Peatlands International 2/2003
The glossy magazine of the International Peat Society, covering articles on the November 2003 peatland meetings in the Netherlands (see IMCG Newsletter2003/4), the Amsterdam Peat in Horticulture Symposium (4 Nov. 2003), Irish peat news, an article on incorrect information in a UK newspaper on the extent and impact of peat extraction in Ireland, an account of a meeting of the German Peat Society in the Netherlands, a paper on environmental challenges facing the peat-based industry, the Bogor Wise Use Statement, a report of an experiment using peat in desert fertilization in China, a discussion on peatland use in Sweden, a note on Vincent van Gogh’s connections to peat, a poorly informative overview of Georgian mountain peatlands, and an overview of the 90 year history of a major peat company: the Klasmann-Deilmann Group. As usual various papers are “more colour than content”. Downloadable under www.peatsociety.fi/ publica/pi22003.pdf
The Holocene. Special Issue: Peatlands and Holocene Environmental Change. [The Holocene 14, 1 (2004)]
Edited by Dan Charman and Frank Chambers, this special issue of the palaeo-science journal features 12 articles on the topic of Holocene environmental change. There are 4 sections. Section I: Records of Holocene climatic change (4 articles); Section II: Peatland dynamics (4 articles); Section III: Carbon accumulation (2 articles); Section IV: Implications for conservation and management (2 articles).
For more information: www.holocenejournal.com/
Telma 33. The yearbook of the German peat Society (DGMT). € EUR 42,50 (in German) Obtainable from: alexanderharter@aol.com
Some papers interesting for international mire conservation include:
Heinicke, T.: Mires within the dry steppe zone of the Issyk-Kul basin (Kyrgyzstan).
Timmermann, T.: The hydrological dynamics of kettle-hole mires and their significance for the development of tree stands
Kossova, I.: Investigation of the paragenetic complex “peatland-lake” of lake Seliger (Russia)
Tanneberger, F., Hahne, W. & Joosten, H.: Far and wide as the eye can wander: Mires, mire research and conservation in Western Siberia
Piaoecik, H., Gotkiewicz, J. & Łachacz, A.: Inventory and evaluation of wetlands in north-eastern Poland for the environmental protection
Joosten, H.: Wise Use of Mires: Backgrounds and Principles
Bauerochse, A & H. Haßmann (eds.) 2003. Archaeological sites - archives of nature - nature conservation - wise use. Proceedings of the Peatland Conference 2002 in Hannover, Germany. VML, Rahden. 256 p. EUR 39,80.
During all periods bog and peat landscapes exerted a certain fascination. On the one hand they were obstacles and dangers, but on the other hand, they provided fuel, raw material and the basis for living, they preserved organic material as sources for natural and cultural history, and often were considered sacred. The 25 papers of the publication cast light on peatlands under most different aspects: trackways in Ireland, the significance of beavers, peat archaeology in the Netherlands, Mesolithic peat-bog sites on the Upper Volga, Early Neolithic trackways and settlements on Lake Dümmer, geophysical investigation of peatlands, pre-Boreal elkhunting in Denmark, peat bog corpses, bog-finds from South Scandinavia, wooden idols from wetlands, problems and find conservation in wet archaeological sites, perishable artefacts from Windover Bog (Florida), the succession in peatlands of Canada’s western boreal forest, ombotrophy in raised bogs from Britain and Ireland, ecology and vegetation of peatlands, subfossil oaks from bogs as a (dendro)archaeological archive, the history of bog conservation as well as the future protection and wise use of peatlands.
For more information surf to www.vml.de
or contact Andreas Bauerochse:
andreas.bauerochse@nld.niedersachsen.de
Bragg, O. and Lindsay, R. (Eds.) (2003). Strategy and Action Plan for Mire and Peatland Conservation in Central Europe. Wetlands International, Wageningen, The Netherlands. vi + 94 pp.
Western Europe has now lost most of its natural peatlands, largely as a result of agricultural and industrial development. Whilst similar influences have affected peatlands in Central Europe, losses have so far been less severe, so that this region still harbours many excellent examples of peatland types that are virtually extinct further west. Focus on the region is particularly appropriate at this time because of the impact of ongoing political, social and economic reforms, to a large extent driven by the imminent accession of six of its constituent countries (Czech Republic, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Slovakia and Poland) to the European Union (EU). Although it is unlikely that Belarus and Ukraine will enter the EU within the next decade, these two countries are part of the same biogeographical region. They face their own significant political, economic and social challenges, which offer both constraints and opportunities for biodiversity protection.
