National Committees

Annual Report 2021 (CSPMA)

Science and Policy Highlights

Science and Projects – Achievements

Coordination of committees and industry meetings
Meeting (1) of the Science Coordinating Committee (SCC)
Follow-up of ongoing research projects by the various research collaborators: U. Laval, McGill U., U. Waterloo, U. Alberta, Brandon U., Bangor U., Valorēs, IRDA, DUC
Meetings (2) of the CRD-UL Advisory Committee (AC)
5 scientific manuscripts reviewed
Many specific projects meetings (e.g. Sphagnum farming, certification, Food Safety Task Force)

Projects: development and management

Development of Manitoba Research Proposal (Brandon University)
Development of a GHG calculator in support of certification with UQAR
Economic Impact of sectors that rely on peat-based growing media in North America (completed in June 2021)

Support to:

“Can-Peat: Canada’s peatlands as nature-based solutions to climate change” project proposal to Climate Action and Awareness Fund (ECCC-CAAF)
CWR “Canadian Wetland Conservation Framework” proposal to Nature-Smart Climate Change Solution (ECCC-NSCCS)

Projects: development and management

Oversight of the industry research
Program and research activities
Progress with our research partners

Attendance at Scientific Events

BERA Symposium: April 20, 2020 and February 18, 2021
ResNet Workshop: April 29, 2020
GPI Webinars: September 17, 2020, October 15, 2020
QC Greenhouse Industry Webinar: Sept 23, 2020
Québec Vert Horticultural Show: November 19, 2020
McGill Science Symposium: November 20, 2020
GrowFest21: February 9, 2021
RRR2021: March 9, 2021
Wetland Knowledge Exchange Webinar: March 23, 2021

Policy Achievements

CSPMA Provincial Task Forces

Manitoba – proclamation of the exploration elements of the Act and Regulations
Saskatchewan – Companies’ advanced interests in the province
Alberta – Meeting with senior staff on a peatland management policy
CSPMA continued policy and research with Ducks Unlimited Canada

Federal Engagement

Horticultural peat industry recognized as an essential business in the supply chain – Food security
Species at Risk Act (carmine shiner) Caribou Management planning requirements
Contact maintained with CFIA, GAC & Trade
AAFC (Food Safety Issues)

CSPMA International Efforts & Influence

Continued engagement with IPS to engage in UN Forum on Climate Change (UNFCCC), Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and RAMSAR
Collaboration with Growing Media Europe

Annual Report 2018

Environmental Research

The Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) Industrial Chair for Peat Management held by Dr. Line Rochefort has come to an end. A new five-year NSERC Collaborative Research and Development (CRD) Grant was negotiated between industry and Laval University, with Dr Rochefort as the research lead. This program will continue the research on bog and fen restoration across research sites in Canada. In addition, a new five-year NSERC CRD was developed with McGill University; the lead researchers are Dr Nigel Roulet and Dr Ian Strachan. Key elements of this new program will investigate the carbon emissions from active harvest sites, as well emissions of CO2 and CH4 during peat end use. During the next five-year program, industry will invest $2.5 million in the research program.

Economic and Social Impact Studies

Information on the economic impact of the Canadian peat harvesting industry was prepared for Canada overall, as well as Manitoba, Quebec and New Brunswick. This information was developed under contract and provides updated information on the jobs created, taxes generated and regional impacts of the industry.

Further, initial information on the value to the agricultural and horticultural industry in North America of growing media was investigated. More investigations are anticipated in the coming year related to food security.

Governance

Meetings continued with both federal and provincial government agencies responsible for the management of peatland resources and the peat industry. The increasing development of policies related to both wetlands and peatlands is occurring in the provinces of Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Quebec and New Brunswick.

Industry also participated through their involvement with IPS meetings. Of particular interest was the Summit Meeting in Rotterdam, held in September.

Industrial Sustainability

Industry continued to monitor its environmental, social and economic challenges and achievements. The Industry Social Responsibility Report provides the framework for industry actions in the areas of environmental research, social accountability, economic value and responsible peatland management. Key is the continued engagement with Scientific Certification Systems (SCS) Responsibly Managed Peatlands: A Veriflora® Certification for Responsible Horticultural Peat Moss Production. At present, 80% of Canadian industry is certified under this program.

Annual Report 2017

Environmental Stewardship

The Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), Industrial Research Chair in Peatland Management and Collaborative Research & Development Grant (CRD) continued. It will be entering its final year. Negotiations have begun on a renewal for a 5-year CRD grant.

Negotiations were held with McGill University to apply for a new NSERC 5-year grant. The research will investigate greenhouse gas emissions from peat extraction and use and after use.

A new chapter on Donor site management was prepared for inclusion in the Restoration Guide.

Social Stewardship

An updated social and environmental assessment (Social Balance Sheet) was completed. A revised Environmental Life Cycle Analysis (eLCA) was initiated, the documentation will be available in 2018.

