Latvia's military is considering rewatering drained peatlands to turn them into natural barriers along its border with Russia. The restored bogs could also help in the fight against global warming.

Riga

Latvia is enhancing its border security with Russia by integrating both man-made and natural barriers. In addition to roadblocks, cameras, and fences, the country is restoring peatlands and rivers along the border to create difficult terrain for potential incursions.

Restored peatlands not only hinder the movement of military vehicles but also help reduce greenhouse gas emissions by keeping carbon stored in the soil. This dual-purpose strategy is being implemented as tensions remain high in the region, with officials citing Russia's actions in Ukraine as a reason for permanent defensive measures.

Latvia's climate-friendly solution to defend against Russia

This is what Latvia's border with Russia looks like these days. Roadblocks, cameras and high fences topped with barbed wire. Colonel Andris Rijeksts has been overseeing the border's modernisation. He shows us how Latvia is also turning the landscape into part of its defence strategy. Beginning with this river on the border. By diverting the flow of the water, we can artificially flood these territories if needed, so we can create an additional barrier in a crisis. And the Latvian army is also looking at the peatlands scattered along the border. Along the Baltic defence line, we have many peat bogs. We strongly support the idea that every natural barrier that can be restored and created will only help in building this defence line. Peatlands cover around 10% of Latvia's territory. But over half of that area has been drained to harvest peat for fuel and agriculture, as well as to clear land for farming. Scientists like Mara Pakalne are working to reverse that. She's been studying how to restore bogs like this one, just two kilometres from the Russian border. You can close the drainage ditches and the water will not be flowing out of the bog anymore. So it's even better for the defence. And she adds, bogs like these not only help slow Russian tanks, they also fight planet-warming pollution at the same time. When you drain peatlands, they are starting to emit all the greenhouse gases. So if you restore a peatland, you keep all the carbon in it. It looks like solid land from a distance. But underfoot, the peatland is soaked through with water. Every step sinks, every move drags. It's hard to keep balance here. And this is exactly why countries like Latvia want more of this kind of terrain on their border with Russia. Its lethalness became evident in this peat bog in Lithuania, where a US Army armoured vehicle sank during NATO exercises in March, killing four soldiers. It took nearly a week to recover the vehicle. But what was a tragic accident for NATO troops is now being turned into a defence strategy. And by shaping the landscape, Latvia can focus its resources on blocking other routes from Russia. We see Russia's actions, what they say and do to their other neighbour, that is Ukraine. So we can't say we are building our defence line only temporarily. Here in the Latvian borderlands, the political divide between the West and Russia is increasingly visible on the ground. These man-made barriers are now being augmented by less visible, natural ones.

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