PeatMatters

Newsletter of the Integrated Management of Peatlands For Biodiversity & Climate Change Project undertaken by Wetlands International and Global Environment Centre.

• Project Components
• Project Management Teams
• Project Funders

Covering more than 400 million hectares, peatlands are one of the important ecosystems in the world. Although peatlands cover only about 3% of the land and freshwater surface of the planet, they contain 20-35% of the carbon stored in terrestrial biosphere and 10% of available freshwater resources. At the same time they support a very high diversity of species, many of which are unique to this ecosystem. Peatlands also support the livelihood of many local communities. However, large areas have been drained or degraded as a result of agricultural, forestry or mining activities.  This in turn has led to loss of biodiversity and major emissions of carbon dioxide (such as estimated emissions of 500-1000 million tonnes of carbon dioxide from peatland fires in Indonesia from 1997-98).

In Ireland, throughout the 18th and 19th centuries a number of alternative uses for peat were developed including the manufacture of wrapping paper and postcards from peat fibre.

PeatMatters is distributed free to peatland and climate change-related forums, networks, researches, experts, scientist and interested individuals.  To subscribe or receive a free issue, please email to david@genet.po.my or visit www.peat-portal.net.


Compiled by: David Lee & Murni Adnan
Editor: Faizal Parish
Design and Art Work: Hooi You Li
Photos Courtesy of GEC & WI

About Wetlands International & Global Environment Centre

Wetlands International (WI) is a leading global non-profit organisation dedicated solely to the crucial work of wetland conservation and sustainable management. The organisation has well-established networks of experts and close partnerships with key organisations, which are essential for catalysing conservation activities worldwide. WI's mission is to sustain and restore wetlands, their resources and biodiversity for future generations through research, information exchange and conservation activities, worldwide.

The Global Environment Centre (GEC) was established in 1998 to work on environmental issues of global importance.  The Centre is registered and based in Malaysia as a non-profit organisation. GEC's mission is to support the protection of the environment and sustainable use of natural resources to meet local, regional and global needs.  This is to be achieved through the building of partnerships to address environmental issues of global concern, strengthening of capacity for integrated implementation of environmental conventions, and demonstration of practical solutions to environmental issues at local, regional and global levels. GEC has three main programmes: Forest and Wetlands Conservation, Integrated River Basin Management, and Awareness and Capacity Building.

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Foreword

This E-newsletter has been developed under the Outreach Component of the Project on Integrated Management of Peatlands for Biodiversity and Climate Change. It is intended to enhance understanding at global level on peatland issues by informing readers of key issues on peatlands, biodiversity and climate change, progress on the project implementation as well as upcoming events and projects.

This first issue focuses on introducing the project and some of the main activities.  Features are given on some of the recent international workshops organised and on linkages developed with the environmental conventions.  Future issues will showcase some the results from the country components in China, Indonesia and Russia as well as the regional activities in SE Asia.  We will include more general news items and feedback from members.

This newsletter is one of a number of communication and outreach tools being developed under the project.  Other electronic communication mechanisms are the peat-portal web site,  and a range of electronic discussion groups - such as the South East Asia (SEA) Peat e-Group which has over 400 members and a new discussion group being established on peatlands and climate change.  In addition there are a number of more traditional outreach tools such as posters and leaflets some of which are displayed on page 8 of the newsletter. The project is also developing demonstration sites to showcase good practices.

The distribution list for the newsletter will initially be about 800, but with your assistance we hope that it will grow.  Please send us suggestions of those you think would like to be included in the mailing list as well as any issues for inclusion in future issues.

Faizal Parish

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Project on Integrated Management of Peatlands for Biodiversity and Climate Change

Introduction

The global project by WI and the GEC was developed to address issues arising from the mismanagement of peatlands. The project consists of a range of components at the global level and country studies in China, Indonesia and Russia, which will help assess the importance of peatlands as carbon stores and provide recommendations for future management options to reduce the net emissions of greenhouse gases while sustaining and enhancing other values.  It was formally launched in May 2003. Support for the project has come from UNEP-GEF and other funders including the Canadian Climate Change Development Fund, Global Peatland Initiative and the Netherlands Government.

Project linkage to international/national priorities, action plans and programmes

Through workshops and studies, methodologies for determining the capacity of peatlands to accumulate carbon as well as to determine GHG emission levels following disturbance, will be developed and agreed upon.  This will assist Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC meet their obligations under Article 4 of the Convention which states that Parties shall "develop, periodically update, publish…national inventories of anthropogenic emissions by sources and removals by sinks of all greenhouse gases…using comparable methodologies…".

