Wise Use of Peatlands Schiphol 13 -15 February

Wise Use of Peatlands Schiphol 13 -15 February, 2009 Implementation of Global Action Plan for Peatlands and Ramsar CC GAP future

Peatlands in Ramsar Convention CPs recognised peatlands as one of the most important wetlands by recommendations and resolutions: COP 6 (1996): Recommendation VI. 1 - encouraging further cooperation on wise use, sustainable development, and conservation of global peatlands COP 7 (1999): Recommendation VII. 1 - on the wise use of peatlands” with an annexed “draft global action plan for the wise use and management of peatlands COP 8 (2002): Resolution VIII. 3 Climate Change and Wetlands: Impacts Adaptation and Mitigation - calls for managing wetlands adaptively in response to the impacts of global climate change; recognises peatlands role in mitigating impacts of climate change Resolution VIII. 11 Additional guidance for identifying and designating under-represented wetland types as Wetlands of International Importance – addresses peatlands as underrepresented wetland type Resolution VIII. 17 – adopts “guidelines for global action on peatlands”, calls to establish coordinating committee fro global peatlands action plan implementation (CC GAP)

Guidelines for Global Action on Peatlands (GGAP) Resolution VIII. 17 Ramsar Guidelines for Global Action on Peatlands (GGAP) - the Framework for action on global, regional and national level, addressing needs in global coordination of actions within following priorities: A. Knowledge of global resources B. Education and public awareness on peatlands C. Policy and legislative instruments D. Wise use of peatlands E. Research networks, regional centres of expertise, and institutional capacity F. International cooperation G. Implementation and support Guidelines defines main threats, problems, emerging issues and priorities for actions in peatland conservation; provide the approach and methodology. More about Ramsar and Peatlands on: http: //www. ramsar. org/types_peatlands. htm

Peatlands in Ramsar Convention To meet CPs demand, peatlands issues have been integrated into Ramsar Convention tools and instruments: New Guidelines for management planning for Ramsar sites and other wetlands (adopted 2002) with specific reference to peatlands Criteria for Identifying Wetlands of International Importance (adopted in 2005) – peatlands as underrepresented wetlands type Strategic plan for 2002 -2008 - cover mechanisms for the delivery of all three pillars of the Convention (Strategic Plan General Objectives 1 -3) in peatland wise use and conservation National report format triennium 2002 -2005 – included the special division on peatlands - point 3. 2 on GAP implementation National report format triennium 2005 -2008 included indicator question: Has national action been taken to implement the Guidelines to Global Action on Peatlands (Res. VIII. 17)? CC GAP mechanism – partnership for peatlands conservation and wise use

Peatlands information for Ramsar Convention To meet CPs demands CC GAP and involved organisations have developed several helpful documents addressed countries and global implementing agencies: Wise use of mires and peatlands (2002) – provides framework and background information on peatlands for decision makers Peatlands Wise Use Statement (2002) – provides short overview of wise use principles related to peatlands in all convention languages and additionally – in Finnish and Russian Brochure “Peatlands – Do You Care” (2005) Explaining peatlands functions and values and refreshing emerging issues on peatlands Global Assessment on Peatlands, Biodiversity and Climate change (2007) Review of the latest scientific information with key finding as background for decision making, endorsed by CBD SBSTTA 2006 IPCC Guidelines for National Green House Gas Inventories – Chapter 7 – Wetlands, focus on peatlands under extraction

Do countries know that they have peatlands? 32 countries point peatlands as not applicable item in their 2005 NRs: Europe - 5 (Incl. Greenland!) Africa – 10 (incl. Botswana!) Americas – 7 (incl. USA!) Asia – 4 (incl. Iran and Kyrgyzstan) In 2008 NRs only 20 countries remained declaring this: Europe – 3 Africa – 10 (incl. Madagascar, Nigeria, Zambia) Americas - 5 Asia – 2 (incl Srilanka

Here the Ramsar convention was signed in 1971 Why we still need CC GAP in Ramsar? This is peat

No knowledge on peatlands diversity

Countries with peat (Global peatland database, IMCG, 2008)

How countries implement GAP National Report 2008 YES Europe Americas Africa Asia Oceania NO PARTLY PLANNED NOT APPLICABLE 12 1 1 6 1 3 9 22 15 2 0 5 1 4 1 0 5 5 2 0 0 5 10 2 1

Emerging issues for peatlands as identified by CC GAP To COP 9 • Climate change • Biodiversity • Water management • Poverty • Wise use Additional to COP 10 • Land degradation • Global energetic strategy and wetlands • Development projects

COP 10 issues for peatlands to be addressed Draft Resolutions of COP 10 where peatlands should be addressed (IOPs and countries!): • The Ramsar Strategic Plan 2009 -2014 • The Convention's Programme on communication, education, participation, and awareness (CEPA) 2009 -2014 • Partnerships and synergies with Multilateral Environmental Agreements and other institutions • Resolution on wetlands and extractive industries • Wetlands and human health • Wetlands and poverty reduction • Climate change and wetlands • Wetlands and 'biofuels'

What are principles of CC GAP • Partnership of NGOs, governments, professional organizations • Eligibility under Ramsar Convention – mandate form CPs to coordinate Global Actions for Peatlands implementation • Cooperation with convention bdies (STRP, SC, Secretariat) • Direct work with countries • Direct work with other conventions • Involvement of wide expertise

Advantages of partnership approach • involvement of wide range of experts with different views guarantee full list of items on agenda; • Balanced interests of various stakeholders’ represented in the international conventions and processes; • benefit from cooperation on all levels from local to the international; • the resources of organisations effectively used by sharing and temporary replacement • the free exchange of information - opportunity for improvement of background knowledge for decision making…. .

What are future tasks for CC GAP • Global assessments of peatlands as technical report to each next COP • Emerging issues raise to be addressed by Ramsar convention • To cooperate and address other conventions • Provide technical papers to address and explain emerging issues, background information for decision • Contribute guidelines for peatland management (wise use and conservation) • Assist implementation of GAP on national level

What are operational principles for CC GAP Comprehensive representation Rotated chairmanship Secretariat (volunteering currently by WI) Integration/coordination with STRP Technical reports to SC and COPs Regular and open information exchange (STRP support service) • Networking • • •

Thank you for your attention and cooperation