In a nutshell

LIFE Mires Estonia restored the natural water regime on 7,900 hectares of mires across six protected areas, helping peatland ecosystems recover and supporting species like western capercaillie, willow grouse, moor frog, dragonflies, and bog butterflies. Beyond fieldwork, the team invested in education and culture, from school films to a children’s fairy-tale book, reconnecting people with wetlands and their benefits for climate, water, and nature.

Why it matters

A century of drainage, mining, and infrastructure degraded ~700,000 ha of Estonian peatlands; the ditch network is so extensive it could circle the globe. Restoring hydrology stops biodiversity loss, locks carbon, and stabilizes water regulation, with gains that last for generations.

“Restoration works best when ecology walks hand in hand with culture, community and communication.” – Jüri-Ott Salm

What was innovative

• Landscape-scale hydrology: Thousands of peat dams planned using scientific water-flow modeling to maximize recovery and avoid adverse impacts.
• Culture + science: Interviews, cultural history database, nine school films, and hands-on events made restoration tangible and widely supported.
• Access for all: An inclusive study trail brought mire restoration to every visitor.

Achievements & impact

• 7,900 ha restored; mires already visibly more vibrant.
• Biodiversity comeback: In Soosaare, meadow pipits rose from zero to among the most numerous species within five years.
• People power: 600+ volunteers building dams and monitoring wildlife.
• Knowledge & outreach: 300+ media articles, nine films (100,000+ views), 60+ conferences, a handbook, and inputs to national & EU strategies.
• New methods: Practical guidance for peat-mining site restoration now used nationwide.

Partnerships that made it work

A whole-of-society effort: University of Tartu, NGO Arheovision, Ministry of the Environment, Environmental Board, State Forest Management Centre, municipalities, schools, NGOs, landowners, local communities, plus volunteers from Estonia and abroad. Even the President of Estonia visited and voiced support.

Lessons to copy

• Plan for time: Permits, fieldwork, and natural recovery take longer than expected.
• Monitor from day one: Fund long-term hydrology & biodiversity monitoring to guide adaptive management and capture climate impacts.
• Co-design locally: Interviews, meetings, and flexible plans build trust and ownership.

Replication & what’s next

Approaches are scaling through WaterLANDS (to 2026) and LIFE AdaptEst (to 2032), with new restorations in Pärnumaa and Alam-Pedja. Several LIFE sites now serve as learning hubs for practitioners, students, and communities in Estonia and beyond.

LIFE success

Large-scale hydrology restored, wildlife returning, public on board, and a national movement to value mires for climate, water, and wonder.