Black background with green text saying "YOUNG PEOPLE OLD PEAT" and smaller yellow-green text below reading "A symposium on peatland restoration and climate justice."
Event at Biosintru, Ecommunitypark 5, Osterwolde from May 18 to May 19, 2026.
Final sign-up round ends Wednesday 13th of May.
Please note: This symposium is free and the venue is limited in capacity, which means we might not accept your application. We will let you know by email if you have a spot. 

About the symposium

This two-day symposium aims to initiate dialogue between generations, transfer knowledge, and offer young people concrete opportunities to take action for peatlands and climate justice. 

# On the first day (18th of May) we will be inviting 120 youth participants, and over 30 experts, to take part in a crash course on Dutch peatlands. Participants will be selected from relevant learning institutions in the region.

Outline of the programme:
Each participant will experience two sessions to understand two systems that interact with peatlands.
They will be led by experts and will look into how and why peatlands relate to agriculture and land use, health and well-being, cultural identity and knowledge, future work and sustainable economies, and climate justice.

Speakers include world famous peatland scientist Hans Joosten and slow fashion UK start-up Ponda!

Mid-afternoon, participants, facilitators and experts will collaborate in groups to co-create bold ideas for peatland restoration camps. At the end of the day, groups will pitch their ideas to a jury — The strongest concepts will join RE-PEAT’s pilot programme, building an intergenerational network across Europe to restore peatlands through camps. Working alongside RE-PEAT with a 10,000€ budget to help design and attend a hands-on restoration camp in the Netherlands this summer.

# On the second day (19th May), in collaboration with the local land managers, we will be offering various excursions to the Fochteloërveen where the participants can experience what a healthy peatland looks and feels like.   

Language of the Symposium:

Dutch and English

poster & programme

click on the image to flip page and download

About the speakers

About the sessions at

Biosintrum May 18th 

opening ceremony

Keynote speaker: Hans Joosten, a world-renowned peatland scientist, will share his insights on what peatlands are and their importance.

First SessionS 12-12.45 (CEST)

Paludi lunch

Second SessionS 14-14.45 (CEST)

where & what to expect

Group of people working in a lush green field near a small stream, some wearing gloves and hats, with a background of open fields and trees under a partly cloudy sky.
Inside view of a building with a large skylight ceiling showing a tree and blue sky outside.
Empty auditorium with sunlight streaming through large windows, wooden ceiling and black chairs arranged for a presentation or meeting.
A group of people sitting on the grass in a circle outdoors, enjoying a picnic on a sunny day, with a barn and open field in the background.
Modern building with large glass windows in a field of wildflowers and tall grass at sunset.

Photo 1: Egbert Deboer
Photo 3 & 5: Anja Mathes
Photo 2 & 4: Frankie Turk

YPOP is organised by RE-PEAT members Frankie Turk and Holly Bartley with support from Judith Schubert, Halima Tantawy and Milan Matthes Kale as part of the Erasmus+ project Restoration Academy: Empowering Youth Participation in Nature Restoration.
The symposium is funded through the Erasmus+ Programme of the European Union (KA220-YOU), with generous support from Petra Boorsma and co-financing from the Biosintrum.

A handwritten sign with the words 'KEEP OUT' inside a circle, surrounded by drawings of plants or vines.
A logo with two Y-shaped black lines above the word 'biosintrum' in bold black font.
Black background with white text forming a rainbow shape. The text reads "ABSTRACT. ART. ADDICTS" in bold, stylized, bubble-like font.

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