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The workshop will be hosted by the German Federal Agency for Nature Conservation (BfN) and facilitated by Michael Succow Foundation, partner in the Greifswald Mire Centre, and Eurosite, as part of the EUKI project “Building the European Peatlands Initiative: a strong alliance for peatland climate protection in Europe”.

In 2019, experts from 12 European countries came together in Bonn on invitation of the German Federal Agency for Nature Conservation (BfN), Ramsar secretariat, UNEP Global Peatlands Initiative (GPI), and Michael Succow Foundation, partner in the Greifswald Mire Centre, to discuss European peatland strategies. Results have been published in a joint policy paper and fed into the drafting of the German National Peatland Strategy. Now, 5 years later, we aim to bring together respective experts, policy makers, and stakeholders from EU Member States and other European countries in a follow-up workshop, in order to exchange knowledge and experiences on existing and planned national peatland strategies. A focus will be on identifying core elements of a national peatland strategy that foster best practices of peatland management, considering aspects of conservation, restoration and sustainable use. A further objective is to discuss the needs and possibilities for integrating strategic peatland conservation at European level, including an overview of current practices and existing regulations, as well as opportunities for closer cooperation between countries.

Join us for our Peatlands & Policies Open Data Mapathon on Sat 6th April 10am to 4pm Irish & UK time (CET+1, EET+2).

We will be mapping peatlands and policies using QGIS (or any other mapping tool) to help us to improve biodiversity and reduce GHG emissions by combining GIS datasets with open datasets with links to relevant policy documents. Training in QGIS will be provided if required.

The main target audience for the Mapathon is third level students and young professionals. We also need volunteers to join our Mapathon support team. The only qualification required is enthusiasm.

Join us at the Data Science Institute, University of Galway and Online across Europe for a day of mapping and exploring peatlands. Whether you're a seasoned mapper or a newbie, come and contribute to mapping peatlands and policies using open data. This hands-on event will help us better understand and protect and restore our peatlands. Join us in person in Galway if you can, or online. The event will be broadcast live on Mapathon TV aka zoom and youtube. All you need is a laptop, some enthusiasm, and get ready to map away! See you there!

FAO and its Global Soil Partnership (GSP) are delighted to announce the Global Symposium on Soil Information & Data (GSID24), co-organized with the Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences (ISSCAS). Scheduled from 25 to 28 September 2024 in the dynamic city of Nanjing (China), this symposium promises to be a landmark event. 

The symposium will serve as an international forum for global players – from policymakers to researchers, and practitioners – to engage in the crucial area of soil data and information. Faced with pressing challenges such as food insecurity, climate change, and unsustainable soil management, this symposium will highlight the need for comparable and reliable soil data and information.

Emphasising the significance of data-driven decision-making, GSID24 aims to catalyze the development and implementation of policies grounded in robust soil data, thereby enhancing the efficacy of global efforts towards sustainable development and climate resilience. Discover the objectives, themes, and much more on the official Symposium webpage: https://www.fao.org/global-soil-partnership/gsid24/en/

Our biannual gathering on June 2nd 2024 for the World Peatlands Day is around the corner. As it was decided during our end of year 2023 vote the VA meetings will continue to use a in-person and on-the-ground model, so that we can all participate in whatever way is most suitable. 

This year, the Portuguese interdisciplinary collective W-Replay, with support from the municipality of Torres Vedras, has kindly offered to host the biannual in person meeting. This meeting will take place from May 31st (arrival day) to June 3rd (departure day). June 1st and 2nd are the core ‘action days’ where we will aim to reconnect, put our heads together, and discuss the future of our community oriented peatland conservation work. Topics we plan to touch upon are: a Venice Agreement web platform (I), the VA governance structure (II), more inclusivity (III), accountability factors (IV), and a collective strategic plan (V). These are the exact same topics that will be covered in the on-the-ground workshops which can be held from May 24rd (receive material) until 30th (due date). 

We are a strong and healthy peatland lovers community and peatlands know how important it is to circulate the waters. 

The first part of the presentation will be in English, and will briefly describe the SER's Standards-based Ecological Restoration in Action program done in collaboration with Microsoft to implement ecological restoration projects in communities hosting data centers. During the second part of the session, Agiro, a local NGO, will present in French, its project to restore a landfill site in Quebec City. This is one of the 14 projects chosen in 6 countries under this program.

