The Future of Peatlands

An IPS/IMCG workshop on

mid- and long-term developments related to peatlands

9th IPS Congress, Tampere (Finland), 11 June 2004

In the past decennia a wide range of developments has changed the focus of peatland utilisation. Technological progress has made peat into an increasingly efficient fuel for de-central energy generation in rural areas and into an ideal raw material for growing media for the expanding horticultural market. Peat soil degradation and socio-economic developments have led to the abandonment of agriculturally used peatlands over large parts of Europe, whereas in Southeast Asia virgin peatlands are being deforested and drained for the cultivation of cash crops. Peatland forestry in the boreal and temperate zones stopped expanding or is even retracting under secondary paludification (Russia), while in the tropics a massive deforestation of peatland forests is takings place. Biodiversity conservation and the safeguarding of various global, regional, and local environmental functions demand protection of extensive peatland areas.

The aim of this workshop is to discuss the mid- and long-term (20 – 50 year) developments with respect to peatland use and conservation worldwide. Can we extrapolate present trends into the future? Which aspects will become more important, which less? What will be the driving forces, including population growth and climate change? How will geographical differences express themselves?

The workshop will address the following themes:

- The future of peat use

- The future of peatland forestry

- The future of peatland agriculture

- The future of peatland conservation

- The future of peatland functional uses

Per theme one keynote speaker and two co-referents will present their ideas. The keynote speaker will give the general overview, whereas the co-referents will emphasise special points or will address the theme from a different point of view.

The workshop will be organized within the framework of the 12th International Peat Congress of the International Peat Society. The full papers and the discussions of the workshop are planned to be published as a special issue of the new peer-reviewed online International Journal of Peat and Peatlands.