Strategy for Responsible Peatland Management

Susann WarneckeIPS Communications Manager

11 January 2011

Vision• Peatlands and their environmental and social

values are unique biological, ecological and economic resources.

• Promoting Wise Use of peatlands through safeguarding their environmental, social and economic functions and respecting their local, regional and global values.

Donal Clarke, Helsinki, 25 November 2010

Purpose of the Strategy

“to improve standards of peatland

management and to increase knowledge of good peatland management among governments, regulatory bodies and peatland managers.”

How the Strategy was developed…

• Stakeholder process since 2008• Linked to earlier initiatives:

» IPS-IMCG Surwold meeting (1997) » Guidelines for Wise Use of Peatlands (2002)» Certification proposals of IPS Commission II,

the European Peat and Growing Media Association and the Canadian Sphagnum Peat Moss Association (2008)» Activities of the Ramsar Coordination

Committee for Global Action on Peatlands (CC-GAP)

Donal Clarke, Helsinki, 25 November 2010

Stakeholders• Representatives from science, industry and non-

government organisations from major peatland countries; all IPS bodies and members

Meetings and Consultations

• Proposal for peatland certification scheme by EPAGMA and CSPMA in Brussels in March 2008

• Presentation of plan and structure by Indufor Oy at International Peat Congress in Tullamore, Ireland 2008

• Briefing in Helsinki, November 2008

• 1st Strategy meeting in Amsterdam, February 2009• Review meeting in Belfast, April 2009• Approval seminar in Brussels, October 2009

-> further review needed, re-drafting group established

• New drafts in February and May 2010• Approval at Open Forum in Amsterdam, October 2010

+ Email consultation periods inbetween all meetings

Aims of the Strategy• Undertake peatland management according

to the principles and within the framework of “Wise Use of Mires and Peatlands” by safeguarding their environmental, social and economic functions and respecting their local, regional and global values.

• Ensure that high conservation value peatlands are identified and conserved, ‘utilised’ peatlands are managed responsibly; and drained, degraded or otherwise irreversibly changed peatlands are rehabilitated to restore as many ecological and landscape functions as possible.

• Provide those involved in or responsible for peatland management with strategic objectives and actions for implementation.

Peatland Management • Peatland management is the organising,

controlling, regulation and administration of a peatland for specified purposes.

• Management should be appropriate to the peatland type, use and socio-economic, cultural and environmental conditions.

Structure of the Strategy

Contents - Introductory Chapters• SUMMARY• FOREWORD• INTRODUCTION

– Extent of Peatlands– Peatland values– Uses of peatlands and peat– Formulation of the Strategy

• AIMS AND USES OF THE STRATEGY– Peatland management– Structure of the Strategy– Vision for responsible peatland management

• ORGANISATION OF STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES

Contents - 8 Priorities Strategic Objectives and Actions

• Biodiversity• Hydrology and water regulation• Climate and climate change processes• Economic activities• After-use, rehabilitation and restoration• Human and institutional capacity and information

dissemination• Engagement of local people• Good governance

FOLLOW-UP

• Parties that have responsibility for peatland management and the supply chain should incorporate the provisions of the SRPM into their own peatland management activities and plans.

• The Strategy should be used as the basis for the development of a certification system for peatland and peat products.

Review Mechanism

The IPS will convene meetings of the parties to the Strategy every two years to review how it has been implemented.

Thank you very much for participating - and further promoting the Strategy!