Finland, Poland Consider Wetland Restoration for Defense, Climate

Following Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine, NATO members including Finland and Poland are exploring the restoration of wetlands and peatlands along their eastern borders as a dual strategy for defense and climate action. Inspired by Ukraine's successful flooding of the Irpin River floodplain to impede Russian forces, these countries view rewetted peatlands as natural barriers that are impassable to tanks while also serving as significant carbon sinks to combat climate change. Finland's Ministries of Defense and Environment plan to launch pilot projects for peatland restoration, while Poland has integrated wetland restoration into its extensive Eastern Shield defense program. This approach has garnered support from environmental and defense officials who emphasize the synergy between ecological restoration and national security. However, experts caution that wetlands are a supplementary defense measure and do not replace traditional military preparedness. The initiative reflects a broader European effort to simultaneously address security concerns and meet environmental targets by leveraging natural landscapes along vulnerable borders.