An Economic impact assessment of the horticultural peat industry to Canada was initiated.

Communications

An industry harvest report was completed in September and a press release distributed.

In New Brunswick, the industry is almost at or slightly above its expected harvest volumes (New Brunswick North, 104%, New Brunswick South, 98%). The harvest on Québec’s South Shore (90%) is below expectations. A cool moist spring and parts of the summer account for the shortfall. In Québec’s North Shore (98%) the results are more favorable with some producers achieving and exceeding their harvest expectations.

The Prairie Provinces (MB, SK & AB), have experienced a mixed harvest season (Manitoba, 110%; Saskatchewan, 78%; Alberta, 78%). A prolonged spring and cool wet summer months account for the poorer showing in Saskatchewan and Alberta. Minnesota has experienced a similarly lower than expected harvest with only 53% achieved.

The industry participated in the International Symposium on Growing Media, Soilless Cultivation and Compost Utilization in Horticulture, Portland Oregon, USA.

Resource Governance

Federal Government

Engagement on RAMSAR resolutions and upcoming (2018) COP were the focus with the Federal Government.

The industry worked with the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) to investigate the issues regarding pest risk assessment for peat and peat-based products.

Provincial Governments

Meetings continued with the Alberta and Manitoba government through the respective industry Task Forces and Working Groups. The province of Saskatchewan has initiated discussions on increased peatland management and resource development.

In Manitoba, there have been some delays in advancing elements of the new peatland resource Act and Regulations. The Peatland Management guidelines for exploration, lease applications, management and recovery plans were approved. A guidebook is available through the Government of Manitoba.

In the province of Quebec, the APTHQ continues to be engaged with the Government of Quebec to develop new regulations related to the environment act and the climate change regulations.

Annual Report 2020

In 2020, under the leadership of our President, Professor Shengzhong Wang, the China National Committee appointed a new EB in early 2020. There are 33 individual members in our National Committee, most of whom are from universities and research institutes. Our new National Committee has brought substantial changes to our primary missions, from focusing on the wise use of peat resources to peatland conservations.

During 2020, Covid-19 had a severely adverse impact on peatland research and business in China in the spring, but the situation was substantially improved from early May. During quarantine, our National Committee worked closely with peatland research communities and business partners by means of virtual conferences and video meetings to keep people connected.

With the support of the China National Committee, the only peatland-oriented society in China, the Peatland Society of Jilin Province appointed a new EB in November 2020, with high-profile EB members from peatland research communities. The new EB members were invited to participate in the China Wetland Natural Reserve Summit, the China Peatland Forum and the Forum of Physical and Human Geography of Changbai Mountains, to convey the importance of peatland as carbon stocks and biodiversity hotspots under the changing climate.

Our EB members also attended the China Greenhouse Industry Conference to promote the substitution of peat substrate with coir, for the sake of peatland conservation and peatland industrial transformation. Being invited as an observer to the EB of the IPS, our Secretary General, Professor Meng Wang, worked closely with IPS and was dedicated to the responsible management and wise use of peat and peatland resources globally.

Our working priority in 2021 is to facilitate peatland research and industrial transformation in China. If the global situation regarding Covid-19 is settled, the China National Committee will organize our members to participate in the on-site Congress in Tallinn (now online).

The China National Committee promises to communicate actively with the IPS to initiate preparations for the 2024
IPC in China.

Annual Report 2018

In 2018 the NGO Estonian Peat Association (EPA) had 33 corporate members from Estonia and abroad, all dealing with peat harvesting, processing, distribution and consulting services. Two new members joined the EPA: Matureks Ltd and Hansa Peat Llc.

The judicial cooperation with the main local government bodies, the Ministry of the Environment and the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications, temporarily decreased due to the structural reorganisation of the ministries. The current main challenges involve raising the competitiveness of peat as fuel and additional commitments derived from changes in the Water Act. In addition, organizing the International Peatland Congress in 2020 in Tallinn is a priority of the EPA.

The EPA was actively engaged in the work of the International Peatland Society and Energy Peat Europe. EPE activity however was ceased due to EU climate regulations. Efficient cooperation was continued with the Baltic and Nordic peat associations, i.e. by organizing the 18th Baltic Peat Producers Forum “New Applications of Peat and Peatlands” in Tartu, Estonia.

EPA and its members participated actively in several peatland seminars and conferences at national and international level, including in the board and expert meetings of the IPS. The CEO of EPA, Mr. Erki Niitlaan, was re-elected on the Executive Board of the IPS for the next 2 years at the Annual Assembly in Rotterdam.

Annual Report 2015

In 2015, the NGO Estonian Peat Association had 32 members from peat extraction, processing and consulting companies from Estonia and abroad. There were no changes in the membership.

