Peatlands and people Ips Latvia 2014 Michiel Gerding, chair Cie VIII

Towards a social chapter on peatland management (srpm) Facts: IPS is an organization of people directly involved in peatlands, economically and scientifically. The peat industry has been the main driving force with a focus on technical and business issues. Ecological and biological aspects of peatlands have come to the fore, in relation to climate change. Conservationists turned against the extraction of peat.

Statements: IPS has given no attention to the involvement of local communities in peatlands and to the social and cultural implications of industry and science. The general public has no knowledge of peatlands. Peatlands are found in mostly uninhabited areas. There are a lot of misconceptions, which can be easily exploited. The IPS is invisible outside the peat family

Inspiration: The European Landscape Convention: “Landscape” means an area, as perceived by people, whose character is the result of the action and interaction of natural and/or human factors. Develop a Peatland Convention which makes a distinction between peatlands as landscape (i.e. influenced by humans) and peatlands as undisturbed nature.

- Achieve responsible peatland development based on a balanced and harmonious relationship between social needs, economic activity and the environment -Peatlands contribute to local cultures and are a basic component of the European natural and cultural heritage, contributing to the European identity -Acknowledge that peatland is part of the quality of life for people everywhere: in degraded areas as well as in areas of high quality.

Note that developments in agriculture, forestry, industrial and mineral production techniques and in regional planning, town planning, transport, infrastructure, tourism and recreation accelerate the transformation of peatlands Respond to the public’s wish to enjoy high quality peatlands and to play an active part in the development Believe that peatlands have a role in individual and social well-being and that its protection, management and planning entail rights and responsibilities for everyone.

Tasks: For a social chapter it is first of all necessary to fill the enormous gap in knowledge (inside and outside the IPS) on social and cultural issues in relation to peatlands. Identify for each country the (local) communities which have a relationship with, or an involvement in, peatlands. Identify the communal (local) rights regarding peatlands. Identify religious or moral connotations linked to peatlands

Identify the role peatlands play in national, regional or local folklore, history and heritage Identify the place peatlands play in national, regional and local touristic infrastructures Identify relevant persons in IPS countries who can make a contribution to the social paragraph of the SRPM