wise use of mires and peatlands - Peatland Ecology Research Group

FRAMEWORK FOR WISE USE123Some examples may illustrate these criteria:● If the maintenance of human life is at stake,it is not unwise to use an non-substitutableresource to the point of exhaustion. Onecannot be blamed for killing the last bear ifit is the only way to stay alive 7 .● If the use of the resource keeps the quantityand quality of that resource intact, there isno reason not to use the resource. Evenwhen the supply is decreasing, the use canbe continued as long as the resource isabundant.● If the resource is not abundant and gettingrare, it is wise not to use the resource tothe point of exhaustion, in case theresource might be needed for more urgent(and presently unknown) purposes infuture (option value).In all but 2 a positive answer is conditionalon the effects the intervention has on otherservices and resources (see Table 5/2).5.2.2 The effect of a use on other functionsThe use of a peatland for a specific purposemay have considerable side-effects. Theseeffects on all other functions 8 must be takeninto account in the full assessment ofadmissibility of an intervention. To judge theimpact of the intervention, the criteria in Table5/2 can be applied.With respect to the side-effects, anintervention is considered permissible inprinciple when:● no negative side-effects occur, OR● the affected resources and services remainsufficiently abundant, OR● the affected resources and services areeasily (and completely) substitutable, OR● the impact is easily reversible.In all other cases an integrated cost-benefitanalysishas to be carried out that involves athorough weighing of the pros and cons ofthe intervention, taking the considerationsof Chapter 4 into account.The two tables 5/1 and 5/2 are combined inthe flow chart of Figure 5/2.In deciding on the preservation or destructionof pristine mires, we have to be aware of ourlimited knowledge, the possibly high risksarising from development, and the long-termbenefits and drawbacks of either preservationor development. Tables 5/1 and 5/2 and theCriterion Question Answer Consequence1. Impact Will the proposed intervention have Yes Go to 2negative effects on other functions? No Consider approval2. Essentiality Are the negatively affected functions Yes No interventionnon-substitutable and essential for the No Go to 3maintenance of human life?3. Abundance Are the negatively affected functions Yes Consider approvalsufficiently abundant to guarantee No Go to 4their adequate future provision?4. Substitut- Are these negatively affected functions Yes Consider approvalability easily substitutable or are the negative No Do an integratedimpacts easily reversible?cost-benefit analysisTable 5/2: Criteria and decision tree for assessing the effect of an intervention with respectto other functions.