COMPANY HIGHLIGHTS
Materialise Completes Peatland Restoration Project in Ukraine
July 31, 2026
Protecting the planet is our responsibility and a necessity; that's why we're committed to reducing and offsetting our environmental impact through sustainability projects worldwide. Last year, we completed our peatland restoration project in Ukraine’s Drevlyanskyi Nature Reserve, marking another step toward achieving our goal of climate neutrality by 2030. What began as a carefully researched ambition has now been implemented across 117 hectares of peatland — an area roughly the size of 165 football fields.
Peatlands play an important role in climate regulation, biodiversity, and water management. And in the Drevlyanskyi Nature Reserve, restoring peatland also supports a valuable natural area for wildlife, including birds and other species that depend on healthy wetland habitats.
Healthy peatlands store large amounts of carbon and retain water in the landscape, while degraded peatlands release greenhouse gases and lose their ecological value. By restoring this area, the project strengthens ecosystem resilience and contributes to the long-term recovery of an important protected landscape.
“By restoring this peatland, we're supporting a healthier ecosystem while contributing to long-term climate mitigation.”
— Alexander Antoniuk, Office Manager at Materialise Ukraine
Following scientific and hydrological assessments in 2024, restoration measures were carried out in 2025 to help rewet the degraded peatland. Small wooden water-regulating structures were installed along former drainage canals to slow water outflow and retain moisture in the landscape. Built by hand and using natural materials, these interventions restore the peatland’s natural water balance and support long-term ecological recovery.
“This project shows how a clear sustainability ambition can lead to tangible action on the ground,” says Alexander Antoniuk, Office Manager at Materialise Ukraine. “By restoring this peatland, we're supporting a healthier ecosystem while contributing to long-term climate mitigation.”
Our close collaboration with the Ukrainian Society for the Protection of Birds (USPB), fueled by expertise and commitment, was essential to successfully implement this project. We would like to sincerely thank the USPB team for their support in bringing this restoration project to life.
“We’re already seeing encouraging signs that the restoration measures are having an impact,” says Volodymyr Zinchuk, Head of the USPB. “Shortly after its implementation, beavers returned to the area. Their presence signals that the ecosystem is recovering, as they naturally help create wetter conditions that support biodiversity and peatland regeneration.”
The project is now entering its next phase, with monitoring underway to track ecological recovery and climate impact over time. This includes following the long-term benefits of restored peatlands for biodiversity, water regulation, and carbon storage.
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