Grant Agreement nr. WGP2 07 69 & 69 2a

Agreement holder: International Peat Society

Country/region: Global

Activity period: 01/09/2002 and 31/12/2002

Documentation and products available:

• Final report with Finance Report
• Technical output: Publication of the Book on Wise Use of Mires and Peatlands, and the publication of the Statement on Wise Use of Peatlands in French and Spanish.

Background

The International Mire Conservation Group (IMCG) and the International Peat Society (IPS) (which represents industry and other sectors involved in use of peatlands, e.g. forestry, agriculture, energy sector, and peat extraction for horticulture) have cooperated to develop guidelines on the wise use of peatlands. In GPI Phase 1, a meeting of the IPS-IMCG was supported and facilitated by Alterra and WI. This meeting resulted in a final agreement on the Wise Use of Peatlands between these two major stakeholders, thus setting the basis for Ramsar's Guidelines for Global Action on Peatlands (in November 2002 this was adopted at CoP8). The resulting book (Wise Use of Mires and Peatlands) was also summarised in a Wise Use Statement, which has been widely distributed in English, a.o. at CoP6 of the CBD.
The challenge is to develop mechanisms that can balance the conflicting demands on the global peatland heritage to ensure its continued wise use to meet the needs of humankind. The Guidelines for Wise Use of Mires and Peatlands highlight the nature and importance of peatlands and identify problems resulting from their use.

Objectives and results:

• Providing a printed book of the Guidelines for Wise Use of Mires and Peatlands

• Inform policy makers and decision takers worldwide and other stakeholders, especially in Spanish and French speaking countries, of the importance of peatlands and to promote the concept of their 'Wise Use'.

Direct actions are:

• Edit, print and publish the Guidelines as a book of approx. 240 pages.
• Design, publication and dissemination of the joint IPS/IMCG "Statement on the Wise Use of Peatlands" - Spanish and French Version.
• Publication and dissemination of the concise statement on 'Wise Use of Peatlands' based on the thrust of the much larger 'Wise Use Guidelines', in French and Spanish to introduce it to a broader audience.

Achieved:

• The Book was published and widely disseminated, including at the Ramsar CoP8.
• The leaflets were translated to French and Spansih, translated and widely disseminated, including at Ramsar CoP8.
• The book received an excellent review in the Irish Times (3 February 2003). It highlights the nature and importance of peatlands and identifies problems resulting from their use. The International Peat Society (IPS) and International Mire Conservation Group (IMCG) provide suggestions on how these problems may be resolved through application of the "wise use" approach.
• The book will provide a basis for further discussions and developments in the Ramsar and CBD STRPs, including the Ramsar Coordinating Committee on Global Action on Peatlands.

The project was succesffuly implemented and reached all its immediate goals. The boom and leaflets provide an excellent tool for the GPI partners and the Ramsar and CBD communities to promote wise use of peatlands. As mentioned by the Irish Times: "Its frameworks of pronciples, criteria and checklists for decision-making generally coincides with green aspirations as expressed in most international conventions and resolutions, and as a blueprint for better decisions on peatland it is a remarkable attempt at concensus".

Project title: Translation Wise Use Guidelines to Russian, for raising awareness in the former CIS (DAC 1 countries)

Grant Agreement Nr. WGP2 04 gpi 69 2b

Agreement holder: International Mire Conservation Group (IMCG)

Country/region: Global

Activity period: Sept-Nov 2002

Documentation and products available:

• Final report with Finance Report
• Technical output: Leaflet on The Wise Use of Peatlands, in Russian

Background:

Having the Wise Use Statement form the IPS and IMCG (see GPI project 69/69a) and a range of important but threatened peatland systems in CIS/DAC 1 countries such as Georgia and Armenia, led to the proposal of the IMCG to also publish a version of the Statement in the Russian language.

Brief project description:

Translation, publication of the Wise Use Statement in Russian and dissemination in the former CIS (particularly Georgia and Armenia), as well as to the national delegates to the Ramsar and CBD conventions of all Russian-speaking countries.

Objectives and results:

• Raising awareness on Wise Use of Peatlands
• Enhancing access to Wise Use guidelines for Peatlands

Direct actions:

1. Translation, production of the leaflet (1000 copies) and dissemination of a Russian language version of the IPS/IMCG Statement on the Wise Use of Peatlands
2. Dissemination at the Ramsar CoP8.

Achieved:

• The leaflet was translated and published, and was distributed at the Ramsar CoP8 in Valencia in November 2002.

The leaflet was successfully produced and distributed, thus enhancing access in the CIS, including the DAC1 countries in the region, to the guidelines on wise use of peatlands.