RAMSAR COP14 State of the world Peatlands

Context: 

Through the Global Peatlands Assessment, the Global Peatlands Initiative has brought together the latest science to inform policies, decisions, research and actions and build the evidence base to establish the state of the world’s peatlands. 

The Global Peatlands Assessment (GPA), a Global Peatlands Initiative flagship product, will be introduced during the event. The GPA will answer questions on peatland distribution, trends, and pressures, to understand the status of global peatlands. It closes many knowledge gaps, compile relevant data and present the best available science for strategic decision-making for the conservation, restoration and sustainable management of peatlands. An updated Global Peatland Map will also be launched, supported by hotspot maps and global case studies. 

The GPA has been made possible through the generous and voluntary contributions of more than 210 contributors coming from 54 different countries (46% women; 54% men) who were involved as coordinating lead authors, contributing authors, reviewers, editors and information providers.  This marks a deepening of collaboration between world renown peatlands experts in all disciplines to update, establish, and jointly communicate the status and value of peatlands. 

Through this Global Peatlands Assessment (GPA), the GPI intends to hold this GPA as a solid foundation and as a basis for work towards future Assessments and the development of a future Global Peatlands Inventory, as called for by all countries of the world in the UNEA-4 Resolution on the Conservation and Sustainable Management of Peatlands in 2019. The close involvement of the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands Secretariat in the GPA shows the work with UNEP towards a future Global Peatlands Inventory and flags the coordinated action around peatlands’ conservation and sustainable management and the promising increase of countries’ involvement in the following global assessments.

Objectives:

A. Introduce the Global Peatlands Assessment, together with the accompanying updated Global Peatland Maps.
B. Reflect on the importance and impact of the GPA within the global context of the GPI and the UNEA-4 Resolution on the Conservation and Sustainable Management of Peatlands, where a baseline for a Global Peatlands Inventory was requested in 2019 by all member states. 
C. Highlight the collaborative process of the GPA and acknowledge the cooperation between hundreds of peatlands experts from all around the world to establish the state of the world’s peatlands.
D. Showcase the Global Peatland Map and the current gaps in coverage and resolution.
E. Present the diversity and uniqueness of global peatlands as a key Nature-based Solution for climate and nature action.

Contacts: 

Dianna Kopansky, Global Peatlands Initiative Coordinator, United Nations Environment Programme, dianna.kopansky@un.org; +254 (0)721530246
Raquel Agra, Programme Officer, Nature-based Solutions, UN Environment Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre, Raquel.Agra@unep-wcmc.org; +351 (0) 966198780
Jan Peters, Managing Director of the Michael Succow Foundation, jan.peters@succow-stiftung.de; +49 (0) 15758796977