The main activities included legal cooperation, especially with the Ministry of the Environment and the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications. Among other undertakings, EPA representatives worked in the Energy Council, belonging to the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications, and in three commissions at the Ministry of the Environment – Commission of Estonian Mineral Resources, Peat Roundtable and the working group to create the list of peatlands that are suitable for production.

Similar to 2014, cooperation with the Ministry of the Environment mostly included the analysis of the new Earth Crust Act and preparation of a draft list of peatlands that are suitable for production. At the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications, EPA dealt predominantly with the legal questions of energy peat use and district heating, which were included in the analysis of the draft for the new District Heating Act and District Heating Investment Funds Act.

In this regard, meetings with the Ministry of the Environment and the Environmental Investment Centre were held. EPA requested them to allow the use of peat fuel in boilers that are renovated with the financial aid of the state. The condition was that the peat is extracted from a peatland, which is included in the list of peatlands suitable for production.

In addition to the abovementioned activities, EPA representatives analysed the European Union Policy for 2015 – 2019. They also participated in the elaboration of the energy and resource efficiency grant system and took part in the exporter’s competitiveness study. Legal opinion was asked regarding whether or not a peat production area is a plant/factory. This question affects EIA process and handling.

EPA members participated and presented at various conferences, both local and international. Additionally, several conferences, meetings and seminars were organized. In spring, two important events took place – the meeting with the Minister of the Environment Marko Pomerants and the field trip to Portugal on 8 – 14 April, including visits to horticultural companies.

Autumn was busy due to the most important event organized by EPA, XV Baltic Peat Producers Forum. The forum was held in Saaremaa, Kuressaare city on 15 – 18 September and brought together 250 delegates. The subject of the forum was “Peat Industry in Turbulence of Politics and Economy”.

In cooperation with EPAGMA and The Economic Affairs Committee, EPA organized an energy peat seminar in the Parliament of Estonia.

It has become customary to finish the event calendar with the general meeting and a seminar. This year, the event was organized in Viljandi city. The main subjects of the seminar were the changes in the legislation, activities of other professional associations, etc.

As usual, EPA advised its members, drew up statistical overviews and publicized the wall calendar and seventh Peat newspaper. The members participated in a survey regarding economic prognosis. In June 2015, the results of study, “Reducing the Hydrogeological Impact of Peat Production”, were published. This study was launched in 2014 and co-financed by the Environmental Investment Centre.

Close cooperation with the International Peatland Society (IPS), European Peat and Growing Media Association (EPAGMA), Latvian and Lithuanian Peat Producers’ Associations, scientists and other organizations continued.

Annual Report 2013

In 2013, the Estonian Peat Association had 32 members from peat production, processing and consulting companies from Estonia and abroad. There were no changes in the membership.

The main activities included legal cooperation, especially with the Ministry of the Environment. The most important legal questions were related to permits’ renewal and natural resources taxation policies.

In these questions, EPA was in close cooperation with the Estonian Association of Mining Enterprises, the Association of Estonian Construction Material Producers and the Federation of Estonian Chemical Industries.

In 2012, the abovementioned associations commissioned a study from Ernst & Young, analysing the tax burden on Estonian mining industry companies. In 2013, the results of the study were presented at various seminars, at the Ministry of the Environment and also at the EPA General Meeting. In addition, on 13 December 2013, the Estonian Supreme Court supported the Chancellor of Justice’s appeal regarding a rapid growth in taxation of natural resources. The Supreme Court declared that changes made by the Estonian Government on 12 November 2009 to regulations numbers 171 and 172 were unconstitutional.

In 2013, meetings were held with the Estonian Competition Authority and the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications. The main topic of the meetings was changing the District Heating Act in order to favour the use of local fuels (including peat) in local boiler houses. Two representatives of the Association, Matti Puuronen and

Erki Niitlaan, were designated to the Ministry of Economic Affairs and the Communications Energy Council. EPA representatives also continued to participate in two work commissions – the Commission of Estonian Mineral Resources and the Peat Roundtable.

EPA in cooperation with the Peat Roundtable and the Estonian Convention Bureau prepared bid documents for organizing the International Peat Congress 2020 in Estonia. The organiser of the Congress will be elected in Riga in August 2014.

EPA members participated in and presented data at various international conferences, and cooperated closely with the International Peat Society (IPS), the European Peat and Growing Media Association (EPAGMA), and the Latvian and Lithuanian Peat Producers’ Associations. Important events also included the Baltic Peat Producers’ Forum in Vilnius, seminars in Brussels and meetings relating to a responsibly produced peat certification system in Amsterdam, Riga and elsewhere. In addition, members participated in the Estonian Mining Congress in Narva.

As usual, EPA advised its members, drew up statistical overviews, and published a wall calendar as well as the fifth edition of the Peat newspaper. EPA also took part in establishing the Tootsi Peat Museum and continued to cooperate with scientists and other organisations (such as the Estonian Mining Society and the Estonian Nature Fund).

