Peatlands are among the most important ecosystems in the world. They store vast amounts of carbon, retain water, and are home to a rich and unique array of life. Yet, for most people, they remain inaccessible—and what you don't see, you don't miss. This makes restoration difficult: rewetting a peatland changes the landscape, and that change can sometimes meet resistance from residents and stakeholders.

Traces explores how virtual reality can change that. Not just by transferring knowledge, but by letting people feel the peatland. You descend from the air to eye level with the sphagnum moss, and further still, beneath the water's surface where the landscape slowly grows. Knowledge speaks to the head; Traces also speaks to the heart.

Traces is a creation by PhD candidate Enahu Tahitu, developed within WaterLANDS, a European research program focused on wetland restoration. Studio Vrij realized the VR experience, with scientific advice from associate professors Juul Limpens and Milena Holmgren. The project is currently in the prototype phase: the first prototype was completed this spring. In the coming months, we will continue to develop Traces and test it in three different contexts.