The project will also aid in implementing the objectives adopted under the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands.  In particular, it will contribute to the implementation of CBD Decision IV/4 and VII/4 on Inland Water Biodiversity which includes management of peatlands, and also Recommendation VII/1 of the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands which calls for urgent action related to the conservation of temperate and tropical peatlands, as well as the development of Guidelines for Global Action on Peatlands (GAP) which incorporates climate change considerations. In addition it will contribute to work proposed under the framework of CBD-UNFCCC collaboration as proposed by CBD Conference of Parties 7 (COP7) in Ferbuary 2004.

Specific case studies to assess the status of peatlands and the anthropogenic impacts on both climate change and biodiversity related aspects of these ecosystems have been incorporated into the project.  Case studies were proposed for the following countries: China, Indonesia and Russia. Linkages will be made with ongoing international cooperation programmes of the International Mire Conservation Group (IMCG), the International Peat Society (IPS), and the experts and institutions worldwide. The project will also link with the Global Peatland Initiative (GPI).

Russia, China and Indonesia have been selected as focal countries as they have extensive peatlands which form a high percentage of their wetland areas (10-70%). Also there is a high level of interest in each country to examine the issue.  In addition, they represent countries where direct human activities are negatively affecting peatlands, with impacts on both biodiversity and climate change. Given that each of the countries chosen has extensive information on their peatland resources, it makes the study easier to complete and increases the likelihood that the results will lead to further action nationally.

Objective of the Project

The objective is to assess peatland management practices and their impacts on biodiversity and climate change. The project aims to provide recommendations on how peatlands could be managed in the future to maintain their role as carbon stores and sinks, while at the same conserving the biodiversity.

Components & Activities

The project has six components. Under each component are activities which will lead to the production of an up-to-date status report of scientific knowledge, and improved understanding of management issues affecting peatlands in the selected countries.

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Project Components

Component 1  - Global Technical Component

• Compile information on carbon storage in peatlands
• Assess the impact of peatland management on carbon storage and biodiversity
• Identify best management and restoration practices for peatlands

Component 2  - Country Study in Russia

• Review and identify gaps in information on Russian peatlands
• Collate results of completed and ongoing peatland projects, especially those which link peatlands, climate change and biodiversity
• Assess impact of management options at pilot sites in the Tomsk and Tver regions
• Enhance awareness and share information on these issues

Component 3  - Country Study in Indonesia

• Assess importance of peat swamp forests in Indonesia as regards to carbon storage
• Test options for protection and sustainable use of peatlands at pilot sites in Central Kalimantan and Jambi-South Sumatra
• Enhance understanding and involvement of key stakeholders in sustainable management of peatlands

Component 4  - Country Study in China

• Sum up information on status and distribution of peatlands, key threats and management   regimes in China
• Assess impact of management practices and test restoration options in the Ruoergai Marshes in Central China and the Sanjiang Plain in N.E. China
• Promote measures for the protection and restoration of peatlands

Component 5  - Regional Component South East Asia

• Help promote and implement the ASEAN Peatland Management Initiative (APMI)
• Gather and share information on best management practices for peatlands in the region
• Support countries to assess and monitor key information on peatlands in the region
• Support capacity building and awareness activities

Component 6  - Global Outreach / Capacity Building and Linkage to Environmental Conventions

• Link with deliberations of and share project findings with global environment conventions including the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and Ramsar Convention on Wetlands
• Establish web sites and electronic networks to link partners working on related issues
• Develop awareness materials and training modules based on project outputs

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Project Management Team

Marcel Silvius, Project Director,

Chris Baker, Project Manager,

Faizal Parish. Technical Director, Leader - Component 1 & 6 ,

Tatiana Minaeva, Leader - Component 2,

Nyoman Suryadiputra, Leader - Component 3,

Chen Kelin, Leader - Component 4,

Chee Tong Yiew, Leader - Component 5,

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Main Project Funders

United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)

Global Environment Facility (GEF)

Other major funding support for project activities has come from Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) via Wildlife Habitat Canada, Ministry of Foreign Affairs Netherlands via Global Peatland Initiative (GPI), European Union via ASEAN Regional Centre for Biodiversity Conservation.

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Features

One hectare of tropical peat swamp stores up to 5,000 tonnes of carbon!

The Global Environment Centre and Wetlands International with support from UNEP/GEF, UNDP-GEF, DANIDA and CIDA-CCFP jointly organized The International Workshop on Integrated Management and Rehabilitation of Peatlands in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia from February 6 -7, 2004. It was attended by more than 100 technical experts and officials from a broad range of government agencies from 14 different countries around the world. Twenty five papers were presented in the 2-day workshop. The Honourable Dato Shaharuddin bin Mohd Ismai