Need of a Global Wetland Restoration Programme: Lessons from Finland

A restoration programme for peatlands in the Finnish boreal (northern mostly coniferous) landscapes points to a positive solution for creating biodiversity hotspots, carbon sinks (sites that trap and store carbon) and water protection measures. Restoration and rewilding can also alleviate equity issues associated with conservation and Indigenous and traditional communities. As an example, the river Jukajoki is recovering after a decade from fish deaths resulting from degraded peatland discharge. Exportability of wetland restoration could be achieved across the 'boreal space', here meaning the northern woodlands from East Siberia to Finland and Sweden and then across Canada and Alaska, i.e. the boreal ecosystems.