One more important event was our field trip to Spain on 23 – 29 September. During the trip, participants visited seven horticultural companies who use horticultural peat produced in Estonia.

Annual Report 2021

The year 2021 marked the Society’s 72nd year of operation. The regular activities of the spring and autumn meetings and seminars were organized online.

Many members of the Finnish Peatland Society participated online in the International Peatland Congress, although the planned pre-congress excursion in Finland was cancelled. The IPS Annual Assembly was held online on 6th May and Tuija Vähäkuopus represented the Finnish Peatland Society. Our board member, Hannu Salo, also attended the meeting.

An excursion for the 2020 student workshop to drained and pristine peatlands around Valkmusa National Park in Southern Finland was arranged in October. In addition, the 72nd volume of the journal Suo – Mires and Peat was published.

Meetings, seminars and a student excursion

The spring meeting and seminar took place online on the 29th March, and the autumn ones on the 13th December. In the spring seminar, Prof. Leena Finér from the Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke) first presented a project on the sustainable use of peatland forests and then seven student presentations on the outcomes of the 2020 student workshop concerning the topic of the sustainable use of peatlands. The spring seminar had 29 participants.

The topic of the autumn seminar was the diversity of the mires and peatlands and the resilience of mire plants in the changing climate. Professor Anne Tolvanen, from Luke, and researcher Dr Anna Laine-Petäjäkangas presented their work and thoughts on these topics. The autumn seminar had 19 participants.

With the aid of the Metsämiesten Säätiö Foundation, we organized a student excursion to the peatlands around Valkmusa National Park in Southern Finland on 13th October, where the participants were able to explore actual practices in peatland forestry, restoration and conservation. Altogether, 10 students from the University of Helsinki participated in the excursion. A written report of the excursion will be published in the journal Suo – Mires and Peat in winter 2022.

The fourth National Peatland Day symposium was actively being prepared to take place in 2022 in Helsinki. Due to the prevailing severe Covid situation, the symposium was postponed from 2nd February until at least the second half of May 2022. The core organizing team consisted of Dr Anna Laine-Petäjäkangas, Dr Aino Korrensalo and Dr Markku Koskinen. More information can be found at our website, www.suoseura.fi.

Annual Report 2020

he year 2020 marked the 71st anniversary of the Society. The regular activities of spring and autumn meetings as well as the autumn seminar were organized online. On 31st January, we organized the third National Peatland Day. As the international IPS conference was postponed until the year 2021, the related excursion of the Finnish Peatland Society was also postponed. The autumn seminar was organized, focusing on the sustainable use of peatlands in the future and was combined with a student workshop. The 71st volume of the journal Suo – Mires and Peat was published. The Annual Assembly of the IPS was held online on 27th May as a Round Table meeting and Samu Valpola represented the Finnish Peatland Society. The Chair and the Secretary of the National Committee also attended the meeting, and Tuija Vähäkuopus, a board member of the Finnish Peatland Society, was elected as a member of the EB of the IPS.

Meetings, seminars and a student workshop

The third National Peatland Day was organized on 31st January 2020 at the House of Science and Letters in Helsinki. The core organizing team consisted of Dr Anna Laine-Petäjäkangas, Dr Maija Lampela and Dr Markku Koskinen.

The theme of the National Peatland Day focused on peatlands in a changing world. The keynote speakers were Asst. Prof. Annalea Lohila, who talked about the role of peatlands in the changing climate, Dr Jyrki Jauhiainen spoke about the destruction and amendment possibilities of tropical peatlands, and Dr Kaisu Mustonen presented a case study of water and peatland conservation from a landscape perspective. A dance artist, Annatuuli Saine and the Saine Ensemble presented a peatland themed dance and music performance at the end of the morning session. The afternoon consisted of two parallel sessions. Altogether,
40 scientific presentations were held during the day, and
84 people from more than 20 different organizations attended the conference; some people watched the presentations via a live stream.

The spring meeting was organized for 7th April, the autumn meeting for 1st December and the autumn seminar for 4th December online through Zoom. The topic of the autumn seminar was the sustainable use of peatlands in the future. Prof. Kristiina Regina, from the Natural Resources Institute Finland (LUKE), discussed the topic of agriculture and peat soils. Dr Paavo Ojanen from the University of Helsinki talked about the impact of climate on forestry-drained peatlands. MSc Hannu Salo from Bioenergia ry discussed the transition of the peat extraction sector, MSc Eerika Tapio from Metsähallitus presented a project of peatland restoration and Dr Anna Salomaa from the University of Helsinki discussed the contradictions of peatland policies and politics. A short general discussion was held after the presentations. Altogether 83 people attended the online seminar.

With the aid of the Metsämiesten Säätiö Foundation, we organized a student workshop after the autumn seminar. Thirty-six students in total from the University of Helsinki, University of Jyväskylä and South-Eastern Finland University of Applied Sciences (XAMK) participated in the workshop. The board members of the Finnish Peatland Society, together with Prof. Harri Vasander led the discussions of the various themed student groups. The written outcomes of the workshop will be published in the journal Suo – Mires and Peat in the spring of 2021. The students will give presentations of their outcomes in the spring seminar of 2021 or in a separate seminar.

