• In 2020, UNDP will help Belarus in restoration of two degraded peatlands with a total area of more than 9,000 ha and their climatic function
• The restoration of degraded peatlands will allow to prevent peat fires and the release of carbon dioxide through soil mineralization, as well as to restore the unique biodiversity
• The UNDP-GEF “Wetlands” project will develop the scientific justification for the restoration of eight more degraded peatlands in the Homiel region, including the territories affected by the accident at Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant
• It is expected that the rewetting of more than 12,500 ha of disturbed inefficiently drained Belarusian peatlands will allow to reduce the CO₂ emissions by 3,199,577 t CO2-eq/20y
• Belarus is one of the world leaders in ecological restoration of peatlands. More than 60,000 ha of inefficiently drained peatlands have already been restored in the country within the International Technical Assistance projects

In 2020, the number of Belarusian peatlands restored with the assistance of UNDP will be extended with two more new territories – within the UNDP-GEF “Wetlands” project the works on the restoration of inefficiently drained “Biarozavik” peatland (Smarhon district, Hrodna region, and Vilejsky district, Minsk region) with a total area of ​​4,567.8 ha have been completed and the restoration of the disturbed hydrological regime of Zhada peatland (Sharkaushchynsky and Miorsky districts of Vitebsk region) with a total area of ​​4,744.3 ha is going on. In addition, the unique method of accelerated lowland peatland restoration will be tested at the extracted Dakudaŭskaje peatland (Lidski district).

Thanks to environmental rehabilitation, the main biosphere functions of peatland ecosystems will be restored – the climate function and stabilization of the regional hydro-regime. The restoration of degraded peatlands will allow to prevent peat fires and the release of carbon dioxide through soil mineralization, as well as to restore the unique biodiversity.

Moreover, the UNDP-GEF “Wetlands” project will develop the scientific justification for the restoration of eight more degraded peatlands in the Homiel region (Chojnikski and Kalinkavičski districts), including the territories affected by the accident at Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant.

In 2019, the “Wetlands” project rehabilitated the “Astrova” and “Verachskaje” peatlands and completed the complex inventory of Belarusian peatlands in four regions – Minsk, Mahilioŭ, Hrodna and Homiel regions.

It is expected that the 5-year “Wetlands” project will allow to reduce the carbon dioxide emissions by 3,199,577 t CO2-eq/20y. This will be achieved thanks to the restoration of more than 12,500 ha of disturbed inefficiently drained Belarusian peatlands, avoided deforestation and replacement of fossil fuels with peatland biomass. The “Wetlands” project is funded by the Global Environment Facility and implemented by UNDP in Belarus in partnership with the Ministry of Environment of Belarus.

Today Belarus is one of the world leaders in ecological restoration of peatlands. More than 60,000 ha of inefficiently drained Belarusian peatlands have already been restored within the International Technical Assistance projects in Belarus. The UNDP-GEF “Wetlands” project will also contribute to this large-scale work.

The role of Belarusian peatlands in biodiversity conservation and the reduction of CO₂ emissions at the regional and global levels

Belarusian peatlands are home to more than 40% of bird species, 35% of insect species and more than 15% of wild plant species included in the Red Book of the Republic of Belarus. For such globally endangered species as the Aquatic Warbler, the Great Spotted Eagle, the Great Snipe the Belarusian peatlands are critically important for global survival.

The natural state of Belarusian peatlands allows to obtain a list of ecosystem benefits:

• save more than 7 billion cubic meters of fresh water;
• provide sustainable water supply for rivers and lakes;
• save about 500 million tons of carbon in the peatlands;
• ensure annual removal of about 900 thousand tons of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere;
• ensure the restoration of more than 10 thousand tons of biological resources, such as cranberries, per year;
• to develop eco-tourism focused on the recreational potential of peatlands.