New and recent Journals/Newsletters/Books/Reports
Ramsar Manual.
(3rd edition, pre-publication version)
When the Ramsar Manual was first compiled by T. J. Davis and published in 1994, it was enthusiastically welcomed as an essential vade mecum through the sometimes bewildering world of Ramsar resolutions, guidelines, and terminology. A second edition was published in 1997, incorporating all of the institutional changes of the preceding three years and including all of the Convention’s major documents at that time. Then, in view of the subsequent publication of the 9-volume “Ramsar Toolkit” (The Ramsar Handbooks for the Wise Use of Wetlands), the Manual seemed less useful and was let go out of print. Since then, however, many people have argued that there is still a need for a brief, printed introduction to the Convention and its processes, and a new, updated third edition has now been prepared which will be published on CD-ROM in early 2004 as an adjunct to the new 14-volume 2nd edition of the Ramsar Handbooks series.The pre-publication final English draft of this new Ramsar Manual is now available on the Ramsar Web site in HTML and PDF versions, and comments are invited as to improvements or additions that readers might like to see made to it. In early 2004, this text and its French and Spanish translations will be professionally laid out and included as an unnumbered supplement with the 14 volumes of the Ramsar Toolkit. HTML: http://ramsar.org/lib_manual2003_1.htmPDF: http://ramsar.org/lib_manual2003.pdf
Aktiv für Moore
With the slogan “Aktiv für Moore” (“Active for peatbogs”), the Austrian Federal Forest Agency (Oesterreichische Bundesforsten) and WWF Austria launched a programme in 2000 for the restoration of peatbogs. As in many temperate European countries, Austrian peatlands have been degraded to a large extent over the past century through excessive drainage, peat cutting, afforestation policies, tourist infrastructures (cable lifts, ski slopes, etc.), or intensive grazing. The Austrian peatland restoration programme started with a demonstration project in Ueberlingmoos, a bog drained and grazed since the 1920s. Small-scale dams were successfully placed across all crucial drainage ditches to re-wet this valuable bog ecosystem. Since then, the lessons learnt have served for restoration measures applied to rehabilitate another 10 degraded peatbogs, and more activities are now planned to cover another 15 sites. The project partners have now produced a 24-page brochure that illustrates the variety of Austrian peatlands, the concrete works undertaken to rehabilitate their functions, and presents some of the key sites, as well as a map showing the distribution of peatlands in Austria and the 25 project sites. The brochure also makes reference to Ramsar's guidelines for global action on peatlands. Our Standing Committee member Gerhard Sigmund briefly explains the implementation of the Convention in Austria and lists six Austrian peatlands that are foreseen for Ramsar designation in the near future. If you would like to receive a copy of this nicely illustrated brochure (in German) please contact the Ramsar Bureau (europe@ramsar.org).
Peatland Restoration Guide
Second Edition Available. The Canadian Sphagnum Peat Moss Association in cooperation with the New Brunswick Department of Natural Sources and Energy has published the second edition of the “Peatlands Restoration Guide” by Francois Quinty and Line Rochefort. The publication can be ordered for CAD 150 from the Canadian Sphagnum Peat Moss Association at cspma@peatmoss.com, the ISBN number is 0-9733016-0-0.
Handbook for the Assessment of Catchment Water Demand and Use
This handbook is aimed at organisations with an interest in water resources management at a catchment level in southern Africa. The Handbook responds to the growing need to balance supply-side and demand-side approaches to managing scarce water resources in river basins. It recognises that a abundance of research and methodologies are available to assist planners and managers to assess water resource availability in a catchment yet little is available to assist in assessing water demand and use. The Handbook aims to fill this gap by bringing together a range of methods, examples of their application, supporting information, and key references. The Handbook is available for no cost from HR Wallingford and can be downloaded from www.hrwallingford.co.uk/projects/catchment_water_demand/index.htmlTourbières-INFOS no. 5 – December 2003.Bimonthly electronic newsletter of the French Pôle-relais Tourbières. To receive the newsletter, subscribe to: tourbieres-infos@pole-tourbieres.org.For more information: www.pole-tourbieres.org
Maisonneuve, J.L. (ed.) 2003. Marais de l’Erdre : Documents d’objectifs, Directive Habitats. 2003-2009. Site n°34 FR52 00624. CD-ROM.
CD-Rom containing the full text (236 p.) in pdf format of the management plan of the Marais de l’Erdre, a 2565 ha large peatland/wetland complex in the Loire-Atlantique region (France). Made in the framework of Natura 2000. Contains a general description of the site, maps, an evaluation of the conservational values of European importance, an inventory of socio-economic activities and their impact on these values, a definition of management objectives, and a technical and financial evaluation. Downloadable from the website of EDEN (Entente pour le Développement de l’Erdre Navigable): http://www.eden-sur-erdre.fr.stEDEN also publishes the bulletin La feuille de l’Erdre downloadable from the same website.