Annual Report 2019

The year 2019 marked the 70^th anniversary of the Finnish Peatland Society and the usual activities, seminars and excursion took place. Two seminars were organized focusing on the present and future of peatland research and sustainable use: one seminar in April alongside the spring meeting and the other in November alongside the autumn meeting. Two new honorary members, Dr. Leila Korpela and Dr. Ahti Mäkinen, were invited to the spring meeting. The 70^th jubilee excursion focused on paludiculture in Northern Germany and was hosted by Prof. Hans Joosten and Dr. Greta Gaudig from Greifswald Mire Centre. In the spring, a peatland photography competition was announced and at the end of the year the best pictures were printed in a 2020 wall calendar. The 70^th volume of the journal Suo – Mires and Peat was published. The annual meeting of the IPS took place in Bremen in May, where Mr. Hannu Salo represented the Finnish Peatland Society.

Meetings and Seminars

Meetings and seminars were held at the House of Science and Letters in Helsinki. The spring meeting and seminar were held on 1^st April and the autumn meeting and seminar on 27^th November.

The topic of the spring seminar was “70 years of timely peatland research” where recently-graduated Dr. Maija Lampela (PhD 2018), and the new honorary members Dr. Leila Korpela and Dr. Ahti Mäkinen, presented their peatland-related research topics. The new Secretary General to the IPS, Dr. Gilbert Ludwig, also introduced timely IPS activities to the members of Finnish National Committee.

The topic of the autumn seminar was “Sustainable use of peatlands in the future”. Dr. Paavo Ojanen from the University of Helsinki talked about the climate impacts of forestry-drained peatlands. Prof. Kristiina Regina from the Natural Resources Institute Finland (LUKE), discussed whether croplands on peat could be farmed in a climate-friendly manner. Ms. Anna-Riikka Ihantola from Metsähallitus presented her work on peatland restoration with an example of Polvela fen that was restored from a cropland. Dr. Gilbert Ludwig from IPS gave a presentation on the use of peatlands in the pressure of global decision-making and lobbying. A general discussion was held after the presentations. About 35 people attended the seminar. Dr. Anna Laine-Petäjäkangas launched the calendars for the year 2020.

Preparations were made for the third National Peatland Day to be held on 31^st January 2020 at the House of Science and Letters in Helsinki. The core organizing team consisted of Dr. Anna Laine-Petäjäkangas, Dr. Maija Lampela and Dr. Markku Koskinen. The theme will be “Peatlands in a changing world”.

Annual Report 2020

Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, all 2020 DGMT events were cancelled, including the planned peatland excursion to Estonia in June and unfortunately, also the prestigious 50th anniversary ceremony of our society. We very much hope to stage both events in the near future. At least a number of online events and conferences took place, in which the DGMT and its members were involved. A special focus was given to the peatland protection strategy of the German government.

Currently, there are plans for two events in 2021. The intention is to hold a two-day symposium on the subject of “cultural heritage and nature conservation in peatlands” in June and the annual meeting of the DGMT will take place in Baden-Württemberg in September.

In 2020, the DGMT homepage was revised (www.dgmtev.de). Here information and news are provided.

TELMA 50, our national journal, published annually with articles and reports relating to peat, mire and peatlands was sent to all members in December 2020. The process of publishing older TELMA articles online continues. More than 200 articles, published in previous TELMAs, are already available at https://e-docs.geo-leo.de/handle/11858/6421

A special edition, planned for the 50th anniversary of the DGMT, which provides a review of the Society’s history and information relating to its key events, written by members, was realized and will be published in the near future.

At the end of November, there was a change in the Society’s management board: Prof. Dr Joachim Blankenburg resigned from his position as the Society’s second Chairman. He held this position for 27 years, which was the longest term of office of all members active on the board. We are very grateful for his commitment and for all the work and organization he has conducted on behalf of our Society. Until the election of a successor at the next annual DGMT meeting, the Chair of Section 1, Prof. Dr Jutta Zeitz, has taken over the post of the second Chairman.

