Germany’s €24M RePeat Project to Revive Rare Bogs by 2035
A major peatland restoration project has launched in the Hannover Region. Called RePeat, it aims to rewet three rare bogs by 2035 while balancing ecological and agricultural needs. The initiative officially began on 1 January 2026 with €24 million in funding from regional and EU sources.
The RePeat project will restore near-natural water levels across 1,840 hectares of peatland. The sites—Altwarmbüchen Moor, Rehburg Moor, and Trunnenmoor—span seven municipalities, including Neustadt am Rübenberge, Burgdorf, and parts of Hannover. These bogs are already protected under the EU Habitats Directive as part of the Natura 2000 network.
Rewetting the peatlands is designed to revive sphagnum moss and other native species. The project builds on the success of the earlier LIFE+ 'Hannoversche Moorgeest' scheme. Funding includes €10 million from the EU’s LIFE programme, with the Hannover Region and partner organisations each contributing €12 million. Public engagement and fair treatment of landowners are central to the plan. Farmers and private owners will not face disadvantages from the changes. Project leaders emphasise that sustainable peatland development must go hand in hand with conservation efforts.
By 2035, the RePeat project expects to transform degraded peatlands into thriving ecosystems. The restored bogs will support rare species while maintaining water levels that benefit both nature and local communities. The initiative marks one of the region’s largest environmental restoration efforts to date.
