Philanthropic Partnership: Restoring Baltic Ecosystems

In 2020, Callus Family Office committed €1.8 million over five years to support a conservation organisation working to restore degraded peatlands and coastal wetlands across Estonia and Latvia.

These ecosystems, when intact, function as critical carbon sinks and biodiversity refuges. Decades of drainage for agriculture and forestry had transformed them into net carbon emitters while eliminating habitat for numerous species.

Our grant enabled the organisation to rewet 2,400 hectares of drained peatland, re-establish hydrological function, and monitor biodiversity recovery through structured field assessments. Callus Family Office connected the organisation with environmental scientists and data specialists to strengthen monitoring protocols and establish credible baselines.

By 2024, monitoring data showed demonstrable recovery: water tables stabilised, native plant species returned, and bird populations increased by 34% across restored sites. Carbon flux measurements indicated a shift from net emissions to net sequestration, with annual capture estimated at 8,200 tonnes CO₂e across the restored area.

The project also trained 23 local land managers in wetland restoration techniques, building regional capacity for future conservation work. Callus Family Office facilitated knowledge-sharing between this organisation and two other Baltic conservation groups, strengthening coordination across the region.