Peatland rewetting agreements
Compensation for landowners who rewet drained peatland, with planning and ditch plugging paid for by the Swedish Forest Agency.
Tämän rahoitusmahdollisuuden kuvaus on toistaiseksi englanniksi.
Raise the groundwater level by blocking drainage ditches on peatland to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions. You sign a 50-year rewetting agreement and receive a one-off payment for the resulting reduction in land value. The Swedish Forest Agency pays for planning and carrying out the ditch plugging.
Your payment depends on the area affected, the county and the site’s fertility. The highest 2026 rate is SEK 77,200 per hectare for very fertile sites in Skåne, Halland and Blekinge. The valuation reflects lower tree growth and the ground’s reduced ability to carry heavy machinery. You retain the timber value and the agreement does not prohibit using or harvesting the trees; no compensation is paid for them.
Eligibility
The agency prioritises fertile, drained peatland with functioning ditches. Current priorities include at least one hectare with peat at least 30 cm deep, reasonably flat ground and an affected area confined to one property.
Other priorities are sites not affected by a jointly organised land-drainage scheme. Plugging should not involve straightened natural streams or ditches flowing all year, or harm roads, other infrastructure or protected cultural remains. Side ditches can be suitable. Sites with a high proportion of forest already holding high conservation value are not prioritised.
In Götaland and climatically warmer parts of Svealand and Norrland, the agency considers rewetting climate-beneficial on all but the poorest peat soils. In the rest of Sweden, former agricultural land is the main candidate for agreements. These are screening priorities: you can submit an expression of interest if unsure about your site.
The agency can currently arrange both planning and plugging only for landowners who sign an agreement. Rewetting usually reduces tree growth and limits access by heavy machines, except on well-frozen ground or during prolonged drought.
How to apply
- Tila
- Jatkuva haku
- Hakukierroksen ehdot
- Nonbinding expressions of interest; site assessment and a 50-year agreement required for compensation.
Submit the agency’s online expression-of-interest form. Give your contact details, property name and number, municipality, approximate area and location, and whether drainage or neighbouring properties are involved.
The expression of interest is nonbinding. The agency first checks the site on maps, then contacts you, normally within a couple of months. If the site meets the requirements and the agency and county administrative board find no other obstacles, you agree a rewetting plan and sign the contract.