Our Centre of Excellence member, Professor of Restoration Ecology, Aveliina Helm, has in recent days given several international media outlets insights into the restoration of drained peatlands, exploring whether nature restoration could serve both as a climate and biodiversity solution and as part of strengthening national defense.
- On August 26 evening live broadcast of BBC World News (at 5:30 PM), Aveliina outlined the four main benefits of restoring wetlands:
Climate: healthy wetlands capture carbon, while drained areas release it into the atmosphere.
Biodiversity: they provide habitats for species that are increasingly losing space across Europe.
Water: act like a sponge – storing water in landscapes during droughts and reducing flood risks during heavy rains.
Defense: impassable for enemy heavy machinery and difficult terrain for intruders, but familiar and valuable allies for local defenders.
You can see the recording of the show here (Aveliina’s interview starts from 1:58:10):
- Politico published a detailed article where Aveliina shared Estonia’s perspective on the role of wetlands at the intersection of security and nature conservation.
Read the Politico article here.
- BFBS (British Forces Broadcasting Service) covered the topic in its podcast, featuring reflections from Aveliina and defense experts on the role of landscapes in defense planning.
Listen to the episode on Spotify here.
Listen to the episode on Apple Podcast here.
It’s worth seriously considering how improving the state of nature could go hand in hand with strengthening Estonia’s defense capacity. Healthy wetlands and other natural ecosystems have been our allies for centuries – and they can be so in the future as well.