Implementation of Global Action Plan for Peatlands and Ramsar CC GAP future

Wise Use of PeatlandsSchiphol 13-15 February, 2009

Peatlands in Ramsar ConventionCPs 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 changeResolution VIII.11 Additional guidance for identifying and designating under-represented wetland types as Wetlands of International Importance – addresses peatlands as underrepresented wetland typeResolution 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 resourcesB. Education and public awareness on peatlandsC. Policy and legislative instrumentsD. Wise use of peatlandsE. Research networks, regional centres of expertise, and institutional capacityF.International cooperationG.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 peatlandsCriteria for Identifying Wetlands of International Importance (adopted in 2005)– peatlands as underrepresented wetlands typeStrategic 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 conservationNational report format triennium 2002-2005 – included the special division on peatlands - point 3.2 on GAP implementationNational 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 ConventionTo 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 makersPeatlands Wise Use Statement (2002) – provides short overview of wise use principles related to peatlands in all convention languages and additionally – in Finnish and RussianBrochure “Peatlands – Do You Care” (2005)Explaining peatlands functions and values and refreshing emerging issues on peatlandsGlobal 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 SBSTTA2006 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 – 3Africa – 10 (incl.

Madagascar, Nigeria, Zambia)

Americas - 5Asia – 2 (incl Srilanka

Here the Ramsar convention was signed in 1971

This is peat

Why we still need CC GAP in

Ramsar?

No knowledge on peatlands diversity

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

How countries implement GAPNational Report 2008

YES NO PARTLY PLANNED NOT APPLICABLE

Europe 12 3 0 0 0Americas 1 9 5 5 5Africa 1 22 1 5 10Asia 6 15 4 2 2Oceania 1 2 1 0 1

Emerging issues for peatlands as identified by CC GAP

To COP 9• Climate change• Biodiversity• Water management• Poverty• Wise useAdditional to COP10• Land degradation• Global energetic strategy and

wetlands• Development projects

COP10 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