The Central European Peatland Project (CEPP) was established to ensure that the natural heritage of peatlands would not be lost – indeed that it would be enhanced – during a challenging period of economic transition, stabilisation, and growth.
Its specific intention was to:
- assist the eight participating countries to implement the recommendations of the Ramsar Convention, through the development and distribution of a Strategy and Action Plan for Peatland in Central Europe;
- produce an overview of the distribution of peatlands in Central Europe and to identify those peatlands that are of significant value for biodiversity;
- increase awareness about the values and functions of peatlands, not only for the protection of biodiversity, but also for their significance with respect to atmospheric carbon dioxide levels and for their roles in flood attenuation and water purification.
More specific objectives of the project were to
- Produce an overview of peatlands in Central Europe;
- Identify peatlands that are of significant value for biodiversity.
The report is an impressive piece of work that covers the following subjects:
- Definition of the peatland habitat
- Why peatlands are important
- Peatlands and global warming
- The description and evaluation of peatland diversity
- The diversity of Central European peatlands
- Distribution and current condition of peatlands in Europe
- Land-use change and peatland conservation
- Restoration
- International action: opportunities from a growing peatland awareness
- The peatlands of Central Europe: regional overview
- The Baltic-Black Sea Corridor: regional context of the CEPP
- The extent and condition of the peatland resource
- Peatland carbon store in the CEPP focal countries
- The peatlands of the focal countries, with chapters on all individual countries
- The protection status of Central European peatlands 61
- The principal threats to the peatlands of Central Europe
- Summary of needs for peatland conservation in the focal countries
- Towards Central European action on peatlands
- Wise use of peatlands
- National action priorities
- International recommendations
The appendices include
- Diversity of peatland systems
- Biogeographical regions of Central Europe
- The quality of currently available spatial data on Central European peatlands
- Summary peatland conservation statistics for the focal countries
The work is beautifully illustrated and highly informative and authouritive. Some points of criticism include:
- The unbalanced statement that natural succession in Central European mires represents a threat to peatland diversity. This mostly only applies to mire that has already been used for many centuries leading to altered hydraulic properties of the peat, even in absence of conspicuous draining. Such peatlands often degrade floristically when mowing or grazing is stopped
- Because of British editorship, too many examples are derived from Western European cases
- The options and impossibilities of restoration are insufficiently discussed
- The role of regional hydrology is under-exposed.
The Strategy and Action Plan for Mire and Peatland Conservation in Central Europe has been finalised thanks to the work of the focal countries’ representatives, managed by the Danish National Museum and Wetlands International. The report can be downloaded from:
http://www.wetlands.org/pubs&/CEPP.htm
Gardner, R. 2003. Rehabilitating Nature: a Comparative Review of Legal Mechanisms that Encourage Wetland Restoration Efforts Catholic University Law Review, 52, 3: 573-620.
This paper outlines the legal aspects of wetland restoration (especially in Ramsar context.). Available on-line as a PDF file (2.1 MB):
www.ramsar.org/strp_rest_incentives_gardner.pdf
Haslam, S. M. 2003. Understanding Wetlands: Fen, bog and marsh. Taylor & Francis, London & New York, hardback, 312 pp., GBP 85.00.
A new book of the grand old lady of English wetlands: Sylvia Haslam. A book with a special signature as it testifies of a wide knowledge, an intense devotion, and a deep love for wetlands, gained over many decennia.
Chapter 1 “Introduction” gives an overview of terms and concepts and discusses various basic aspects of wetlands. Chapter 2 “Wetlands matter” deals with the values of wetlands, the history of drainage and reclamation, and the products that wetlands supply. Chapter 3 discusses “How wetlands work”. In chapter 4 “In wetlands wilds” the (dis)continuities, forms and patterns, landscape elements, and the large varieties of wetland typologies (mostly vegetational) are presented. Chapter 5 “The animals” presents data on (typically English, but certainly necessary) invertebrates next to birds and mammals, including the effects of grazing. Chapetr 6 “The water of the wetlands” describes water flow, -fluctuations, -levels, -chemistry, -sources, and the role of vegetation as indicator for water regimes. Special case studies are presented from Britain, the Netherlands, and Belgium. Chapter 7 “Chemical types and vegetation types” similarly treats water and soil chemistry, pollution, plants as indicators with case studies from the Netherlands, Belgium, and the Czech Republic. Chapter 8 “The power to purify” discusses the role of natural and artificial wetlands in water purification with special attention to the role of buffer strips. Chapter 9 “Phragmites: a study in plant behaviour and human use” deals in detail with one of the specialities of Sylvia Haslam: the autoecology of Phragmites and contains the fascinating conclusion: “Phragmites is more like people in its sensitivity and complex response to environment than is generally realised!” Chapter 10 “The silent battlefield: vegetation changes” pictures competition especially between pairs of (largely reed) species illustrated with funny pictures. Chapter 11 “Threats and losses, past and present” discusses the major reasons for wetland losses illustrated with examples largely from England. Chapter 12 “Conservation” shortly discusses some principles of wetland conservation.
