathogen was found in 0.6% of D. reticulatus. Babesia spp. were detected in I. ricinus (18.2% adults, 2.1% MIR in nymphs) and H. concinna (13.3% adults, 9.7% MIR in nymphs). Borrelia spp. were present only in I. ricinus (49.1% adults, 11.9% MIR in nymphs), while Rickettsia spp. were detected in I. ricinus (14% adults, 8.9% MIR in nymphs) and D. reticulatus (82%). Co-detection of pathogens was observed in 26.6% and 54.8% of positive I. ricinus adults and nymph pools, respectively, while one D. reticulatus tested positive for A. phagocytophilum and Rickettsia spp. The most common co-infection in I. ricinus adults was Babesia microti and Borrelia afzelii (12.3% of positive ticks).ConclusionsThe results of this study confirm the northern expansion of D. reticulatus and H. concinna in Germany. The detailed data of the infection levels at each location could be useful in assessing the risk of pathogen acquisition following a tick bite.Graphical

Recreational anglers’ perceptions, attitudes and estimated contribution to angling related marine litter in the German Baltic Sea

Marine litter affects marine environments and ecosystem services worldwide. A substantial amount of the traceable marine litter originates from tourism and recreational activities. An important activity carried out in coastal areas is marine recreational fishing (MRF). Although the impacts of MRF on marine ecosystems has received increasing attention during recent years, the contribution of MRF to marine litter is widely unknown. Marine litter is caused by human activities and its avoidance requires an understanding of environmental behaviour. This study presents results obtained by a telephone survey aimed to assess the behaviour, motivations and attitudes of Baltic Sea anglers towards marine litter. The telephone survey identified three angler types primarily separated by the predominant motives regarding nature experience, catch orientation and challenge seeking. Regardless of their motivation, most anglers were concerned about marine litter, recognised their responsibility and were willing to contribute to litter avoidance and mitigation. The telephone survey was supplemented by face-to-face angler interviews during a stratified random access point intercept survey along the German Baltic coast to estimate the amount of lost fishing tackle based on anglers self-reports. According to the reports, the loss of fishing tackle was a rare event for individual anglers. Nonetheless, given a high number of Baltic Sea anglers and angling effort, local environmental impacts due to lost fishing tackle on marine environments cannot be excluded.

Potential and Feasibility of Mytilus spp. Farming Along a Salinity Gradient

Mussel farming, compared to marine finfish aquaculture, represents an environmentally friendly alternative for a high quality protein source and can at the same time be a measure to remove excess nutrients in eutrophic areas. As such, it is considered as a promising ‘blue growth’ potential and promoted within the European Union. To expand mussel aquaculture, new regions have to be considered because there are multiple marine usages, and spatial limitations occur in coastal areas. The brackish Baltic Sea might be considered for expansion of mussel aquaculture. This study focusses on estimated production potential, economic profitability and nutrient remediation potential of mussel farming at different salinities. Four experimental mussel farms were set up along the German Baltic coast at salinities ranging from 7 to 17 psu. Collected growth data was used to calibrate and validate a Dynamic Energy Budget model and to predict the potential mussel production at twelve sites along the German coast. The estimated production and nutrient removal was used to assess economic profitability, assuming two usages of the harvest: human consumption and mussel meal production. Measured mussel specific growth rates increased with salinity from 0.05 mm d-1 in Greifswald Bay to 0.11 mm d-1 in Kiel Fjord. Within 6 months, a one-hectare farm could produce from 1 t (Darss-Zingst-Bodden-Chain) to 51 t (Flensburg) fresh mussels and remove 1.1 to 27.7 kg P and 24.7 to 612.7 kg N, respectively. Mussel farms at sites west of Rostock at salinities >10 psu could produce 5 cm mussels within 18 months, but only farms at Flensburg, Eckernförde and Kiel Fjord became profitable at a farm size of 4 ha (160,000 m³) at current market prices of 2.2 € kg-1. Regardless of the farm size, none of the farm sites could operate profitable if fresh mussels were sold for animal feeding at sales price of 0.06 € kg-1. Yearly nutrient removal costs at a small-scale farm (1 ha) ranged between 162 € (Flensburg) and 4,018 € (Darss-Zingst-Bodden-Chain) per kg nitrogen, and 3,580 € and 88,750 € per kg phosphorus, respectively.

