The swamps are the “strongest defense line” against Russia. The east shield destroys them?

Bogs can become a key element of defense for Europe against the two greatest threats: Russia's expansionism and man -made climate changes – the British daily “Financial Times” wrote on Tuesday.

According to the Dutch biologist Hans Joosten, saving dried wetlands is a profitable way to stop the army of the Russian leader Vladimir Putin, and at the same time saving priceless areas capable of absorbing carbon dioxide.

– There are too many benefits to ignore peat bogs – said the expert in an interview with “FT”. In his opinion, it is possible to strengthen defense with the help of activities conducive to climate, biodiversity, cultivation of cultivation and water supply.

As the newspaper reminded, the nineteenth-century Prussian general and military strategist Carl von Clausewitz used to say that the swamps were a “strongest defense line”, and the peat peat bogs of the Teutoburski forest used the German leader Arminius in I to win the battle with the Roman army.

The expert of the Kiev Defense Strategy Center Wiktor Kewluk emphasized that the wetlands contributed to the arrest of the attack of the Russian troops to the Ukrainian capital in the first days of the invasion in 2022 – instead of rubbing directly to the sticks (…) the enemy was forced either to look for other routes or stop. This gave the Ukrainian side time to strengthen the defense of the right bank of the Irpień River, where water and swamps served as an anti -tank ditch – he explained, adding that “nature did its own.”

Protection based on rivers, flood and marsh areas was appreciated not only in Ukraine, but also in other parts of Europe – the daily noted. In an interview with “FT” Prime Minister Kristen, Michal said that his country uses “everything he could” to defend. – If there are natural obstacles on the border, such as swamps, peat bogs or lakes, it helps us – he emphasized.

The daily noticed that Poland has a different policy. Biologist, cited by “FT”, dr hab. Michał Żmihorski from the Polish Academy of Sciences said that Despite the interest in the Polish government, he does not see “any activities in the field”. Instead, in 2022 Poland built a system of fortifications on the border with Belarus, dividing the forest and wetlands of the Białowieża Forest to stop the influx of migrants from Belarus.

Polish environmentalists say that too The new flagship project “Targe East” is contrary to the protection of wetlands. As “FT” emphasized, the Ministry of National Defense did not answer the request for comment.

The Dutch researcher emphasized that in addition to the importance for defense, wetlands are also important in terms of climate change. Drying peat bogs causes plants to break down, responsible for approx. 5 percent. global carbon dioxide emissions; When peat bogs are irrigated again, they stop emitting CO2 and eventually start to capture it again.

According to Joosten, to achieve the global goal of zero CO2 emission by net by 2050, all peat bogs in the world should be hydrated again. However, this idea is met with great opposition from farmers who make a living from dried peat bogs.

From London Marta Zabłocka (PAP)

mzb/ akl/ amac/