Background Wetlands have an important role to play in preserving biodiversity. Many plants and animals depend on wetland biotopes, and nearly 15% of Sweden’s threatened species live in peatlands or on freshwater margins. Hydrological changes and plant invasion in wetlands adversely affect the animals and plants that live there. Tall plant- and forest invasion in drained mires is a major problem for several bird species and for the plants displaced by the invaders. Invasion of wetlands can also be caused by the release of plant nutrients on neighbouring lands through forestry activities. Nitrogen deposition is a contributing factor to vegetation changes in some regions. Some parts of the wetlands have historically been used as meadows, but agricultural modernisation has made this use unprofitable and therefore almost none of these sites are in use today. Several species live in these sites, but their populations are decreasing or becoming extinct because of overgrowth and new management practices. Southern Sweden in particular has seen a significant loss of wetlands (e.g. approximately 90% in Skåne region). Sweden nevertheless remains one of most wetland rich countries in the world. Objectives The project aims to halt the decrease of targeted habitats and species at 35 Natura 2000 sites through hydrological restoration and vegetation measures. One positive outcome would be that the current loss of CO2 (due to drained peat) will stop. And, hopefully most of the hydrologically restored active bogs will revert to being carbon sinks. The project area encompasses 40 430 ha of Natura 2000 areas (35 Natura 2000 sites) and the project is directly targeting 3 852 ha. This area includes the priority habitats 7110* active raised bogs (3% of the habitat area inside all Natura 2000 areas in Sweden) and 7310* - Aapa mires (1%). The project is also targeting substantial parts of the habitats 7120 - degraded raised bogs (57% of the Swedish population within Natura 2000 areas) and 7230 - alkaline fens (2.5%). The project also aims to disseminate information on wetland ecology and the importance of mires to the public and to management staff and landowners. Expected results: 2 885 ha of drained wetland will be hydrologically restored; 1 866 ha of overgrown wetland will be cleared; A 7.7 ha shallow lake will be opened; 13 ha of wetland hay meadows will be restored. After completion of the restoration work, the “meadow sites” will be in such a condition as to enable further maintenance to be financed through the EU´s agro-environmental subsidies where continuous management is needed (the hay meadows). In other parts, the natural processes will be restored in such way that no more active management will be needed for at least two decades. The above measures are expected to favour both the species indicated in the Habitats Directive or Birds Directive as well as targeted habitats.