What drives nature restoration in practice? – NABU

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Episode eight of Steps for Nature is live! In this episode, we speak with Tilmann from NABU about peatland restoration and the conditions that shape how it is implemented. We look at how peatlands are being reframed in policy and practice, and how land use decisions and incentive-based tools can support restoration efforts.

Tilmann Disselhoff, *Photo: Marvin Gabriel/NABU*

“The Baltic countries—Finland, northeast Germany, and so on—that’s where you find a lot of peatlands. So if we don’t offer a solution to the people living there and design a common idea of a future with rewetted peatlands—where they continue to live there and make their money on these lands—then it will probably not happen. Because why would these people choose to go against their own interests?” – Tilmann Disselhoff

*NABU on site in Malpils, Latvia. Photo: Kaspars Teilans*

The Nature and Biodiversity Conservation Union (NABU) is Germany’s oldest and largest environment association, with more than 980,000 members and supporters working to protect nature, biodiversity, and natural resources across Germany and beyond. Founded in 1899, it combines conservation work on the ground with policy engagement, research, and public awareness activities, aiming to promote a more sustainable relationship between society and nature.

*NABU Climate Fund site, Ahlen-Falkenberger Moor, Germany.*
*Photos: Carla Herrmann*

Building on its broader work in ecosystem restoration, biodiversity conservation, climate action, and civil society engagement, NABU’s peatland initiatives focus on restoring wetlands to their natural functions as carbon sinks and biodiversity-rich ecosystems. NABU’s EU-cofunded projects such as LIFE Peat Restore, LIFE Multi Peat, LIFE PeatCarbon, LIFE Biodiv CrEW and LIFE SUPER EU, as well as cooperations with corporate partners through the NABU Climate Fund, pioneer approaches ranging from large-scale rewetting and greenhouse gas monitoring to biodiversity credit systems and innovative financing models that can support long-term restoration efforts.

Learn more:

Nature and Biodiversity Conservation Union (NABU)
NABU and Wetlands
[Video] We heal peatlands: For climate protection, water quality and biodiversity