Abstract
Peatlands are the most widespread of all wetland types on a global scale. As ecosystems they provide vital functions for biodiversity, water resources, surface water management, carbon storage and sequestration, and paleo-environmental preservation. However, peatlands have been exploited by mankind over many centuries as an energy source and plant growing media (for agriculture, horticulture and forestry). This has led to a significant loss in their extent and stored carbon content on a global scale, which has also been exacerbated by climate change impacts. In 2002 the Guidelines for Global Action on Peatlands (GGAP) were launched by the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands in their meeting in Valencia, Spain. The overall aim of the guidelines and their implementation is to achieve the global recognition of the importance of peatlands to the maintenance of global biodiversity and the storage of the water and carbon that is vital to the world`s climate system, and to promote their wise use, conservation and management for the future benefit of people and the environment. Past and present economic, social, political and environmental conditions in individual countries with significant peat resources will have determined whether the remaining peatland resources in that country are still being actively depleted or degraded due to human activity. However, in many countries there are now a considerable number of environmental policy drivers that are attempting to stem the loss of the overall peatland resource and the implementation of formal peatland protection and restoration strategies. The aim of this project is to review and evaluate current international policies and national guidance on peat management (including peat trading), extraction, restoration and protection. This will focus on the experiences of countries outside the UK with significant areas of peat soils and, in particular, temperate peatlands. It will collate the lessons that can be learned from these international experiences and determine how they might be transferable to the UK in cases where there might be benefits. The review will involve a desk based Internet search followed by correspondence and discussion with key representatives from foreign government departments, non-government organisations, together with international peatland forums and experts. The project will provide the evidence required to determine the success or failure of international policies and national guidance for the management, protection and enhancement of the peat resource. This information will be of benefit to Defra and other Government Agencies in their development of policy in this area.
United Kingdom