A 70-year-old Dutch biologist argues that reviving drained peatlands offers both a natural defense against Russian aggression and a vital tool in the climate fight.

Amsterdam, — For decades, Hans Vermeer has been known in scientific circles as the “peatland pope,” a tireless advocate for the restoration of Europe’s vanishing wetlands. At 70, the Dutch biologist has found his research unexpectedly thrust into the geopolitical spotlight. His controversial thesis is simple: salvaging Europe’s drained peatlands is not just a matter of climate urgency — it could also serve as a cost-effective defense strategy against Vladimir Putin’s forces.

“Nature has always been Europe’s first line of defense,” Vermeer told reporters in Amsterdam this month. “Peatlands that were once drained for agriculture or development can be re-wetted. The result is twofold: they lock in carbon, slowing climate change, and they create a natural barrier that no tank can easily cross.”

A Defense Strategy Rooted in History

The idea may sound unconventional, but it has deep roots in military history. During World War II, armies on both sides struggled to maneuver across swampy terrain in Eastern Europe. In Ukraine, partisan fighters relied on wetlands to outmaneuver German divisions. In Estonia, Soviet engineers attempted — with limited success — to drain peat bogs to secure supply lines.

Now, as the war in Ukraine grinds into its fourth year, policymakers are revisiting these lessons. Ukraine has quietly begun testing re-wetting projects along parts of its northern border, both to restore ecosystems and to complicate potential incursions. Estonia, too, has expressed interest in the approach, seeing restored wetlands as both climate buffers and defensive assets.

A Divided Europe

Not all European governments are convinced. In Poland, where drained peatlands cover vast tracts of farmland, farmers have resisted proposals to re-flood the land, fearing economic losses. Germany, which faces pressure to hit strict climate targets, has cautiously supported pilot projects but stopped short of endorsing peatlands as military infrastructure.

“Defense ministries want guarantees, not experiments,” said Anna Müller, a Berlin-based security analyst. “The science is strong on carbon storage, but the military benefits of wetlands as obstacles are harder to quantify.”

Vermeer dismisses the skepticism. He argues that wetlands can complement existing fortifications at a fraction of the cost. “It’s cheaper to restore a peatland than to build a wall or deploy a brigade permanently,” he said. “And unlike concrete, peat breathes life back into the land.”

The Climate Stakes

Beyond military strategy, the climate implications are enormous. Drained peatlands account for nearly 5% of global greenhouse gas emissions, even though they cover less than 3% of the Earth’s surface. Re-wetting these ecosystems halts carbon leakage and can transform them back into vast carbon sinks.

“Peatlands are Europe’s silent lungs,” Vermeer explained. “They store more carbon than all the forests of the continent combined. Losing them is like cutting off our oxygen supply.”

Environmental groups have rallied behind the idea, pushing for EU funding to support large-scale restoration. But even among climate advocates, linking wetlands to defense strategies has raised eyebrows. Critics fear it risks militarizing conservation and distracting from the primary mission of ecological recovery.

Ukraine’s Experiment

For Ukrainians living near the northern wetlands, the argument is far less abstract. Local officials report that re-wetted peat bogs have already slowed Russian armored advances in some areas. “We did not set out to turn swamps into fortresses,” said Oleksandr Kovalenko, an environmental officer in Chernihiv. “But it turns out that nature fights better than we imagined.”

The European Commission has not yet issued an official position on the dual-use strategy, but diplomats say the idea is gaining traction, particularly as defense budgets swell across NATO.

A Pope Without a Church?

Whether Hans Vermeer’s vision will be embraced remains uncertain. To his admirers, he is a visionary who has found common cause between two of the century’s greatest challenges: climate change and European security. To his critics, he is an idealist whose faith in wetlands borders on obsession.

Yet the “peatland pope” remains undeterred. Standing in a Dutch bog where restoration efforts are underway, Vermeer summed up his philosophy: “If we want peace and a stable climate, we must learn again to fight with nature, not against it.”

*This is a developing story. Updates will follow as EU policymakers debate the role of wetlands in Europe’s future defense strategy.*