La première partie de la présentation se fera en anglais et décrira brièvement le programme "Programme de restauration en action basé sur des normes de la SER" réalisé en collaboration avec Microsoft pour mettre en œuvre des projets de restauration écologique dans les communautés hébergeant des centres de données. Au cours de la deuxième partie de la session, Agiro, une ONG locale, présentera en français son projet de restauration d'un site d'enfouissement dans la ville de Québec. Il s'agit de l'un des 14 projets sélectionnés dans 6 pays dans le cadre de ce programme.

Register here: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/5217108688747/WN_MOT_V1mVTWCTwWrvr4bGDA?ct=t(EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_3_27_2024_16_33)#/registration

Join Green Restoration Ireland on 5th June 2024 at 6 pm IST for the second webinar of their Paludiculture series: "Raising the Table: Water Table Management for Paludiculture" presented by Dr. Patrick Tuohy, Senior Research Officer from Teagasc and GRI's Dr. Doug McMillan. Learn about strategies being implemented for water table management, peatland restoration and how we can protect farming and vital ecosystems together. Register now for free on eventbrite:

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/raising-the-table-water-table-management-approaches-in-paludiculture-tickets-896712781067

Hidden habitats that define the future of climate, biodiversity and life

As the world’s largest knowledge-led platform on sustainable landscapes, the Global Landscapes Forum (GLF) is uniquely positioned to unite global and regional stakeholders. Following the success of the 2017 GLF Peatlands conference, this upcoming event will create space to address gaps in the science, policy and practice nexus and bring forth traditional knowledge in peatland management. It will foster dialogue around effective, appropriate and participatory management models as well as the necessary policy and financial tools needed to support them at the national, regional and global level.

Against the backdrop of growing political momentum for peatland protection, exemplified by Germany’s commitment to a national peatland strategy, GLF Peatlands 2024 will align with global efforts to safeguard these critical ecosystems. Held alongside the UNFCCC Bonn Climate Change Conference, it seeks to enhance the dialogue on the vital role of preserved peatlands in carbon cycling, including their substantial carbon sequestration capacity when undisturbed and the critical impacts on greenhouse gas fluxes arising from degraded peatlands.

Register for GLF Peatlands 2024 here: https://connect.globallandscapesforum.org/e/u/checkout/peatlands-2024/tickets/order?access=SH2102_p24

This session will provide an overview of the Global Peatlands Assessment (GPA), the most comprehensive assessment of peatlands to date. It will explore the global distribution of peatlands, showcasing the Global Peatland Map and other hotspot maps to discuss mapping methodologies and identify existing gaps. Key challenges for decision-makers will be highlighted, along with policy and governance recommendations. Additionally, we will delve into peatland action and stakeholder engagement strategies, emphasizing the vital role of the private sector and the civil society for the effective conservation, restoration, and sustainable management of peatlands. Key activities and partnerships will also be outlined for future planning and action.

Register for GLF Peatlands 2024 here: https://connect.globallandscapesforum.org/e/u/checkout/peatlands-2024/tickets/order?access=SH2102_p24 

The 20th Meeting of the Parties to the CBFP (MOP20) will be held in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo, from 3 to 5 June 2024. The MOP20 is organised by the Co-Facilitation of the French and Gabonese Republics of the Congo Basin Forest Partnership (CBFP).

The GPI will be attending to present the key findings of the Global Peatlands Assessment (Africa chapter) in a UNEP side event titled "Peatlands for life in the Congo Basin: Current and emerging status of knowledge, conservation, challenges, opportunities and ways to integrate peatland considerations into land use planning" on 3 June.

At the Eurosite Annual Meeting the first two conference days there will be 4 thematic lines (Policy, Finance, Management and Action) with 3 workshops in each line. You will need to register in the event app prior to the conference for the 3 workshops you want to attend. The workshops you choose do not necessarily have to be in the same thematic line. You will receive the link to the event app sometime prior to the event.

The third day will consist of field excursions. You will be asked at registration to choose one of the three field trips arranged.

The Peatland Science Centre (PSC) invites you to the international Peatland Science Conference (iPSC): Three days dedicated to exploring scientific and practical topics concerning peatlands.

The significance of peatlands is no longer confined to the scientific domain, but has also become a matter of public awareness. Owing to their characteristically wet and therefore anaerobic soil conditions, peatlands rank among the world's most important carbon reservoirs. In recent years, the preservation and conservation of peatlands has increasingly become a focal point of political discourse and environmental policy.
Over the span of two days, the conference will delve into scientific and practical discussions centered around peatlands, complemented by field excursions to the peatlands of Bavaria on the third day. The conference offers a platform for the exchange of the latest research results, innovative approaches and best practices in management of peatland ecosystems.