Rewet Project

The REWET project aims at facilitating the sustainable restoration and conservation of terrestrial wetlands, including freshwater wetlands, peatlands, and floodplains. Drawing upon experiences collected by a network of seven demonstrators, the so-called Open Labs, REWET will cover a range of local conditions, geographic characteristics, governance structures and social/cultural settings over more than 2,400 ha.

In the Open Labs, the REWET consortium will apply the most fit-for-purpose technologies to monitor greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, biodiversity, and meteorological events. Moreover, the consortium will address the social aspect of sustainability by evaluating gender differences and key stakeholders’ acceptance. Thanks to the Open Labs, REWET will investigate the wetlands-carbon-climate nexus and provide a replication plan to boost successful wetlands restoration throughout Europe and internationally.

In addition, the REWET project also aims at mapping, assessing, and modelling the current and future status of all EU wetlands. As one of its main outcomes, the REWET project will deliver a wetlands inventory with carbon sink potential, models for wetlands GHG emissions/sequestration under different scenarios such as climate change, as well as policy recommendations for wetlands restoration, sound business models and a roadmap for replication. These studies are expected to fill in the gaps in wetlands science and provide guidance for cost-effective restoration and monitoring practices that are environmentally friendly, compatible with climate changes, and also provide innovative ecosystem services.