“Understanding wetlands” is not an ordinary textbook dealing with wetland ecology in a systematic and detailed, but dry way. It is – as the info on the back describes – an “integrated and holistic account of wetlands.” This culminates - at the end of the book - in a set of “basic figures” and “basic charts” that integrate various concepts, relations, and approaches. Placing these basics at appropriate spots in the book and relying on the recognition of the basic patterns could have been more effective than the practise of putting them jointly at the end of the book, but this might be a matter of preference.
While containing enough scientific information, also for the specialist, it is not only a scientific book: It illustrates with its many quotations and its sometimes more artistic than informative pictures these things beyond science that drive both scientists and conservationists. Therefore, the book surprises, teaches, and inspires.
Lapshina, E.D. 2004. Mires of south-east Western Siberia (plant diversity, development, and Holocene carbon storage dynamics). Tomsk State University, Russia (in Russian), 426 pp.
Based at the Botany Department of Siberia’s oldest university and virtually surrounded by the World’s largest mires, Dr Lapshina has studied the mires of south-east Western Siberia intensively over the last 20 years. Her recently finished state doctorate thesis presents a flora including 344 vascular plant and 242 moss species, an ecological-floristic classification of the plant communities (with 88 syntaxa newly described), and a classification of the south-east West Siberian mire landscapes. It further includes extensive data on the mires’ stratigraphy and gives new figures on Holocene peat and carbon accumulation in south-east Western Siberia: Peat accumulates at different average rates in the zonal peatlands (0.62 mm yr-1) and in valley mires (0.98 mm yr-1). Carbon accumulation in the Southern Taiga and Subtaiga takes place with an average 41.2 ±12 g C m-2 yr-1. Highest accumulation rates are measured in sedge-brownmoss fens with 56.7 g C m-2 yr-1. These and other quite unique results can be found in the comprehensive thesis and also in about 60 Russian and English publications published previously by the author.
We wish Lena Lapshina good luck with her doctorate defence which will take place 29 April 2004 at Tomsk University! For further information please contact: Elena Lapshina, ed@uriit.de.
Mander, Ü, & Jensen, P. (eds) 2002. Natural Wetlands for wastewater treatment in cold climates. Advanced in Ecological Sciences 12. Southampton: WIT Press. 248p.
This book presents 13 contributions about the potential and use of natural wetland ecosystems for wastewater treatment in cold climate areas. Natural wetlands includes slightly influences, semi-natural, wetlands in this case.
Contents: Low temperature effects on pollutant removal at Minot’s wetland; Wetland Oxelösund, Sweden - the first five years of operation; Use of the overland flow wetland treatment system for the purification of runoff water from peat mining areas - the service life of the system; Spatial modeling of nutrient reduction in the natural wetlands of the Liaohe delta, China; Wetlands for treatment of polluted waters: Swedish experiences; Vegetation development, nutrient removal and trace gas fluxes in constructed Typha wetlands; N2O und N2 fluxes from reflooded fen peatlands with and without wetland plants in lab model experiments; Response of a natural river valley wetland to supplementary runoff and pollutant load from urban wastewater discharge; Bioplato technology for ecological rehabilitation of eutrophied water bodies; Landscape analysis for implementing ecological engineering methods for wastewater treatment; Siting and sizing of (re)constructed wetlands for watershed planning and management; Biological removal of heavy metals from wastewater sludge; Behavioural and physiological responses of two benthic invertebrates in bioassay of the sublethal effects of coastal pollution;
Meade, R. 2004. Proceedings of the Risley Moss – Bog Restoration Workshop 26-27 February 2003; English Nature, Peterborough, UK
Most if not all of the UK raised bogs have been damaged. Risley Moss (85 ha) is a degraded raised bog that may still be capable of natural regeneration. It is part of the Manchester Mossland cSAC (candidate Special Area of Conservation within the European Union’s Natura 2000 series). Ten years after commence of restoration measures in Risley Moss (and other damaged bogs), a workshop was held to evaluate techniques and monitoring. These proceedings present results, experiences, and general considerations on bog restoration as well as a wider debate on the restorability of damaged raised-bogs.
