A small Finnish village in North Karelia has transformed a barren peat mining site into Linnunsuo, the “Marsh of Birds,” now home to over 190 bird species and visited by 100,000 migrating geese each autumn. The restoration, led by climate scientist Tero Mustonen and the Snowchange Cooperative, began after a 2010 environmental disaster when acidic runoff from mining killed fish and seagulls in the Jukajoki River.
The team bought the 1.1 km² site and restored water to the damaged peatland, creating interconnected pools that submerged acidic soils, halted harmful emissions, and turned the area from a carbon source into a carbon sink. Wildlife recovery was rapid: endangered Northern Pintails and Greater Spotted Eagles now nest there, while bears, moose, and wolverines visit regularly. Sphagnum moss has naturally returned, ensuring long-term carbon storage.
The project integrates community involvement with science. Local hunters help manage invasive species, and residents act as stewards, preserving traditional hunting and fishing while protecting wildlife. Initially, only 12 of the village’s 300 residents worked on restoration, but the success attracted international attention, expanding Snowchange’s work to 550 km² across Finland.
Finland faces major peatland challenges: nearly half of its peatlands have been drained or mined, contributing significantly to global carbon emissions. The Linnunsuo project demonstrates that community-led restoration can reverse environmental damage, store carbon, protect biodiversity, and maintain cultural traditions. Mustonen’s efforts earned him the 2023 Goldman Environmental Prize.
Linnunsuo has become a global model for peatland conservation, showing how local action, traditional knowledge, and scientific methods can transform degraded landscapes into thriving ecosystems with lasting environmental and social benefits.
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https://happyeconews.com/peatland-rewilding/
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