Posted on August 27, 2025
Finland and Poland consider restoring border wetlands to curb climate change and hinder military threats, with most European bogs lying along Russia’s frontier.
The governments of Finland and Poland are seriously weighing the idea of restoring wetlands along their border regions. According to Politico, the initiative pursues two goals at once: addressing the climate crisis and creating a natural barrier against what they view as a potential military threat from Russia.
Journalists note that peat bogs have the capacity to absorb carbon dioxide, thereby helping to slow global warming. At the same time, swampy terrain poses significant obstacles for the movement of military equipment, including tanks. By contrast, drained peatlands not only emit greenhouse gases but also make it easier for heavy vehicles to pass.
Politico reported that officials in both Finland and Poland confirmed they are actively studying wetland restoration as a dual-purpose measure to strengthen border security and combat climate change. The outlet highlighted that many of Europe’s remaining bogs are located precisely along the frontier with Russia.
The article also recalled an earlier proposal by Dutch biologist Hans Joosten, who suggested that Europe’s wetlands could serve as natural defensive lines in the event of a military threat from the Russian army.
