wise use of mires and peatlands - Peatland Ecology Research Group

128 FRAMEWORK FOR WISE USEExamples of Principles combined withModifiers would be :a. The principle of re-location: thoseactivities that are exceptionally harmful tothe fundamental properties of mires andpeatlands and their hinterlands, andcannot be avoided, should be relocated toareas where they will cause less impact.Modifier: SPACEExample of combination: A small operatorat local level may have no opportunity tore-locate: she cannot follow the principlewithout wiping herself out. She cannot beblamed for this if she has no alternative.Thus she has to take the decision to remainin the location. At a national level, agovernment could intervene and make analternative location, or compensation,available.b. The “polluter pays” principle: The cost ofmeasures to prevent, control and reducedamage to the fundamental properties ofmires and peatlands should be borne bythe responsible party.Modifier: TIME.Example of combination: In a case whereimmediate compensation could bankrupt anenterprise, it might be better to wait untilthe enterprise had sufficient means tocompensate adequately.5.6 INSTRUMENTSInstruments are mechanisms which facilitatethe application of the modifiers of time andplace to the guidance principles. There areinstruments at a variety of levels, including(but not limited to) at- international level,- regional level involving groups of countries,- national 25 level,- sub-national level involving provinces orregions,- the level of the enterprise 26 , and- the level of the individual.Decisions as to what is and what is not WiseUse have to be taken at all these levelssimultaneously.5.6.1 Instruments at an international level(1) International law: International law is abody of rules of conduct accepted byparticipating countries and which regulaterelations between them. International law ismost frequently embodied in internationalagreements and conventions such as theRamsar Convention and the Convention onBiological Diversity. A list of environmentalconventions and agreements relevant to miresand peatlands is given in Appendix 7.In this decision do the General Considerations or Guidance Principlesneed to be modified– because of the place regarding which the decision is taken– because of the spatial scale of the area regarding which the decisionis taken– because of the time/date/era of the decision– because of the period over which the decision will have consequences.Table 5/6. Checklist against the Modifiers - Elements to be considered when decisionsarise as to the use of a mire or peatland