The Freising Statement

Freising, November 28, 1999

Position paper of IPS/IMCG The role of peatlands in man-induced climate change

Addressed to the IPCC

I. Introduction

1. Peatlands contain about 35% of the global terrestrial surface carbon store;
2. Development of pristine peatlands for agriculture and peat extraction stops carbon sequestration and leads to a decrease of the peat carbon pool on these sites; drainage of peatlands for forestry negatively affects peat carbon sequestration, but increased biomass may temporarily (1-2 centuries) compensate for sequestration losses; the rewetting of disturbed peatlands can contribute to carbon sequestration;
3. Large scale fires in peatlands cause substantial carbon release;
4. The role of peatlands in the global carbon balance and climate change is presently not taken into account by the UN FCCC, Kyoto Protocol.

II. Aims

5. The UNF Convention on Climate Change should include actions designed to:

• Promote the maintenance of existing carbon stores in peatlands;
• Prevent the uncontrolled release of carbon from peatlands;
• Maintain the carbon sequestering role of pristine peatlands;
• Promote the restoration of disturbed peatlands for carbon sequestration;
• Reduce, by wise use, the emissions of greenhouse gases from peatlands currently being used;
• Promote further studies on carbon balance in peatlands and its role in global climate change.

III. Action plan

6. Create a data base on size and utilization of peatlands in order to obtain information about the carbon pool and its changes;
7. Minimise the drainage of pristine peatlands;
8. Reduce the emissions from existing agricultural, forestry, and peat extraction activities by wise use;
9. Mitigate losses through restoration and other appropriate measures;
10. Avoid the introduction of perverse incentives for climate protection matters, (such as peatland drainage for afforestation for the sole purpose of acquiring carbon credits).

The contracting parties to the UNF Convention on Climate Change (Kyoto Protocol) are urged
to include the above mentioned actions in the Convention.