Moreau, P.-A. 2002. Analyse écologique et patrimoniale des champignons supérieurs dans les tourbières des Alpes du Nord (françaises ;-). PhD thesis, Laboratoire Dynamique des Ecosystèmes d'Altitude, Université de Savoie, 224 p.
Study of Basidiomycetes and fleshy Ascomycetes in acid and basic peatlands in Isère and Savoie (Southeastern France), covering 609 species, including a list of vulnerable and endangered species for the peatlands of Western Europe and an index to calculate the mycological conservation values of peatlands. Downloadable from: http://www.univ-savoie.fr/labos/ldea/Publi/Whole/These_PAM.pdf
Jauhiainen, S. 2003. Holocene development of two boreal mires and the ecological effects of drainage and restoration. Academic dissertation. Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry of the University of Helsinki,30 pp. and 5 articles.
In order to restore drained peatlands successfully, it is necessary to know what factors have regulated their development and at what stage of succession the peatlands were at the time of management. Study of a typical fen and a bog in southern Finland revealed that both peatlands initiated by paludification soon after the glacial retreat, around 9000 14C BP. Peat accumulated at different rates in the fen (average 0.28 mm yr-1) and in the bog (average 0.47 mm yr-1) reaching peat thicknesses of 230 cm and 430 cm, respectively. Carbon accumulation took place with average rates of 11.1 g m-2 yr-1 for the fen and 13.2 g m-2 yr-1 for the bog. The main trend in peat chemistry of both mires was the change from higher to lower nutrient levels with an increased acidity towards the surface peat. The main changes in chemostratigraphy occurred between 4600 and 4200 14C BP, simultaneously with the spread of Picea abies in the area.Drainage during the 20th century caused greater changes at the fen site than at the bog site. Two new site types appeared at the fen site with species common to a forest floor. Continuously high moisture contents and low nutrient levels at the bog site prevented the formation of an economically valuable forest stand on the site. Also restoration caused stronger changes to the fen than to the bog due to the removal of the forest cover.Restoration of both mires started successfully. The water table remained high and peatland vegetation spread on the areas in two to three years. However, it takes a much longer time period to restore a mire, and the restored state may not be the same as the pre-drainage one.Available under: http://ethesis.helsinki.fi/ julkaisut/maa/mekol/vk/jauhiainen/holocene.pdf
Society for Ecological Restoration International Science & Policy Working Group. 2002. The SER Primer on Ecological Restoration. www.ser.org.
This document provides a glossary of ecosystem and restoration terms and concepts. It can be read online at http://www.ser.org/reading.php?pg=primer1 or be downloaded as a PDF from: www.ser.org/Primer.pdf
Matchutadze, I., 2003. Kolkheti mires. Tchaobi, Batumi, 40 pp. (in Georgian, English, and Russian).
Full-colour booklet rich in information on the functions and values of the mires and peatlands of Kolkheti (Colchis) in Georgia. Describes in detail the conservation and environmental values of these special mires, including regulation of global and regional climate, flood control, and historical values, their biodiversity functions with many endemic and relict species, their production functions with much attention to their wide traditional uses, their scientific and aesthetic value, the anthropogenic impact, their conservational history, and the perspectives for the future. for more information: Izolda Matchutadze: izo.muho@gmx.net
Sulyok, J. 2003. Mires - National Ecological Network No. 3. Ministry of Environment and Water, Budapest.
Mire losses are estimated to be more than 97% in Hungary, and by virtue of the law, all mires are nationally protected. This so-called ex lege protected status of mires is destined to provide enhanced protection for the existing fragments of mires and accompanied communities that are of outstanding value not only in biodiversity but also in historical, geographical, and biogeographical regard. About one third of Hungarian mires are located already in protected areas: in national parks, landscape protection areas, nature reserves or locally protected areas designated by municipals. Considering the rapid loss of mires, a new approach will be needed for the conservation of mires that are small sized and in many times difficult to recognize. As a new and important instrument, the legislation will have to be modified. Where it is possible, the next step is to restore former or degraded mires. The National Ecological Network series – published by the Authority for Nature Conservation of the Ministry of Environment and Water – aims to show the natural or near natural habitats of great value in Hungary that are on the same time integral elements of the National Ecological Network. The booklet is available as a PDF from the IMCG website, follow the Publications link on the main page.