wise use of mires and peatlands - Peatland Ecology Research Group

INTRODUCTION19resources. These help to provide a contextfor the ‘sustainable’ or ‘wise’ use ofpeatlands.Ramsar: Under Article 3.1, the ContractingParties of the Ramsar Convention agree to“formulate and implement their planning soas to promote ... as far as possible the wiseuse of wetlands in their territory.” The ReginaConference 1987 defined Wise Use of wetlandsas “their sustainable utilisation for the benefitof mankind in a way compatible with themaintenance of the natural properties of theecosystem”. The Montreux Conference 1990adopted “Guidelines for implementation ofthe Wise Use concept of the Convention”.The Ramsar Convention Strategic Plan (1997-2002, Recommendation 6.1) calls on RamsarParties to facilitate the conservation and wiseuse of peatlands at national and regionallevels, including the development ofregionally based peatland managementguidelines.Biological Diversity: The Convention onBiological Diversity states that ‘“Sustainableuse’ means the use of components ofbiological diversity in a way and at a rate thatdoes not lead to the long-term decline ofbiological diversity, thereby maintaining itspotential to meet the needs and aspirationsof present and future generations.”Climate Change: The United NationsFramework Convention on Climate Changestates ‘The Parties should protect the climatesystem for the benefit of present and futuregenerations of humankind, on the basis ofequity and in accordance with their commonbut differentiated responsibilities andrespective capabilities….The Parties have aright to, and should, promote sustainabledevelopment. Policies and measures toprotect the climate system against humaninducedchange should be appropriate for thespecific conditions of each Party and shouldbe integrated with national developmentprogrammes, taking into account thateconomic development is essential foradopting measures to address climatechange… The Parties should co-operate topromote a supportive and open internationaleconomic system that would lead tosustainable economic growth anddevelopment in all Parties, particularlydeveloping country Parties, thus enablingthem better to address the problems of climatechange.’This document is informed by these conceptsof ‘sustainable and ‘wise’. It deals specificallywith mires and peatlands, and defines theWise Use of mires and peatlands as thoseuses of mires and peatlands for whichreasonable people now and in the future willnot attribute blame. The word ‘use’ isemployed in its widest meaning, includingconservation and non-use.1.3 PREPARATION OF A WISEUSE DOCUMENTThe International Mire Conservation Group(IMCG) and the International Peat Society(IPS) agreed in 1997 to prepare jointly adocument on the Wise Use of Mires andPeatlands.IPS (www.peatsociety.fi) is aninternational organisation containingrepresentatives of different interests: appliedand academic scientists, engineers, andbusinesspeople. The mission of IPS is topromote international co-operation on allmatters concerning peatlands. IPS carries outits main work through seven Commissionsdealing with the use of peatlands forconservation, industry, agriculture, medicine,forestry; as well as after-use andcharacteristics.IMCG (www.imcg.net) is aninternational network of specialists having aparticular interest in mire and peatland