Long term development of Bathing Water Quality at the German Baltic coast: spatial patterns, problems and model simulations

Bathing water quality plays a key role for public health, is highly important for recreational tourism and therefore monitored in the EU-Directive 2006/7/EC. To identify pollution hot spots, sources and impacts of the directive-change in 2006, including a change of indicator organisms, we evaluated monitoring data of the past 15 years, collected own data, determined survival rates of indicator organisms and applied hydrodynamic modelling in a micro-tidal-system.Due to higher survival rates under turbid conditions and restricted water exchange, shallow, eutrophic bays and lagoons are hot spots of microbial pollution. Rain events cause high microbial emission and distribution. Based on different decay rates, the ratio of E. coli to Enterococci can hint towards a pollution source. Including rain predictions, currents and winds, hydrodynamic models can then assess the daily risk of microbial pollution at each bathing site. They are an important tool to modify beach management and event-based monitoring.

Beach macro-litter monitoring on southern Baltic beaches: results, experiences and recommendations

Major objectives were to provide a comprehensive dataset on beach macro-litter for parts of the southern Baltic Sea and to analyse if the methodology is fully applicable and a suitable monitoring method in the Baltic. We carried out a regular macro litter beach monitoring (OSPAR methodology, 4 time a year) on 35 beaches along the German and Lithuanian Baltic coast over 2–5 years. Additional experiments addressed the subjectivity of the field surveys and spatio-temporal variability on different scales. We observed no seasonality of the data and a monthly compared to a 3-monthly sampling resulted in 3 times higher annual item numbers. Along the Lithuanian coast, the average number of items per survey varied between 138 and 340 and along the German Baltic coast between 7 and 404, with a median value of 47. All data showed a very high spatio-temporal variability. Using the Matrix Scoring Technique we assessed beach litter sources. With 50% tourism and recreation was the most important source. 3D–transport simulations helped to explain the minor role of shipping as a source and, compared to the North Sea, the low numbers of items on German Baltic beaches. Floating litter had a short duration time in the western Baltic Sea and offshore drift dominated. Further, the common regular beach cleanings reduced the potential for local litter accumulation and translocation. We suggest a monitoring system on 14 Baltic beaches in Germany and 2 in Lithuania and provide cost calculations. The analysis of macro-litter in cormorant nesting material and the search for beached dead animals did not show any result. We can conclude that the macro-litter beach monitoring method is less suitable for Baltic beaches and should only serve as a complementary method in combination with others.

Retrospective assessment of a managed coastal realignment and lagoon restoration measure: the Geltinger Birk, Germany

We document and analyse the implementation process of a large combined coastal protection realignment and nature protection rewetting scheme, covering about 1000 ha at the German Baltic coast. The assessment reviews local planning documents, includes a media analysis, a tourist survey, stakeholder interviews and we provide criteria for measuring success, derived from the Systems Approach Framework (SAF) concept. The full process in the Geltinger Birk took over 25 years and was finished in 2013. The early years were characterised by strong local opposition, a polarization of the local society, misinformation and negative media coverage. Land purchase, the establishment of a local information centre with an environmental manager, improved public participation, a more pro-active media strategy and the readiness to accept compromises finally enabled a successful implementation. Today, a comprehensive tourism information and guidance system exists and the area became a popular tourist place. 80% of all visitors point out the outstanding nature experience and 87% are positive about the combined coastal protection and restoration measure. Parallel, major stakeholders changed their attitude and today are positive about the situation. However, the long timespan between initiation of the process and implementation of the measure, calls for a systematic, guided management approach, like the SAF. Especially, because climate change, sea level rise and increasing pressures on the coasts require a much faster implementation of adaptation measures in future.