To mention two articles more specifically:
B.D., Wheeler, R.P. Money & S.C. Shaw: Bunders, Blunders, Blenders and Bogs
This paper provides an extensive critical overview on experiences in bog restoration worldwide. The primary aim of restoration is the re-establishment of vegetation of “undisturbed” raised bog systems (Sphagnum rubellum, S. magellanicum, S. papillosum), that may then provide the prerequisite for the restoration of a functioning acrotelm. Although long-term observations are lacking, the paper encourages optimism: “Cut-over peatlands are potentially one of the easiest wetland habitats to restore...” Of course this is potentially true for any other type of ecosystem. Unfortunately, not all references are listed.
Lindsay, R.A. „Peat forming process and restoration management“
Lindsday’s paper describes and explains two conceptual models for peat forming processes: terrestrialisation and paludification. Most restoration work is actually a combination of both. Blocked drains themselves are colonised and filled with terrestrialisation peat, whereas the immediate surroundings of the drain will paludify. The article gives an alternative scenario for terrestrialisation and large-scale engineering emphasizing the importance of paludification for bog restoration.
The case is made that, in order to keep a high level of “naturalness,” Sphagnum fragments should not be added, while trees, shrubs, and even Molinia litter are repeatedly removed. The difference between these “positive” and “negative” management activities is not made clear.
The proceedings can be downloaded from: http://www.english-nature.org.uk/images/dl_pdf2.gif
(1.7 Mb PDF)
Otte, M. (ed) 2003. Wetlands of Ireland: Distribution, Ecology, Uses and Economic Value. University College Dublin Press. 256p. 30 EUR.
Ireland is famous for its notoriously wet and mild climate. Wetlands in Ireland have traditionally been viewed as smelly, dangerous place, best avoided or ‘reclaimed’. But attitudes have been changing and wetlands are now regarded as invaluable ecosystems, rich in resources and providing important ecological services. This nicely illustrated semi-popular book for the first time brings together specialists in wetland science discussing a wide range of topics from an Irish perspective, including the ecology, fauna, vegetation, and distribution of various types of wetlands; the use of wetlands for wastewater management; the archaeology of wetlands; and protection and conservation.
The chapter on Peatlands is written by Gerry Doyle and Colmán ó Críodáin. It should not be expected from a single chapter presenting an overview in a semi-popular book to address or even clear up all existing scientific problems. This chapter is not very well structured and rather adds to those problems though by uncritically and superficially citing all kinds of typologies and terms. The overview of utilisation and conservation of Irish peatlands is very informative and reads well.
Quinty, F. & L. Rochefort, 2003. Peatland Restoration Guide, second edition. Canadian Sphagnum Peat Moss Association and New Brunswick Department of Natural Resources and Energy. Québec.
The new Peatland Restoration Guide contains more than 100 pages of easy understandable practical recommendations and their (scientific) background for everybody (particularly peat extractors) planning a restoration of cut-over peat bogs. The solid work is based on ten years of research of the Peatland Ecology Research Group (PERG Laval), on the application of the methods in restoration practise, and on the experience of Canadian peat extractors.
The first part in a succinct way explains the basic concepts regarding peatlands, their vegetation, and their hydrology, which is probably enough for a general understanding. The second and main part of the guide shows the Canadian approach to (bog) peatland restoration and describes restoration techniques. Chapter 4 discusses “other options” and after use in the form of flooding, agriculture, or forestry. The chapter is awkward and out of place in a restoration guide.
Useful are the boxes with short summaries of all pertinent information within each chapter, more detailed remarks or necessary resources, time, and money as well as the quick reference sheet and monitoring forms.
More than 50% of the expenses for equipment and manpower are calculated for the collection and spreading of plant material. A cultivation of the required plants should be considered because with similar costs the negative impact on natural mires would come to an end and the plant cultivation can be aimed at the required species. For the European situation this would be an alternative to the generally lacking (obtainable) natural resources.
Unfortunately no specification about the extent of peat extraction is given and the negative effects of peat extraction are hardly mentioned – rather the opposite is illustrated: an extraction area next to the restoration site seems to be positive (as a source for water and plant material). It seems that the possibility of (successful) restoration gives a legitimation for peat extraction.
