Restoring Europe's Wetlands: Combating Climate Change and Boosting Economies

• Wetlands, covering less than 10% of the Earth's surface, store massive amounts of carbon; peatlands alone hold approximately one-third of global soil carbon.
• Draining wetlands for agriculture and development releases this stored carbon as greenhouse gases.
• Two EU-funded initiatives, ALFAwetlands and REWET, are identifying ways to restore ecosystems while creating sustainable economic models.

Scientific Mapping and Restoration

• ALFAwetlands (2022–2026) has developed a European Wetland Map covering peatlands, floodplains, and coastal areas across 10 countries.
• The map aids governments and landowners in identifying former wetland areas to mitigate flooding risks and carbon loss.
• Researchers are utilizing "Living Labs" to facilitate collaboration between scientists, policymakers, and local communities to develop effective, context-specific restoration methods.

Economic Sustainability and Innovation

• The REWET project is testing seven demonstration sites across nine European countries to identify financially viable restoration models beyond public subsidies.
• Researchers are exploring four income streams to replace or supplement traditional funding:
  • Carbon credits.
  • Recreational and cultural tourism activities.
  • Payments for ecosystem services.
  • Paludiculture (cultivating crops on re-wetted land).
• Paludiculture, such as growing sphagnum moss for horticulture, could potentially reduce emissions from drained soils by 19% on 2 million hectares of land.

Challenges and Future Outlook

• Public support is generally strong, but many people remain uninformed about the benefits of restoration.
• Landowners require sustainable income assurances; blended finance models that combine public and private investment are being explored to lower project risks.
• The ultimate goal is to transition wetland management from a subsidized environmental cost to a profitable investment that improves climate resilience and biodiversity.