LocationsBringing Life Back to the Wetlands: Restoring Ecosystems in the Chernobyl-Affected Territories
April 26, 2026
In 2026, the world marks 40 years since the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant accident. Today, new approaches are emerging in the affected areas to manage natural ecosystems, reduce climate risks, and restore ecological balance. One of the key priorities is the restoration of degraded peatlands and drained wetlands.
Why wetlands matter for climate and the environment
Wetlands play several critical ecological functions. They store and regulate freshwater, supporting the stability of rivers, lakes, and surrounding ecosystems. In their natural state, Belarusian wetlands - covering around 863,000 hectares - absorb approximately 900,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide annually and release about 630,000 tonnes of oxygen. The country’s wetlands store around 500 million tonnes of carbon, representing a major natural carbon reservoir directly linked to climate stability.
Drainage of wetlands and degradation of peatlands lead to multiple adverse impacts: disruption of hydrological regimes, loss of biodiversity, increased fire risk, and accelerated greenhouse gas emissions. Today, Belarus has around 190,000 hectares of degraded lands, contributing to heightened climate vulnerability.
UNDP contribution: from pilot projects to systemic change
UNDP in Belarus has been consistently supporting peatland and wetland restoration since 2005, working with national and international partners.
This support includes strengthening legislation and strategic frameworks, developing technical standards and methodological guidance, and implementing pilot projects on the restoration of degraded peatlands and drained wetlands. It also involves training specialists, engaging local communities, and advancing systems for monitoring carbon balance and greenhouse gas emissions.
As a result, Belarus has established a modern legal and institutional framework, including a Law on Protection and Use of Peatlands, national strategies, and technical regulations on ecological rehabilitation.
With direct UNDP support, more than 50,000 hectares of degraded peatlands and drained wetlands have been restored across the country.
Contribution to the global climate and nature agenda
Wetland restoration is directly aligned with the global climate agenda. These ecosystems are highly effective at capturing and retaining carbon. By restoring wetlands, we help revive their natural functions and preserve biodiversity.
This contributes to Belarus’s commitments under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, the Convention on Biological Diversity, the Convention to Combat Desertification, and the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands.
Chernobyl territories: a unique environmental context
Restoration is particularly complex - and especially important - in the Polesie State Radiation and Ecological Reserve. These areas are affected by long-lived radionuclides that can migrate through water and air, especially during fires. Drained wetlands and degraded peatlands in such conditions pose heightened risks, as they are more fire-prone, and fires can lead to the secondary spread of radioactive substances far beyond the Reserve territory.
Restoring the water regime therefore has a dual effect: reducing fire risk and helping to stabilize radionuclides within peat layers.
Systemic peatland and wetland restoration in the Chernobyl-affected areas
In 2026, UNDP, together with the Scientific and Practical Center for Bioresources of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus, prepared a scientific justification for the ecological rehabilitation of the “Kolybanskoye” peatland (480 hectares) in the Polesie Reserve. This continues systematic efforts to restore degraded ecosystems based on modern science and international best practices.
Together with the Polesie State Radiation and Ecological Reserve, UNDP organized expert meetings and conferences in Khoiniki and Minsk, bringing together more than 110 specialists and experts and strengthening cross-sectoral exchange on restoration approaches.
Analytical work has also included assessment and forecasting of greenhouse gas emission reductions resulting from peatland and wetland restoration. These findings confirm the significant climate benefits of such interventions and their contribution to national and global climate goals.
A pathway to a sustainable post-Chernobyl future
Forty years after Chernobyl, recovery efforts in affected territories are moving beyond remediation toward long-term climate and environmental strategy.
Belarus’s experience in peatland and wetland restoration shows that investment in natural ecosystems delivers measurable results - from reduced greenhouse gas emissions to stronger resilience and biodiversity conservation.
Continuing this work remains a key contribution to global climate commitments and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals.