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wise use of mires and peatlands - Peatland Ecology Research Group

wise use of mires and peatlands - Peatland Ecology Research Group

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VALUES AND FUCTIONS OF MIRES AND PEATLANDS851990 1998 1999Belarus 12 000 7 500 7 000Russia 56 000 12 500 13 500Ukraine 18 600 4 200 2 700Estonia 300 1 200Latvia 4 000 1 100 1 200Finl<strong>and</strong> 3 000 4 400 3 400Sweden 1 200 1 200 1 200Pol<strong>and</strong> 600 800 800Germany 3 500 2 500 2 600Irel<strong>and</strong> 3 900 3 800 3 300United Kingdom 500 500 500U.S.A. 1 200 900 900Canada 2 400 3 000 3 100Total 105 600 45 000 44 100(IPS questionnaire 2000, preliminary data, supplemented by estimates)Table 3/18: Peak labour force in various countries in man-yearsskiers, boaters, <strong>and</strong> by other people lookingfor wilderness, quietness, <strong>and</strong> remoteness.Aesthetic functions attach to the appreciation<strong>of</strong> beauty. The awesome beauty <strong>of</strong> <strong>mires</strong> <strong>and</strong>peatl<strong>and</strong>s has inspired artists since AlbrechtDürer 250 . The openness, patterns, <strong>and</strong>symmetry <strong>of</strong> many peatl<strong>and</strong> l<strong>and</strong>scapes areaesthetically fascinating 251 , their blaze <strong>of</strong>colours varying from pastel <strong>and</strong> melancholicto deep green <strong>and</strong> bright red, <strong>and</strong> the delicatesymmetry <strong>of</strong> specialised groups <strong>of</strong> microorganisms252 . Special conferences haverecently been devoted to the aesthetics <strong>of</strong><strong>mires</strong> <strong>and</strong> peatl<strong>and</strong>s 253 . Some wild peatl<strong>and</strong>organisms are specifically protected (<strong>and</strong>collected <strong>and</strong> marketed) for their beauty, suchas orchids <strong>and</strong> ornamental blackwater fish 254 .(t) Symbolisation, spirituality, <strong>and</strong>existence functionsSymbolisation, spirituality, <strong>and</strong> existencefunctions play an important role in the selfidentification<strong>and</strong> group-identification <strong>of</strong>human beings. Symbolisation functions arethose attaching to things which act assymbols <strong>of</strong> other values. Large conspicuousorganisms, <strong>of</strong>ten mammals or birds 255 , moreseldom plants 256 , <strong>and</strong> l<strong>and</strong>scapes 257 may havesuch symbolisation value 258 for individuals,organisations <strong>and</strong> nations. Examples <strong>of</strong> theformer are hunting trophies 259 (<strong>of</strong> peatl<strong>and</strong>animals like moose (Alces alces), bear (Ursussp.), gro<strong>use</strong> (Lagopus lagopus scotticus,Lyrurus tetrix), snipe (Gallinago gallinago),crocodiles (Crocodilia) <strong>and</strong> tiger (Pantheratigris). Some peatl<strong>and</strong> organisms have awider symbolisation value, includingEagles 260 , Beavers 261 , Crocodiles <strong>and</strong>Alligators 262 , Cranes 263 , Storks 264 , <strong>and</strong>

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