All in all, the Peatland Restoration Guide is essential for all Canadian bog restoration projects and gives important suggestions for bog restoration practitioners in other countries (climates).
Schouten, M.G.C. (ed.) 2002. Conservation and restoration of raised bogs. Geological, hydrological and ecological studies. Dept. of the Environment and Local Government Ireland / Staatsbosbeheer, The Netherlands / Geological Survey of Ireland, 220 pp.
This great book results of a decade of co-operation between the Irish and Dutch organisations responsible for nature conservation and between Irish and Dutch scientists. This co-operation had its basis in the Irish Peatland Conservation Committee (the later IPC Council) founded in 1982 and the Dutch Foundation for the Conservation of Irish Bogs (founded 1983). In 1987 the Dutch Foundation acquired four Irish peatland sites of primary conservation importance and handed them over to the Irish government. This was the beginning of an intensive exchange of information and joint research between Ireland and the Netherlands in peatland management and restoration. Ireland could provide bogs that were still rather undisturbed as reference sites, whereas the Netherlands could offer experience in peatland research and restoration. This book reports on detailed studies in Raheenmoor Bog and Clara Bog, both in County Offaly, that were performed between 1989 and 2001. The beautifully edited and instructively illustrated large size book contains a wealth of information on the two sites, including regional geology, regional hydrology, bog hydrology, and vegetation ecology, with much attention to hydrochemistry. The book includes an extra chapter on “soaks”, areas of mesotrophic or minerotrophic vegetation, occurring on otherwise ombrotrophic bog, which are usually associated with internal drainage systems. An overview is given of the relationships between biotic and abiotic conditions, again with much attention for hydrology and hydrochemistry. The last chapter “General conclusions” summarizes the implications for management and restoration on the scale of the bog-landscape (macro-scale), the different ecological systems (meso-scale), and the different habitat types (micro-scale).
A must for everybody interested in bog ecology and restoration.
For more information: Sake van der Schaaf: Sake.vanderSchaaf@wur.nl
Timmermann; T., Wichtmann, W., Succow, M. & Billwitz, K. (eds.): Alternative Nutzungsformen für Moorstandorte in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. (Alternative land use of peatlands in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. Greifswalder Geographische Arbeiten 31: 1-123. 10 €
These proceedings of a symposium on land use alternatives for peatlands present an overview on the various aspects of this topic.
In central Europe, many peatlands that were formerly used for agriculture are now being abandoned and pose the problem of after use. In many areas the drainage systems are still functioning, leading to large carbon losses to the atmosphere and restoration measures are needed. On the other hand there is also the social demand of maintaining living quality in rural areas and the need to develop alternative economically viable forms of use.
These proceedings present an overview of the practise and expertise on the interesting combination of peatland restoration and economically viable forms of use of fen peatlands in North Eastern Germany.
The 12 contributions cover the following topics:
- sustainable land use politics (M. Backhaus, H. Holst),
- mire functions (M. Succow)
- ecological services and monetarisation (A. Schäfer)
- production and use of renewable resources:
- reeds (T. Timmermann, W. Wichtmann)
- alder wood (I. Koska, A. Barthelmes, A. Kaffke, J. Schröder)
- mosses (G. Gaudig, H. Joosten)
- energy production (T. Gottschau)
- pasturing and nature conservation (M. Rühs, C. Lenk, H. Manthe)
- eco-tourism (N. Schäffer).
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For more information contact Tiemo Timmermann (tiemo@uni-greifswald.de) or Wendelin Wichtmann (wicht@uni-greifswald.de).
The issue can be ordered from Tiemo Timmermann.
Wells, C. 2002. A survey of the peat stratigraphy of seven 'bog woodland' sites in Scotland.
A report published in the framework of the Scottish Wet Woods project, presenting insight on seven bog woodland sites located across a bioclimatic gradient from the west Highlands through Speyside to the Black Isle. All of the sites bar one were characterised by pine. Lòn Lèanachain contained a birch wood. The peat stratigraphy of the sites was surveyed.
Tree growth at every site was established on genuine mire peat and did not represent tree growth on mineral substrates masked by superficial cover of fresh Sphagnum, or trees restricted to peripheral mineral ground transitions to mires.
