As part of a broader Baltic border defense line, Lithuania plans to restore marshes along its borders, and while Russian propagandists have already laughed at the idea, the marshes have proven themselves to be an effective countermeasure to military action.
In Lithuania, marshes, which cover almost 10% of the country’s territory, have long been used as a natural defensive barrier, including in the Middle Ages to hold back the armies of the Livonian Order. Some marshy areas have been irretrievably lost due to economic activity.
Next year, Lithuania will allocate about ten million euros for a pilot project to test the restoration of marshes. Povilas Poderskis, a representative of the Ministry of the Environment, said that they are currently assessing where the restoration of marshes will have the greatest effect, and where the project could begin.
The planned nature restoration regulation provides that, starting next year, the restoration of bogs will begin on an area of approximately 40,000 hectares.
What bog restoration looks like in real life can be seen in the Aukštumala bog in Šilūtė County.
The bog, which was once drained for peat extraction, is full of water again, but it took many years.
Nerijus Zableckis, head of the Bog Restoration and Protection Foundation, pointed out that restoration methods depend on the type of bog. In high bogs, which are fed only by precipitation, it is necessary to ensure that the water remains in the bog. On the other hand, if it is a bog and a stream or river flows through it, it may be necessary to build a dam.
Russian propagandists have already managed to announce that bogs will not stop Russian soldiers. However, the war in Ukraine has shown that swampy areas are a significant obstacle for heavy equipment, and also for infantry. The tragic incident in Lithuania, when American soldiers died in a swamp during training, also reminded of the dangers of swamps.
Deputy Minister of Defense Tomas Godliauskas said that initial estimates show that swamps can be restored along about 3-4% of the border length.
Read the full article in English here: https://www.lrt.lt/en/news-in-english/19/2714410/swamp-defence-lithuania-plans-to-restore-border-marshes-as-part-of-new-defence-line
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