During INTECOL Conference ALFAwetlands team joint technical study tours to the Estonian wetlands. There also been a chance to visit sites of the ALFAwetlands Living Lab Estonia.
A defining tradition of every INTECOL Wetlands Conference is the day dedicated to technical tours—immersive field trips that invite participants out of the lecture hall and into the landscapes that inspire science, innovation, and stewardship. On July 2nd, 2025, eight carefully curated tours took attendees across Estonia’s diverse peatlands, lakes, forests, and cultural sites—each with its own ecological story. These tours offered especially rich experiences by combining scientific depth, traditional knowledge, and hands-on restoration insights.
Tour 1: Climate Change and Forest Ecosystems in Järvselja
This tour ventured into the heart of forest-climate research. The Järvselja research complex houses the Free Air Humidity Manipulation (FAHM) site, a world-class facility studying the effects of elevated humidity—simulating future climate scenarios—on boreal forest ecosystems. Participants also visited the SMEAR Estonia station, where greenhouse gas (GHG) fluxes are measured above paludified forests. The trip concluded at Agali-II peatland forest, a research site probing the impact of flooding on carbon and nitrogen cycles using cutting-edge technologies like eddy covariance systems and microbiome sequencing.
Tour 2: Peatland Innovation and Limnology at Lake Võrtsjärv
One of the most multifaceted tours, Tour 2 led participants from scientific innovation to sustainable enterprise. The day began with a visit to a constructed wetland in Uhti/Vända, designed to reduce nutrient runoff from agriculture. PhD student Jürgen Sarjas explained the site’s design, which includes sedimentation ponds and native wetland plants, and demonstrated real-time GHG measurements, showing how nature-based solutions can mitigate pollution.
Next stop: Võrtsjärv Limnological Station, a cornerstone of aquatic research since 1954. Dr. Arvo Tuvikene guided participants through the Lake Museum, where aquariums teemed with fish and plankton native to Estonian waters, complemented by exhibits on water ecosystems and management strategies.
The afternoon was a highlight for those interested in paludiculture—a sustainable farming practice on rewetted peatlands. At Marjasoo Farm, owner Toomas Jaadla shared how former boglands have been transformed into productive fields of cranberries and blueberries, with experiments also underway for cowberries. This practical example of wetland-compatible agriculture added a socio-economic layer to the ecological discussions.
The final stop at the Lake Võrtsjärv Visitor Centre offered sweeping views from a 15-meter-high wooden observation tower and highlighted nature tourism and regional ecology.
Tour 3: Cultural Landscapes of Otepää and Karula
This tour explored the hilly uplands of southern Estonia, where glacial formations meet centuries of human land use. The region’s picturesque terrain—scattered mires, fields, and lakes—is a result of both nature and long-standing agricultural practices. Visits included Natura 2000-protected habitats, the historic Sangaste Castle, and the Soontaga forest station, where forest carbon cycles and fine-root research are under intensive study.
Tour 4: The Living Heritage of Setomaa and Meenikunno Bog
Tour 4 was an immersive cultural and ecological experience. The journey began in the Meenikunno Nature Reserve, a pristine 6,000-year-old raised bog perched atop dry sandstone—an unusual geological condition that creates a ‘hanging bog’. Amid pine-dotted bog pools and ancient forest, participants learned about future plans to rewet drained surrounding areas—a restoration effort reversing Soviet-era modifications.
The group then delved into the Setomaa region, home to the Seto people, a unique Finno-Ugric ethnic group whose polyphonic singing tradition, Seto Leelo, is UNESCO-listed. Here, restoration intersected with cultural preservation as participants toured Piusa-Võmmorski, a protected heathland where afforested areas were restored and an abandoned quarry now serves as habitat for the rare Northern crested newt. The discussions with project leaders underscored how ecological restoration can revive both biodiversity and traditional landscapes.
The day concluded at Suur-Munamägi, Estonia’s highest point at 316 meters, offering breathtaking views across the Haanja Nature Park—an apt finale to a tour celebrating nature’s grandeur and human connection to the land.
Tour 5: Raised Bogs and Restoration Realities in Männikjärve and Laiuse
Tour 5 took attendees deep into Estonia’s peatland research legacy. At Männikjärve raised bog, visitors explored a classic domed bog with over 120 water-filled hollows, part of the Endla Nature Reserve. This site not only exemplifies natural bog morphology but also stands as the birthplace of Estonian mire research, dating back to 1910 in nearby Tooma village.
The tour continued to Linnusaare and Laiuse bogs, where participants observed active bog restoration. In Linnusaare, drained edges are now undergoing ecological repair since 2015, while Laiuse bog, formerly exploited for milled peat until the 1980s, has seen restoration work begin in 2017. With 5 km of total walking, participants got an on-the-ground perspective of challenges and successes in peatland recovery—from hydrological rebalancing to vegetative regrowth.
Tour 6: Carbon Studies in Floodplain Peat Forests
This focused excursion visited Siniküla, a drained peatland forest in the Emajõgi River floodplain. The site hosts advanced instrumentation to measure GHG exchange across soil, tree canopies, and the atmosphere. The tour also revisited the Männikjärve bog, reinforcing the connection between pristine systems and their restored counterparts.
Tour 7: The Moss Layer Transfer Technique in Action
Led by international peatland experts, this workshop-tour hybrid explored the Moss Layer Transfer Technique (MLTT)—a proven method for restoring Sphagnum-dominated peatlands. After a morning of theory, the group visited Ess-Soo, a restored site in southeastern Estonia, where MLTT’s effectiveness was visible in re-established plant communities and improved hydrology.
Tour 8: Soomaa National Park – Where Wild Wetlands Reign
Last but not least, Tour 8 journeyed into Soomaa National Park, a haven of floodplains, swamp forests, and untouched bogs. Here, scientists are tracking the return of species like the moor frog, western capercaillie, and willow grouse, using a blend of remote sensing and field surveys. The park’s vastness and biodiversity made it a fitting tribute to the power of peatlands left to thrive.
Conclusion
Each technical tour offered a unique window into Estonia’s wetland ecosystems—from advanced carbon flux research to ancient bogs, sustainable agriculture to ethnic traditions. Together, they showcased how science, history, and community engagement can intersect to conserve and restore some of Europe’s most vital and vulnerable landscapes.
For the INTECOL ALFAwetlands community, these journeys were more than excursions—they were powerful reminders of what can be achieved when we step into the field, listen to the land, and collaborate across borders and disciplines.