Ukraine’s wetlands are critical for biodiversity, water security and climate regulation. Globally, peatlands store over 600 gigatons of carbon and absorb 0.37 gigatons of CO₂ annually, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature.
Although Ukraine has a modest share of wetlands, its peatlands remain strategically important. Some areas are protected within the Emerald Network, yet key legislation remains stalled in Ukraine’s Verkhovna Rada. Unprotected wetlands are often treated as peat and amber resources, and are subject to many extraction permits.
Drained peatlands pose severe environmental risks. Decomposition releases greenhouse gases and increases wildfire frequency. Ukraine lacks a national peatland restoration program. There are a handful of pilot restoration projects taking place in nature reserves and national parks.
Legal reforms mandated peatland protection rules in 2020, but the Cabinet has not yet adopted any new regulations. In 2025, the abolition of the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources of Ukraine further complicated their governance.
Rewetting degraded peat quickly reduces CO₂ emissions and restores hydrological stability. Intact peatlands act as natural flood buffers and strategic defense landscapes. Without a moratorium on peat extraction and drainage, carbon losses will accelerate.
A national restoration program, permit cancellations and hydrological recovery plans are essential to protect Ukraine’s peatlands.
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