• September 9, 2024

Peat Pals for LIFE visited the SERE European conference for Nature Restoration

In the last week of August part of the Peat Pals for LIFE project team joined the SERE European Conference for Nature Restoration in Tartu, Estonia. 

With almost 700 participants it was a gathering of people with different expertise all connected to nature restoration. One of the aims of the conference was to create a (better) bridge between scientists, policy makers and restoration practitioners. We heard inspiring stories about nature restoration from all over the world with of course a main focus on the Estonian situation. We were updated on the nature restoration law, we saw and heard great examples of other LIFE projects and we also had the chance to present our own Peat Pals for LIFE project to many peatland enthusiasts. 

Fortunately we could also experience Estonia’s beautiful (restored) peatlands with intact hydrological systems and vegetation. We saw raised bog areas without the influence of nitrogen, which is something we can’t find anymore in the Netherlands and Flanders. On the other side we saw what the extraction of peatlands looks like, seeing an area of large extraction fields (with the Netherlands as most important importer of peat). This all substantiated the importance of an European perspective on peatland restoration and the significance of the Nature Restoration Law. 

We will certainly use all the inspirational examples and knowledge we gained in creating a more impactful Peat Pals for LIFE project. 

In the pictures you can see part of our presentation, part of the extraction fields and an example of a beautiful and intact raised bog area in Estonia.