wise use of mires and peatlands - Peatland Ecology Research Group

124 FRAMEWORK FOR WISE USEflow chart of Figure 5/2, combined with asystematic evaluation of the peatlandfunctions and values as dealt with in Chapter3, provide a good start for a Wise Useassessment. Other elements to be consideredin coming to a decision are provided in therest of this Chapter. These are the componentsof the ‘implementation decisions’ column inFigure 5/1.5.3 GENERALCONSIDERATIONSSome general considerations also form partof the ‘decision in principle’ process. Thefollowing General Considerations are takenfrom parts of Chapter 4:1. All human beings have rights, boundaryconditions that may not be violated. Inresolving value conflicts, and conflictsbetween rights, the satisfaction of essentialneeds take priority over the satisfaction ofdesirable wants. (§§ 4.2, 4.5)2. In taking decisions an egalitarian principleshould apply: a smaller amount of goodequally distributed should be preferred toa larger amount of good disproportionatelyshared (including taking future people intoaccount). Preference in such decisionsshould be given to those with fewer nativeassets and less favourable social positions.(§§4.2, 4.6)Fig. 5/2: Flow chart for assessing the permissibility of interventions in mires and peatlands.