During 2024, over 31 square kilometers of wetlands were restored, according to the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency's compilation.
It is primarily in protected areas such as nature reserves that wetlands have been restored and reinstated by the country's county administrative boards through state funds distributed by the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency.
The most common measure was to restore the land's natural water conditions, so-called hydrological restoration. This is done primarily by filling in or plugging ditches, followed by removing bushes and trees that cause the wetland to grow over and gradually become drier.
Including wetlands restored with funds from the Swedish Board of Agriculture and the Swedish Agency for Marine and Water Management, a total of 35 square kilometers were restored in 2024.
“Wetlands can contribute to many different benefits, such as reducing greenhouse gas emissions or protecting against flooding, drought, or fire. But no single wetland can contribute to all benefits. Therefore, it is crucial that the right measure is taken in the right place in the landscape for maximum effect,” says Karin Glaumann, wetland strategist at the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency.
