Major efforts by SCA to rewet land

“Since 2021, we have rewetted over 530 hectares on SCA's land. This benefits the environment in many ways, including the climate,” says Anna Cabrajic, forest ecologist at SCA.

In the 1930s and 1940s, many wetlands were drained to boost forest production and create more arable land for agriculture. At that time, these measures were economically supported by the state. Some wetlands were also drained to be used as peat extraction sites.

However, drainage led to the degradation of habitats for many plants and animals dependent on wet areas. The drainage also diminished the wetlands' ability to function as filtration systems.

“An undrained wetland acts as a biological filter by capturing nutrients and heavy metals. It also has a balancing function for water flow during periods of heavy rain or drought. When the land becomes drier, these functions decrease,” says Anna Cabrajic.

Drainage also results in carbon dioxide emissions, as organic material in the soil emits carbon dioxide when it comes into contact with oxygen and begins to decompose.

Valuable flooding

For several years now, SCA has been actively working to restore wetlands.
“We have rewetted just over 400 hectares ourselves since 2021. Additionally, we have hosted another 130 hectares where other stakeholders have funded, planned, and implemented measures,” says Anna Cabrajic.

The figures also include the restoration of so-called floodplains.

“A floodplain is an area along the flat parts of a watercourse that becomes regularly flooded. These unique conditions create complex and valuable ecosystems,” explains Anna Cabrajic.

Floodplains were common in the past, but many disappeared during the timber floating era.

“At that time, they wanted deep, well-defined waterways to ensure smooth timber transport. Various measures were taken to adapt watercourses, reducing flooding, which significantly impacted ecosystems and habitats.”

Benefits in many ways

The benefits of restoring wetlands and floodplains are significant in multiple ways. The positive effects depend on the type of action taken.

“When it comes to restoring wetlands, we help recreate the natural hydrology of the area. This means the land becomes wetter, and the water remains for longer, improving purification,” says Anna Cabrajic.

Restoration is also valuable for many animals, such as wading birds, amphibians, and insects, as well as plants that thrive in or near water.

“For some birds, it is also important to remove trees that started growing when the area dried up. This restores open sightlines, helping the birds detect predators more easily.”

The climate benefits of rewetting depend on the type of land involved. Nutrient-rich soils provide significantly greater benefits than nutrient-poor soils.

“There are several aspects to consider. If restoration creates open water surfaces, it can cause methane emissions, but without such water surfaces, the climate benefit is generally positive. And when restoring old peat extraction sites, the climate benefit becomes particularly significant,” says Anna Cabrajic.

Restoring habitats

For floodplain restoration, the focus is primarily on restoring the watercourse's width during spring floods, allowing water to spread into surrounding forests and create wetter soil. This recreates various habitats, such as shallow pools, small streams, and floodplain forests.
“These habitats are crucial for many insects, birds, and plants. Some also serve as spawning grounds for fish. Restoration also allows deciduous trees to reclaim areas previously overtaken by spruce when the land dried up, which can benefit species like the white-backed woodpecker,” says Anna Cabrajic.

More restorations planned

Most of SCA's wetland restorations have been carried out using so-called LONA grants, which aim to stimulate long-term local nature conservation efforts. It is the largest initiative for local nature conservation in Sweden. Municipalities can apply for the grant, but SCA and other stakeholders can initiate projects.

“SCA's goal for 2025 is to complete four wetland restorations on our land, either independently or in collaboration with others. However, we will likely exceed that goal. In addition to our efforts, there is significant interest, especially from authorities, in undertaking measures on our land. This is a great complement to the projects we run ourselves. It’s exciting to see so much happening in this area, and it feels meaningful,” concludes Anna Cabrajic.