Community-led Nature-based Adaptation in Tallinn City, Estonia

Key Learnings

About the Region

Climate Threats

In the last two decades, Estonia has seen a marked rise in extreme heat, with the five warmest years on record occurring between 2008 and 2024. In the past 60 years, the number of days with temperatures reaching more than 30 °C has increased by almost nine days per year. The duration of heatwaves is now roughly one week longer than in the mid-20th century. A new study finds that Baltic heatwave frequency has roughly doubled in the last 30 years. Climate models project even stronger future increases. According to the Climate Change Adaptation Development Plan until 2030 (2015), climate models project even stronger future increases; under mid- and high-end scenarios, heatwaves in Estonia are expected to become significantly more frequent and intense by mid-century, with summers much hotter than today.

In recent decades, Estonia has experienced a slight increase in rain and snowfall. Compared to previous decades (1961–1990), the total precipitation has increased by about 6% on average. Winters have become much wetter, while autumns are a bit drier. Short, heavy rainfalls have become more frequent and can lead to flooding. Predictions estimate that precipitation will increase even more in the future, possibly by about 20% by 2100. Most of this increase is likely to happen in winter, while summer rains may decrease. When it rains heavily in a short period, the risk of urban flooding increases, especially if city authorities do not upgrade stormwater systems to handle the additional water.

Predictions estimate that flash floods – sudden local inundations after intense rain – will become more frequent as storms grow more extreme.

Figure 1: Figure 1: Temperature change in Tallinn relative to the average of 1961-2010 [ºC]. Image Credit: #ShowYourStripes.

Engaging People, Restoring Nature, Adapting Together

Figure 2: Planned locations and types of dams under the hydrological restoration plan for the Pääsküla Bog nature reserve. Image Credit: ELF Ring OÜ, 2021.

In parallel, the project team implemented adaptive infrastructure to ensure year-round public access and ecological compatibility, thanks to floating boardwalks that cope with fluctuating water levels. The dam design works alongside active beaver populations, which naturally arrived.

Scientific assessments estimated that rewetting the bog would reduce CO₂ emissions by 0.8 to 3 tonnes per hectare and year. While short-term methane emissions may rise due to low-oxygen, waterlogged conditions, long-term climate modelling shows that the avoided CO₂ emissions more than make up for this. Only within two decades, the site could become a net carbon sink, and in the next 50 years, the ecosystems could have fully recovered.

Figure 3: Volunteer school students at the 2023 Pääsküla Bog workday together with Karmo Kuri, District Mayor of Nõmme; Lauri Klein, workday organiser and environmental protection expert; and workday leader Aleksander Tukk. Image Credit: Tallinn City Government.

One of the most important aspects is that the adaptation actions follow a participatory process. After developing the Pääsküla Bog Nature Reserve’s Management Plan through a public engagement process, the locals and the authorities agreed upon two key aspects: all existing walking paths need to remain accessible, and every bog restoration action needs to be done by hand, without using heavy machinery. Over 400 volunteers – including residents, students, and nature groups – participated in building the dams, removing invasive species, and environmental education days. The project is not only an investment for climate adaptation but also a shared community action to improve the urban quality of life.

The restoration of Pääsküla Bog addresses key urban climate risks – heatwaves, intense rainfall, and carbon emissions – through a scalable, nature-based solution. It also strengthens local biodiversity, reduces fire risk, and serves as an outdoor classroom for raising climate awareness. As such, it reflects Tallinn’s broader commitment to becoming climate-neutral by 2050 and aligns with the EU Biodiversity Strategy 2030 and Estonia’s national climate policy.

The Pääsküla Bog nature reserve is one of Tallinn’s richest and most distinctive green areas. By restoring it, we are not only mitigating the impacts of climate change but also offering a rare opportunity for nature education and urban wilderness experience. We have both the opportunity and the responsibility to preserve and restore these landscapes where it is still possible.

Jüri-Ott Salm, Project Manager, Wetlands Programme Coordinator at the Estonian Fund for Nature (ELF)

Strategic Context

The restoration of Pääsküla Bog is embedded in Tallinn’s Sustainable Energy and Climate Action Plan (2021), which sets the city’s pathway toward climate neutrality by 2050. The plan identifies nature-based solutions as a key approach to reduce climate-related risks, enhance biodiversity, and strengthen resilience.

Rewetting 47 hectares of degraded peatland contributes to several priority areas:

• Climate adaptation – reducing risks from extreme rainfall, drought, and wildfires.
• Climate mitigation – decreasing CO₂ emissions from drained peat soils.
• Biodiversity and ecosystem services – restoring natural habitats and ecological connectivity.
• Community engagement – mobilising residents through volunteer action and environmental education.

The restoration supports Tallinn’s broader efforts to integrate green infrastructure, safeguard urban ecosystems, and foster inclusive, nature-based climate governance.

Summary

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