Rehabilitation of wetlands and peatlands in the Center Region (RePeat)

About this project

<p>The general objective of the wetlands and peatlands restoration in the Center region is to restore functions within degraded ecosystems, so that they can function autonomously, and consequently become an active peat bog, to accumulate peat and resume its pedochemical, pedo and hydrogeochemical functions, respectively, the species in specific habitats to function synergistically. The implementation of the project aims to restore the functions within the ecosystems by bringing back the positive hydrological balance and the plant associations characteristic of peatlands. The restoration actions on the ecosystems targeted by the project will be monitored throughout the implementation period and during the sustainability period of the project.</p> <p>The general objective of the project consists in intervention works, in order to stop the biodiversity loss of the peatlands ecosystems in the Center area, the restoration of their water system, as well as the continuous monitoring of the ecological restoration works.&nbsp;The project comprises two main types of activities. The first one aims to monitor and assess the state of degradation of peatlands (this activity is necessary because the state of peatlands has changed considerably since previous evaluation, which was carried out within the PeatRO project), to assess the peatland ecosystems, the hydrogeological and geomorphological regime, to evaluate the physico-chemical characteristics of the peat layer and water sources. The second type of activities include ecological rehabilitation works, and aims to reduce/eliminate the impact of grazing, to restore the optimal water regime, to eliminate invasive vegetation and biomass of grassy and dead wood vegetation, as well as a recolonization of characteristic vegetation in phytocenologically-degraded areas and landscaping thematic paths, both for educational purposes and for the realization of a guided tourism, with low impact on peatlands.</p>

Bilateral cooperation results

The RePeat Project was implemented through a strategic partnership between the Norwegian Bioeconomy Research Institute (NIBIO) – Partner 1, and the National Agency for Natural Protected Areas (ANANP) – Partner 2. This international collaboration significantly enhanced the project’s scope by combining complementary expertise in biodiversity conservation, peatland restoration, and sustainable land management. The cooperation with NIBIO was marked by active dialogue, technical assistance, and ongoing knowledge exchange. Norwegian experts contributed meaningfully to both the project’s technical development and its broader strategic direction. In the second year of implementation, NIBIO representatives participated in a thematic conference, sharing valuable insights into peatland restoration practices from a Nordic perspective. A highlight of the collaboration was the study visit to Norway in early 2024, during which the Romanian project team engaged in direct knowledge transfer and learning. Hosted by NIBIO, the visit provided hands-on exposure to best practices in peatland management under diverse ecological and climatic conditions. This strengthened the Romanian team’s technical capacity and supported the integration of tested restoration approaches in the local context. The project’s results were widely disseminated at international level in scientific conferences and peer-reviewed publications, reinforcing the RePeat Project’s reputation as a successful model of cross-border cooperation in ecological restoration. Importantly, the partnership with NIBIO continued beyond the project’s official timeframe. Building on the shared outcomes and strategic goals of RePeat, both institutions jointly developed and submitted a new EU funding proposal focused on ecosystem restoration and sustainable land use. This ongoing cooperation highlights the long-term impact of the project and its alignment with broader EU and national biodiversity and climate resilience priorities.

Project partners

• Norwegian Institute of Bioeconomy Research (NIBIO) Donor project partner· Norway
• National Agency for Protected Natural Areas Project partner· Romania