Annual Report 2019

Main activities

• Workshop “DGMT 21”: strategy meeting on the prospective work, organization and focus of the society, Hannover
• 18th Seminar on “Peatlands and Peat” as a training course for laypeople, employees from the peat industry, administrations, NGO´s, and students, Zeven
• Workshop on the ‘Loss and Growth of Peatlands: an attempt at a methodological discussion’, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin
• Annual Expert Seminar ‘Conservation of Peatlands in Lower Saxony: an exchange of experiences’, in collaboration with the Alfred Toepfer Academy for Nature Conservation (NNA) of Lower Saxony, Camp Reinsehlen
• Annual assembly and excursions of the German Peat Society, Rendsburg
• “Sphagnum Moss Identification Course”; MoorInformationsZentrum Ahlenmoor in collaboration with the DGMT
• Joint meeting of the IVG and DGMT on the ‘Restoration of Peatlands in Germany’ with an excursion to Hankhauser Moor, Oldenburg

Events and meetings including policy, advocacy and convention work

Meetings and seminars in which DGMT members have been involved:

• Lower Saxony Peat Replacement Forum, Hannover
• Sphagnum Farming Workshop, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala
• ‘Peatland-Dialogue’ conducted by the Lower Saxony Ministry of Environment, Energy, Construction and Climate Protection, Hannover
• ‘Heimatbund’ of Lower Saxony, Hannover
• Mire Protection Strategy of the Federal Government, Bonn
• NABU local branch, Großdittmannsdorf: information meeting due  to gravel mining in the Radeburg-Laußnitzer Heide and focusing on the ‘Treasures of the Radeburg-Laußnitzer Heide: animals and plants of the forest bogs, springs and lowland pine spruce forests’, Berbisdorf

Publications

• Reports about workshops, events, etc. can be found in TELMA 49, our national journal, published annually with articles and reports related to peat, mires and peatlands, in Peatlands International and at dgmtev.de
• More than 200 articles published in previous TELMAs are now online: https://www.fidgeo.de/telmaonline-2/

Education

• The DGMT awarded 250 € to Ann Christin Sieber for an excellent master’s thesis on ‘Subfossil pines as archives of Holocene bog development’. The winners at the poster presentation during the annual assembly were awarded 100 €, 75 € and 50 €, respectively: ‘BEWAMO – An assessment tool for categories of protection worthiness and for remote sensing-based monitoring of agricultural peatlands’ (A. Herrmann et al.), ’Assessment of the congestion effect of dams for the rewetting of raised bogs in Schleswig-Holstein on the basis of physical soil parameters’ (A. Mordhorst et al.) and ‘Preparation for Germany wide peatland monitoring’ (S. Frank et al.)

Other activities

• Gerfried Caspers received the Honorary Membership of the IPS

Cooperation activities with the IPS

• IPS Annual Convention in collaboration with the DGMT on “Economy meets Environment and Society – Future use of Peat and Substitutes in Horticulture“, Bremen

Plans for next year

• 50 years of the DGMT e.V. with special events and publications
• 19th seminar on “Peatlands and Peat”, Zeven
• Bog excursion to Estonia
• ‘Site assessment of agriculturally used peatlands’
• Seminar on Peatland Archaeology
• Seminar on the ‘Exchange of Experience in Nature Protection’
• ‘Stauhaltung in Fen Meadows’, Lübben

What do you like about the IPS?

• Information accessible to members via different channels
• The good work of the recently appointed Secretary General

Annual Report 2018

Many events were undertaken by the German Peat Society (DGMT), partially with other institutions:

• Two expert workshops entitled “Definition and Classification of Peat Soils” took place in cooperation with the German Soil Science Society (DBG) in Berlin on January 9, 2018, and in Hannover on May 28.
•  The 17th Seminar on Peatlands and Peat was held in Zeven, Lower Saxony, on April 27-28, 2018. This annual seminar adopted the character of a training course, in which laypeople, employees from the peat industry, and students were introduced to peat and peatland science.
• Again, in 2018, the Alfred Toepfer Academy for Nature Conservation (NNA) in Lower Saxony, together with the DGMT, organized the annual expert seminar, “Conservation of Peatlands in Lower Saxony – An Exchange of Experiences” in Camp Reinsehlen on May 17-18, 2018.
• A workshop on phosphorus leakage from peatland into water, organized by DGMT Section 5, Müritz, October 8-9, 2018.
• The Fourth Sphagnum Moss Identification Course was organized at the MoorInformationsZentrum in Ahlenmoor, Lower Saxony, on November 8-11, 2018.

Please go to www.dgmtev.de/veranstaltungen to view upcoming symposiums, workshops and seminars in 2019 and 2020.

DGMT members were also involved in meetings and seminars at the municipality and federal level, such as the “Dialogue on Peatland Management”, as part of the Peatlands in Lower Saxony Program, hosted by the Lower Saxony Ministry of Environment, Energy, Construction and Climate Protection, the Lower Saxony Peat Replacement Forum, the Guidance and Coaching Mire Protection Working Party and Peat Under Water.

TELMA 48, our national yearly published journal with articles and reports relating to peat, mire and peatlands, was sent to all members in December 2018. More than 200 articles published in previous TELMA issues can now be found online at https://www.fidgeo.de/telmaonline-2/.

In 2020, the German Peat Society will celebrate its 50th anniversary. Check our website at www.dgmtev.de and join us!

