Security from the Ground Up: Soils and the Foundations of Resilience

In Ukraine, where the destruction of war converges with the pressures of climate change, millions of hectares of farmland, forests, wetlands, and peatlands have been mined, contaminated, or waterlogged. These damaged landscapes threaten ecosystems, rural livelihoods, and long-term recovery. Restoring them is not only an ecological responsibility — it is a strategic investment in resilience, stability, and durable peace.

Healthy soils and rewetted peatlands strengthen security on multiple fronts: enabling productive agriculture, stabilizing water and energy systems, storing carbon, reducing emissions, and enhancing territorial resilience.Emerging research on “defence mires” demonstrates how restored peatlands can provide natural protection while delivering climate and biodiversity benefits.

This high-level session explores how land restoration, soil governance, and ecosystem recovery — including peatland rewetting — can advance climate resilience and underpin Ukraine’s green reconstruction, contributing to broader regional stability — building security from the ground up.