We’re excited to announce that RESTORE4Cs, alongside its Horizon Europe Sister Projects, ALFAwetlands, REWET and WET HORIZONS, will be participating in the upcoming 12th INTECOL International Wetlands Conference, held jointly with the 20th Annual Meeting of the Society of Wetland Scientists Europe Chapter, from 29 June to 4 July 2025 in Tartu, Estonia.
Hosted at the remarkable Estonian National Museum, this global gathering will bring together wetland researchers, practitioners, and policymakers to advance the science and practice of wetland conservation and restoration.
Joint Scientific Session: Symposium 13 “Restoration of wetlands: Pathways, trade-offs and co-benefits”
🗓 30 June 2025 | 🕚 11:15–12:45 | 📍 Maailmafilm Hall
A key highlight of the conference will be Symposium 13, jointly organised by coordinators and researchers from the four EU-funded wetland restoration Sister Projects, RESTORE4Cs, REWET, WET HORIZONS, and ALFAwetlands. This session will address the multifunctional role of wetlands in climate change mitigation, including carbon sequestration, GHG regulation, biodiversity support, and water protection.
With a strong collaborative foundation of over 40 partner organisations across Europe, the Sister Projects aim to accelerate the restoration of natural wetlands, peatlands, mineral coastal wetlands, and floodplains, focusing on long-term climate resilience.
Confirmed Speakers & Presentations:
- Melanie Vile | West Chester University
The Future Role of Boreal Peatland Ecosystems in a Changing Climate: Oil Sands Mining and Global Warming in Alberta, Canada - Kris Decleer | INBO
Forty Years of Fen Meadow Restoration in the Valley of the Zuidleie (Belgium): Lessons Learnt - Tuula Larmola | Natural Resources Institute Finland
Moss Vegetation Impacts Ditch Methane Emissions from Boreal Forestry-Drained Peatlands - Shubiao Wu | Aarhus University
WET HORIZONS – Upgrading Knowledge and Solutions to Fast-Track Wetland Restoration Across Europe - António J.A. Nogueira | University of Aveiro
AquaLinks Tool – A Versatile Tool to Address Causal Links in Aquatic Ecosystems - Liisa Ukonmaanaho | Luke
Greening vs Rewetting of Abandoned Peat Extraction Sites and Their Climate Impact in Life Cycle Assessment - Ilona Tamm | University of Tartu
Slow Vegetation Recovery in Restored Wetlands Delays Achieving Climate Mitigation Effects
Session co-organisers:
PhD. Liisa Ukonmaanaho, PhD. Vanessa Ferreira de Almeida, PhD. Ana Lillebø, Ass. Prof. Shubiao Wu, PhD. Tuula Larmola
We also welcome external contributions on topics related to wetland restoration, including biodiversity conservation, water protection, and ecosystem service enhancement.
Joint Exhibition Booth: Explore Our Work!
In addition to the scientific programme, RESTORE4Cs, ALFAwetlands, REWET and WET HORIZONS will co-host a joint exhibition booth at the conference, on the ground floor of the Estonian National Museum. Stop by to discover:
- Projects goals and Case Pilots
- Innovative methodologies
- Early results and tools like the AquaLinks Tool
- Communication materials and brochures
- How the Sister Projects collectively contribute to a climate-resilient Europe
Engage with project partners and learn more by joining our LinkedIn Group for Wetlands Restoration:
🔗 https://www.linkedin.com/groups/10046631/
Why Attend INTECOL 2025?
This year’s edition features:
- 12 global plenary speakers
- 16 thematic symposia and 2 workshops
- 10 technical tours across Estonia’s diverse wetlands
- 9 core themes including ecology, socio-economics, and biogeochemistry
The Welcome Reception will take place at the Estonian National Museum, and the Conference Dinner will be held at the AHHAA Science Centre, offering great opportunities for networking in inspiring settings.
Join Us in Tartu!
We invite warmly invite all researchers, practitioners, policymakers, NGOs, and all wetland enthusiasts to engage with RESTORE4Cs and Sister Project at INTECOL 2025. Learn about how we are accelerating wetland restoration to tackle climate change, protect biodiversity, and safeguard ecosystem services. Together, let’s advance wetland restoration to combat climate change and protect Europe’s biodiversity.
See you in Tartu this summer, stay tuned for more updates as we count down to this milestone event in wetland science!
More info about the program and RESTORE4Cs & Sister Projects’ participation in the 12th INTECOL Wetlands Conference: here.
Read more about the Symposium 13: INTECOL Wetlands 2025 Symposia
📧 For delegate enquiries: intecolwetlands2025@publicon.ee
