- Nature reacts directly, says Mikael Burgman at the County Administrative Board. And as a confirmation of that, both Louise and Bosse from Sveaskog are bitten by the echo they rescue from the wetland at the opening in Hannäs parish between Falerum and Rumma.

Thanks to the wetland initiative, things are happening right now, they mean.

- The stork is on its way back to southern Sweden and in Östergötland both cranes and song swans remain, instead of flying up north and nesting.

Sveaskog soaks productive woodland

- Yes, it is perfect with a wetland. And restoration of wetlands is very important to get more species in the area. Creating biodiversity also benefits forestry, says Louise Åkerstedt, environmental and nature conservation specialist at Sveaskog.

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The Nature Conservation Association has funded Sveaskog's new wetland. Photo: Lena Liljeborg / SVT

The Nature Conservation Association has funded this wetland on Sveaskog's land right next to Åsens nature reserve.

- It was bedded and clear. So it's just fun that we can contribute something, says Barbro Carlberg from the Swedish Society for Nature Conservation, together with Kaxe. Photo: Lena Liljeborg / SVT

The big drying

It is about millions of hectares of land that has been dry-laid and ditched since the late 18th century, lands that have almost disappeared - drained fields, sunken lakes, extinct forest.

- We have a huge debt after all the extinctions, says Mikael Burgman.

The drained peat soils on arable land and woodland leak large amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.

- The leak corresponds annually to emissions from all of Sweden's car traffic, says Mikael Burgman.

Gotland's wetlands

In Gotland, 14 wetlands have been constructed over the past five years.

- They amount to a total of 100 hectares and have been funded by the Rural Development Program's environmental investment support, says Gösta Cedergren on Gotland County Administrative Board.

In addition, 10 combi dams (irrigation + biodiversity or phosphorus purification) on a total of 40 hectares have been built and in addition, additional wetlands have been built in other projects,

- To benefit waders, we have built a wetland of about 17 ha, says David Lundgren at the county administrative board Nature Conservation Unit. They have also restored and created three small waters, and hope to be able to add with restored rickshaws and small waters.

- It is a real PR hygiene! If you compare how cozy it can look, this is an example with so much conservation considerations, says Mikael Burgman. Photo: Lena Liljeborg / SVT

The wetlands of Östergötland

In 2018, 30 hectares of wetlands were created in Östergötland county. From 2010 to 2018, approximately 180 hectares of wetlands were planted or restored in the county.

The wetlands have been built mainly in the cultivation landscape and mostly with funds from the EU's Rural Program.

It has produced good results locally, but the pace of action is too low and the scope too small to reverse the negative development nationally, says the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency.

- The restoration of wetlands is important for aquatic organisms and insects, which in turn leads to more other species in the area, says Louise Åkerstedt at Sveaskog. Photo: Lena Liljeborg / SVT

Sveaskog

Several wetland projects are under way at Sveaskog. In the Outer Municipality, a pond is currently being adjusted to allow fish to migrate in the waterways. And in 2021, a new wetland project is planned in areas around Misterhult outside Oskarshamn. They also work in wetlands in Böda Eco Park on Öland and in Högsby along Emån.