Annual Report 2021

Activity in 2020 and 2021 was limited to on-line only due to pandemic-related restrictions. Furthermore, as the 16th International Peatland Congress was postponed until 2021, the Executive Board of the Irish Peatland Society remained in place until AGM 2021.

The Irish Peatland Society was represented virtually at the both the 2020 and 2021 IPS Annual Assemblies; the latter took place in Tallinn, Estonia in conjunction with the International Peatland Congress.

Donal Clarke was nominated by the Irish Peatland Society for election to the Executive Board of the IPS and was subsequently elected at the 2020 Annual Assembly for a 6th term. It is a measure of the esteem in which Donal is held by his IPS peers globally that he continues to be honoured in this way.

As peatlands play a significant role in the natural and cultural heritage of Ireland a collective of peatland community representatives, practitioners, researchers and specialists, including the Irish Peatland Society, came together in early 2021 to organise a relevant event. The outcome of this collective effort was the first Peatlands Gathering, an online event that took place in October 2021, with several members of the Irish Peatland Society involved in making presentations as well as chairing and note-taking at sessions. The Society managed the accounts for the event and also provided financial support.

The aim of the Gathering was to share knowledge and understanding of peatlands and to cultivate a new beginning for peatlands in Ireland. Over two days of online presentations and discussions as well as a third day of localised field trips, the organisers welcomed all those interested in peatlands: community groups, farmers, land managers, forestry groups, peat producers, academics, public representatives, policy makers and the general public.

Key messages from the Gathering were subsequently presented at the Peatlands Pavilion held during COP26 in Glasgow in November 2021. A full report on the Peatlands Gathering is available on www.peatlandsgathering.com

The AGM was held virtually in November and the outgoing Executive Board was returned with one exception: Janice Fuller from Coillte (the state forestry company) replaced her company colleague Aileen O’Sullivan. Catherine O’Connell remains as Chair with Maurice Eakin taking on the role of Vice Chair and Pat Fitzgerald continuing as Secretary/Treasurer.

Soon after the AGM the Executive Board began planning for an in-person event to be held in Ireland in October 2022 that it is hoped will attract overseas participation. More about that in due course.

Annual Report 2018

In 2018, the Irish Peatland Society arranged a meeting focusing on new peatland research being undertaken in Northern Ireland. The two-day meeting consisted of a field trip, an AGM and a research seminar. The meeting was based in the Cuilcagh Mountain Park, home to a blanket bog habitat, which straddles the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. The AGM and seminar were held in Enniskillen, County Fermanagh.

On the field excursion, participants were informed about three major projects underway in Northern Ireland: Collaborative Action for the Natura Network (CANN), Cooperating Across Borders for Biodiversity (CABB) and Understanding Blanket Bog Ecosystems (QUBBES). We were also given a demonstration of restoration works completed on part of the Cuilcagh Mountain blanket bog, which had been cut using “sausage” peat machines.

Important information and new skills will result from these three projects, including an analysis of the complex relationship between plant life and hydrology on blanket bogs and the impacts this has on water quality and runoff. In addition, the projects will examine ways to offset the effects of nitrogen deposition on peatlands and how to ensure that the restoration of peatlands makes them resilient to climate change.

At the seminar, there were invited talks as follows: “Revision of the IPS Strategy for Responsible Peatland Management” by Professor Jack Rieley, “Conservation Status of Peatlands in Northern Ireland” by Dr Richard Weyl, “The CANN Project” by Dr Trish Fox, “The QUBBES Project” by Francis Mackin and Sorcha Cahill, and “Peatlands and Climate Change” by Dr Florence Renou-Wilson. The seminar was chaired by Donal Clarke.

Annual Report 2017

The Irish Peatland Society ran a very successful two day field trip and conference on the theme of People and Nature: enjoying the Land or Impacting the Environment? The meeting took place on the 17th and 18th of October and included a field trip to a selection of sites in the Wicklow Mountains located on the east coast of Ireland close to the capital of Dublin that are being impacted by visitors. These included: Glenmalure where the group where shown how issues of access across private farmland to Lugnaquilla Mountain were resolved through the provision of an agreed access route which is maintained by the local farmer; Wicklow Way Walking Trail to see the site of an accident and to hear about a compensation court case taken by a walker involved in the accident against the state; Glenmacnass Waterfall where visitors impact on national park land as the area is unmanaged and Fancy Mountain/Luggala where visitors are trampling privately-owned blanket bog habitat as they climb the mountain.  The trip was made possible thanks to the co-operation of Mountaineering Ireland and in particular Helen Lawless who designed the itinerary.

