Wetland restoration as no-regret intervention: taking action despite knowledge gaps 

The EU Nature Restoration Regulation (NRR) provides political momentum and establishes binding targets for restoring degraded ecosystems, including wetlands and peatlands. However, reaching these targets risks being delayed due to perceived knowledge gaps. A REWET policy brief by IUCN NL argues that these gaps should not become an excuse for inaction. The policy brief proposes an approach that advances restoration targets while systematically closing knowledge gaps. 

Header photo: Drenthe, Netherlands © Matthias Groeneveld / Pexels

Knowledge gaps: A barrier, but not an excuse for inaction 

The implementation of the NRR is entering a critical phase, as Member States begin formulating their National Restoration Plans to meet 2030, 2040, and 2050 targets. However, knowledge gaps put the achievement of these targets at risk.  These gaps include inconsistent definitions of peatlands, fragmented data on greenhouse gas emissions, and the lack of a centralized monitoring database. Policymakers may lack key data to identify wetlands with the highest biodiversity value or carbon sequestration potential. While robust evidence is crucial, these gaps cannot become an excuse for delay – urgent action is crucial for our environment and climate.  

A two-fold approach: adaptive restoration and deliberate knowledge building  

The policy brief advocates a two-fold strategy that allows action and learning to go hand in hand: 

1. Restoration should proceed based on the best available information. Adaptive rewetting policy and practice can evolve as new knowledge emerges. 

2. Deliberate support for research and knowledge exchange is needed to close data gaps: this includes developing cross-border data platforms, establishing clear definitions for wetlands, funding long-term monitoring, and training a new generation of wetland experts. 

Three creative ways of dealing with data gaps and adaptively managing restoration 

The policy brief provides three real-world examples, in which knowledge gaps were creatively addressed and where restoration was managed adaptively: 

• Venice Lagoon, Italy: Even with limited data, strong political will, interdisciplinary collaboration, and a sense of ecological urgency drove restoration efforts. Wetlands were revived to counter coastal erosion, and harmful algal blooms were tackled through joint research and practical action. 

• Somerset Levels and Moors, UK: An adaptive restoration strategy united farmers, conservationists, and researchers. Through the testing of flood control, rewetting, and biodiversity measures, solutions were co-developed to benefit both people and nature. 

• Paul da Goucha, Portugal: Restoration began on this degraded REWET site even before complete data was available. Over time, local engagement, supportive policies, and evolving knowledge transformed a polluted area into a thriving nature reserve. 

REWET: a laboratory on European scale  

REWET is a laboratory for the restoration of wetlands at European scale. In the REWET project, funded by the European Union, NGOs, universities, companies and institutions joined forces to study the full potential of wetland areas. With information from seven open laboratories, we are developing a comprehensive understanding of how European wetlands can best contribute to climate mitigation and adaptation.