Managed Realignment (MR) along the Eastern German Baltic Sea: A Catalyst for Conflict or for a Coastal Zone Management Consensus

ABSTRACT de la Vega-Leinert, A.C.; Stoll-Kleemann, S., and Wegener, E., 2018. Managed realignment (MR) along the Eastern German Baltic Sea: A catalyst for conflict or for a coastal zone management consensus. Managed Realignment (MR), which involves the removal of coastal defences or their relocation further inland, is a desirable option for demographically and economically marginal rural areas, from scientific, political and managerial perspectives. In Europe, MR is reshaping coastal landscapes, and, though not directly endangering lives, is affecting people's sense of safety and control over their land and livelihoods. This can elicit conflict, but also foster consensus. In this study, participatory qualitative research methods were used to investigate stakeholders' perceptions and preferences with regard to coastal land management strategies on the eastern German Baltic coast in the state of Mecklenburg–Western Pomerania. MR reflects a change in the way in which coastal land is valued, with supporting a...

Microplastic concentrations in beach sediments along the German Baltic coast

The contamination with microplastic particles and fibres was evaluated on beaches along the German Baltic coast. Sediments were sampled near the Warnow and Oder/Peene estuaries, on Rügen island and along the Rostock coast to derive possible entry pathways. Seasonal variations were monitored along the Rostock coast from March to July 2014. After density separation in saline solution, floating particles were found to be dominated by sand grains. Water surface tension is shown to be sufficient to explain floatation of grains with sizes less than 1.5mm. Selecting intensely coloured particles and fibres, we find lower limits of the microplastic concentrations of 0–7particles/kg and 2–11fibres/kg dry sediment. The largest microplastic contaminations are measured at the Peene outlet into the Baltic Sea and in the North Sea Jade Bay. City discharges, industrial production sites, fishing activity and tourism are the most likely sources for the highest microplastic concentrations.

Phosphorus storage and mobilization in coastal Phragmites wetlands: Influence of local-scale hydrodynamics

Coastal Phragmites wetlands are at the interface between terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems and are important for nutrient retention and regulation. They can act both as nutrient sinks and sources for phosphorus, depending on environmental conditions, sediment properties as well as antecedent nutrient loadings and sorption capacities of the sediments. The Darss-Zingst Bodden Chain is a shallow lagoon system at the German Baltic coast with a long eutrophication history which is lined almost at its entire length by Phragmites wetlands. In order to elucidate under which conditions these wetlands act as sources or sinks for phosphorus, in-situ data of chemo-physical characteristics of water and sediment samples were combined with hydrodynamic measurements and laboratory experiments. A basin zone within the wetland serves as accumulation sink for fine-grained particles rich in phosphorus, iron, manganese and organic matter. The Phragmites stems reduce the water flow and allow the accumulation of organic matter and minerals. Without turbulent mixing and downward flow the bottom water and the sediment surface lack replenishment of oxygen. The relationship between oxygen saturation in the water and soluble reactive phosphorus (SRP) concentrations showed a threshold-type behavior. Under oxygen deficiency soluble reactive phosphorus concentrations in the water were significantly higher than under aerated conditions (oxygen saturation <10%: mean SRP = 0.22 mg/L vs. oxygen saturation >10%: mean SRP = 0.02 mg/L). During stagnant periods with low water level, low-turbulence and thus low-oxygen conditions phosphorus from the sediments is released. But the sediments are capable of becoming sinks again once oxygen is resupplied. When vertical downward flows are dominant in the water and turbulent kinetic energy rises, oxygen saturation increases. A thin oxic sediment surface layer rich in iron and manganese is able to readsorb phosphorus quickly as kinetic sorption experiments show, but due to its redox sensitivity the immobilization is – at least in part – only temporary. This study demonstrated that sediments in coastal Phragmites wetlands can switch their function from sink to source of soluble reactive phosphorus on a very short time-scale, depending on local-scale hydrodynamic conditions and the state of the oxic–anoxic sediment interface.

