wise use of mires and peatlands - Peatland Ecology Research Group

INTRODUCTION211998 Peatlands Under Pressure – Arctic to Tropical Peatlands, International Workshop,IUCN-CEM and Society of Wetland Scientists, Anchorage, Alaska, USA 10 .1999 Recommendations VII.1 of COP7, Ramsar Convention 11 .1999 Statement on Tropical Peatlands, “Safeguarding a Global Natural Resource”,Statement of the International Conference on Tropical Peat Swamps, Penang,Malaysia 12 .In preparing this document the precedents 13set in relation to hydropower and forestrywere useful.1.4 GUIDELINES FOR GLOBALACTION ON PEATLANDS 14The preparation of this Wise Use documentis part of a wider initiative between theparticipating organisations, the Guidelines forGlobal Action on Peatlands (GGAP), whichhas now become a document within thecontext of the Ramsar Convention. This WiseUse project is referred to in one of the actionpoints within theme 4 of the GGAP. The overallaim of the GGAP is “to achieve recognitionof the importance of peatlands to themaintenance of global biodiversity, storageof water and carbon vital to the world’s climatesystem, and promote their wise use,conservation and management for the benefitof people and the environment.” The GGAPhas seven themes as follows:1: Knowledge of Global ResourcesDevelopment and application ofstandardised terminology andclassification systemsEstablishing a global database of peatlandsand miresDetecting changes and trends in thequantity and quality of the peatlandresource2: Education, Training and Public Awareness3: Policy and Legislative Instruments4: Wise Use and Management Guidelines5: Research Networks, Regional Centres ofExpertise and Institutional Capacity6: International Co-operation7. Implementation and SupportEach Theme is supplemented by more detailed‘Guidelines for Action’.1.5 PURPOSE OF THEDOCUMENTThis document aims to assist all those whoinfluence mire and peatland management inidentifying, analysing, and resolving possibleconflicts, in order to plan, design, andimplement the best management option forany mire or peatland. The document isintended to be applicable to all forms ofmanagement or development, from singlesectordevelopments to multiple use projects.The Wise Use of mires and peatlands requiresan integrative approach, one which looks atall their different values and functions in anintegrated way.The achievement of an integrative approachrequires(i) a knowledge of the characteristics andfunctions of mires and peatlands;(ii) an understanding of the factual issues 15involved,(iii) correct reasoning,(iv) an understanding of the motives andreasons for one’s own point of view,(v) a willingness to understand the others’point of view, and(vi) fair compromise where there areconflicting preferences.The purpose of the document is to establisha framework within which– judgements can be made on choicesbetween different options for mires;– any permitted exploitation of mires orpeatlands can be carried out in a way whichcauses the least damage;