Policy Brief - Restoring Peatlands on Private Land Requires Enabling Policy Instruments and Local Action

The policy brief "Restoring Peatlands on Private Land Requires Incentives and Local Engagement" is based on interviews with Finnish restoration actors and identifies key barriers and proposed measures to accelerate peatland restoration in Finland—highlighting the need for stronger incentives, clear operational models, and local cooperation.

Background

To meet the EU regulation’s requirements, Finland must significantly increase the scale of peatland restoration—both in terms of speed and land area—on state and private lands alike. The goal is to halt biodiversity loss, prevent the degradation of water systems, and mitigate climate change.

Large-scale restoration efforts at the landscape or catchment area level would enhance the effectiveness and impact of the restoration actions. However, this demands more diverse strategies for organizing and supporting restoration efforts than those used thus far.

GTK’s new policy brief outlines key measures to expand peatland restoration in Finland.