Climate-change lore and its implications for climate science: Post-science deliberations?

Using of the results of survey questionnaires distributed to climate scientists who focus on the German Baltic coast, regional political decision makers on the German Baltic coast and weather observations from the same region, this paper assesses the existence of developing climate-change lore and the implications for the role of climate science in the science–policy interface. The Oxford Dictionary (1993) provides one definition of lore as ‘A doctrine, a precept; a creed, a religion.’ This is the definition adopted for this paper. The paper concludes that the discrepancies among weather observations, scientific assessments and decision makers’ perceptions suggest that climate-change lore exists, or is coming into existence. The paper then discusses the implications for the science–policy interface and suggests that given current trajectories, science could come to play a secondary role to climate-change lore in regional political decision making concerning climate change. To the truth-to-power model of the science–policy interface and the tenets of post-normal science, three additional possibly evolving science–policy configurations (as pertaining to the climate change issue) are offered.

Growth of European eel Anguilla anguilla along the southern Baltic coast of Germany and implication for the eel management

To detect growth differences of European eel Anguilla anguilla along the southern German Baltic coast 728 yellow eels, with total lengths ranging from 256 to 944 mm and ages ranging from 3 to 15 years were collected from six coastal areas from 2005 to 2009. The estimation of the growth performance was based on the otolith increments. The mean growth rate of the female yellow eels varied from 56 to 62 mm year–1. No significant differences in the mean growth rate were detected between eels from inner and open coastal areas. The overall mean annual increment of eels was estimated at 59 mm year−1. Specific growth rates (SGR) of female yellow eels decreased with increasing age from 0.68 % day−1 in the first year to 0.05 % day−1 in the tenth year. Results indicate that no separation is needed in the development of population models or management initiatives based on the growth performance of eel in inner and open coastal waters of the southern German Baltic coast.

From exploitation of marine resources and management of bushes in the terminal Mesolithic to the beginning of the Neolithic at the German Baltic coast

Growing energy crops such as perennial grasses and trees on marginal land offers the possibility of reducing the competition with food crops for land resources. Identifying the productivity, economic feasibility and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions impact is the premise of our study on using marginal land for bioenergy production in Canada. The area of marginal land available was identified by intersecting national maps of land suitability and land cover. The costs and potential returns of growing energy crops on marginal land were then analyzed, and the GHG emissions were evaluated using a GHG emissions model. The results indicated that approximately 9.48 million ha of potentially useable marginal land was available in Canada. The land cover of the available marginal land consists of grassland (68.2%) and shrubland (31.8%). If the available marginal land was completely utilized, the biomass production would be 23.7 million tonnes of switchgrass or 51.2 million tonnes of hybrid poplar. The production of biofuel from these biomass sources would be 5.69 and 11.26 billion L, equivalent to 14.0% and 27.7% of the total transportation gasoline consumption in Canada in 2014, for switchgrass and poplar, respectively. On the marginal land, the average production cost was estimated to be approximately 68.2 CAD $/t (173.8 CAD $/ha) for switchgrass, and 26.2 CAD $/t (140.2 CAD $/ha) for coppiced hybrid poplar. The production of biomass showed a positive net return on marginal land in Ontario (eastern Canada), with a biomass price of 99 CAD $/t and 35 CAD $/t for switchgrass and coppiced hybrid poplar, respectively. When the biomass price is less than 101 CAD $/t, growing switchgrass in the provinces of Alberta and Saskatchewan, where 69% of Canada’s marginal land is located, was not considered economically attractive. By replacing fossil fuel, the maximum potential switchgrass production on marginal land would reduce GHG emissions by 29.49 million t CO2-eq/yr. However, when considering the economic aspect of production, the potential reduction of 6.1 million tonnes CO2/yr from planting poplar is more viable. Further analysis of the broader economic value of the current use of marginal land (primarily livestock grazing) and the impacts on biodiversity, soil quality, and water resources is needed to completely assess the practicality of a widespread increase in biomass production for bioenergy on Canada’s marginal land.