All sites except Mar Lodge were considered to fall within the compass of the definition of 'bog woodland' adopted for the survey although the hydrology at Lòn Lèanachain is not consistent with the definition used for the selection of candidate Special Areas of Conservation. Mar Lodge was excepted because it appeared to represents invasive colonisation of desiccating peats by trees, rather than a stable bog-wood system.
The sites exhibited marked stratigraphical variation. A common feature of many of the eastern Highland sites was the disturbed nature of the upper peat stratigraphy. Monadh Mor, Pitmaduthy and Inshriach appear to exhibit the most extensive and systematic disturbance to the peat stratigraphy, probably from ancient peat cutting. It is therefore possible that many of the bog woodlands, or parts of them, are therefore comparatively recent in origin (i.e. <150 years old). The Western Highland sites of Loch Maree islands and Lòn Lèanachain appeared to be the exceptions, as here no truncation to the peat stratigraphy was detectable.
Although evidence for peat cutting was absent at Lòn Lèanachain, there is circumstantial evidence that a combination of past grazing pressures and burning may have formerly discouraged birch growth in the peripheral areas of the bog. It is possible that the recent relaxation of such pressures might have allowed the establishment of the modern bog woodland. Evidence that burning had affected the vegetation in the past was also present in most of the sites examined.
The Rothiemurchus peatland sites might also represent areas which are returning to some kind of wooded equilibrium after centuries of intense grazing pressure and burning (as well as some peat cutting), following recent changes in management practice.
(taken from the abstract)
The report is available as a PDF under:
http://www.wetwoods.org/Library/PeatStratigraphy/
Wiseman, R., Taylor, D. & Zingstra, H. 2003. Wetlands and Agriculture.
Proceedings of the Workshop on Agriculture, Wetlands and Water resources: 17th Global Biodiversity Forum, Valencia (Spain), November 2002. Reprint of: International Journal of Ecology and Environmental Sciences 29: 1-122.
Interesting compilation of papers on conflicts between and wise integration of wetlands and agriculture with contributions from Swaziland, Sri Lanka, Uganda, India, Ethiopia, South Africa, Malawi, Malaysia, Lithuania, Estonia, Cameroon, Poland, Karelia, Latvia, USA, Panama, and the Czech Republic. For more information: Henk Zingstra: Zingstra@IAC.AGRO.NL
Mire development concept Bavaria (Germany)
Mires belong to the most valuable landscape types of the German federal state of Bavaria. Most peatlands have lost their important natural functions for biodiversity conservation and climate and water regulation. Many restoration activities have already been taken, but the current situation necessitates a systematic and integrated approach to general improvement. This is the aim of the “Moorentwicklungskonzept Bayern” (MEK) that was officially presented on August 4, 2003. The focal areas and the necessary measures are listed in a priority list (available under www.bayern.de/lfu/ natur/landschaftsoekologie/moorentwicklungskonzept/mhs_gesamtliste.pdf) for 158 peatlands of which 22 have got the highest priority for restoration.
Furthermore a Peatland Restoration Guide has been developed. The guide offers a review of activities with respect to land use planning and technical implementation, including the optimal employment of labour and methods, and the juridical and financial conditions. The Restoration Guide is available as pdf files for bog restoration (3 MB) under :
www.bayern.de/lfu/natur/landschaftsoekologie/moorentwicklungskonzept/hochmoorleitfaden.pdf and for fens (5 MB) under:
www.bayern.de/lfu/natur/landschaftsoekologie/ moorentwicklungskonzept/niedermoorleitfaden.pdf
For more information: Alfred Wagner: wagner-ugau@t-online.de
Conservation Finance Guide
The Conservation Finance Alliance is made up of a number of leading intergovernmental and governmental agencies and NGOs dedicated to increasing awareness of the range of conservation finance mechanisms available.
The Guide has a flexible structure designed to allow non-experts to get started and make tangible progress on conservation finance initiatives. Tools in the Guide are designed to help ask the right questions and reach the right decisions. The Guide is organized around two structures:
At a macro-level, the Guide is structured around what is called the "Conservation Finance Process (CFP)". A fundamental barrier to scaling up the use of innovative conservation finance mechanisms is the lack of an overall, systematic approach to this topic. To help remove this barrier, the Guide introduces, and is structured around, the CFP - a systematic, business-based approach to (i) understanding; (ii) selecting; (iii) assessing; and (iv) implementing the most appropriate finance mechanisms.
At the chapter-level, with some deviations, a standard structure has been used for each chapter devoted to a specific finance mechanism.
The Conservation Finance Guide is available online http://guide.conservationfinance.org/