On the 18th October a conference was held and the Society heard talks by three experts on the theme of access. We learned that it is essential for those involved in providing access to peatland sites to ensure that they undertake regular monitoring and reporting on the condition of visitor facilities. This includes maintaining paperwork and diaries of actions taken that can be examined by authorities should an incident occur. Furthermore the Society were warned about the power of social media in attracting huge volumes of visitors to sensitive peatland habitat cannot be under-estimated and the Society heard about the example of the “Stairway to Heaven” social media phenomenon in the Cuilcagh Mountains of Co. Fermanagh which brought thousands of visitors to the mountains and which has resulted in extensive damage and habitat loss in this Special Area of Conservation. Thanks to all the field guides and speakers who combined to make this one of the great Irish Peatland Society trips that will be remembered because it occurred in the aftermath of Storm “Ophelia” on a beautiful sunny day in the Wicklow Uplands. All praise to the Glenmalure Lodge Hotel who provided candlelit breakfast and dinner beside a comfy log fire despite the cuts in electricity. The whole experience was magical.

Members of the Irish Peatland Society attended the International Peatland Society Meeting in Aberdeen presenting posters and papers on a variety of topics relating to peatlands in Ireland. In addition the Irish Peatland Society developed a new logo which aims to reflect the fusion of interests of peatland conservation, management, development and culture in the society.

Annual Report 2017

Board Members

Mitsuru Osaki (President), Shigeo Kobayashi (Vice President), Takashi Hirano (Vice President), Hirosi Hayasaka (Director general), Mitsuhiko Kamiya (Account general), Akira Haraguchi, Mamoru Kanzaki, Takashi Kohyama, Osamu Kozan, Takashi Inoue, Kohsuke Mizuno (Auditor), Noriyuki Kobayashi (Auditor)
Office staffs: Hidenori Takahashi, Yohei Hamada

Annual Meeting

Date: 17-18 June 2017
Location: Amami Culture Center, Amami City, Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan
Collaborating academic societies: Japan Society of Tropical Ecology (host), Japan Society for Southeast Asian Studies, Japan Association for African Studies, Japanese Coral Reef Society, Japanese Society for Thai Studies, Japanese Society for Tropical Agriculture, Japan Society for Mangroves, Japan Society of Island Studies

General Assembly

Date: 16 June 2017
Location: Naze Community Center of Amami City
Agenda: Business and Accounting Reports for FY2017, Business Plan and Budget for FY 2018.
Report: 1. Collaboration with the BRG, Republic of Indonesia; 2. Collaboration with International Peatland Society

Co-organized Meetings

1. Meetings between the BRG, the IPS and the JPS on peatland restoration in Indonesia
   Date: 31 May 2017
   Location: Marriott Hotel, Dyce, Aberdeen, Scotland
2. First Tropical Peatland Roundtable: Establishing Responsible Management of Tropical Peatland –jointly organized by the IPS, the BRG and the JPS. Tropical Peatland Roundtable released ‘Jakarta Declaration’ with five pillars:

Establish a ‘tropical peatland centre’
Organize an ‘international committee for technical consultation’
Develop an ‘integrated monitoring system’
Organize a ‘model project’ for responsible management
Achieve capacity building

The ‘Jakarta Declaration’ has become one of indicators for establishing and international tropical peatland centre (tentative) in Indonesia, which will promote capacity building at a domestic and foreign level.

Meetings

Date: 1-2 November 2017
Location: Menara Peninsula Hotel, Jakarta, Indonesia
Field trip: In collaboration with Palangkaraya University
Date: 3-5 November 2017
Location: Palangkaraya, Central Kalimantan, Indonesia

Presented Papers

1. Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emission from Forest/Peatland by the Green Economy in Indonesia
   Date: 10 April 2017
   Location: Ito International Research Center, University of Tokyo
   Organizer: JICA
   Guest speakers:  Dr Siti Nurbaya (Minister of Environment and Forestry, Indonesia) and Mr Nazir Foead (Head of the BRG, Indonesia)
   Report on the activities in Indonesia: Made by JICA, and the university (Professor Mitsuru Osaki) and private sectors
2. Peatland Convention 2017: Responsible Management of Peatlands
   Date: 28-31 May 2017
   Organizer: IPS and UK Peat Society
   Location: Marriott Hotel, Dyce, Aberdeen, Scotland
   Presentations by JPS members: Mitsuru Osaki, Kohsuke Mizuno, Hidenori Takahashi etc.
3. UNFCCC COP23 Japan Pavilion, Japan Event Side: Real-time Ground Water Table Monitoring at Tropical Peatlands – Experience from Indonesia
   Date: 11 November 2017
   Organizer: JICA
   Location: Japan Pavilion in Bonn Zone, COP23, Bonn, Germany
   Presentations by JPS members: Mitsuru Osaki and Hidenori Takahashi
4. Seminar on hydrology and peat management in Central Kalimantan
   Date: 12 February 2018
   Organizer: IJ-REDD Project
   Location: Management Office of Sebangau National Park, Palangka Raya, Indonesia
   Lecturing by JPS members: Professor Sawahiko Shimada and Dr Hidenori Takahashi

Annual report 2019

Main activities

• Sustainable peat industry
• Represent the Association members interest in state authorities and submit proposals
• Assist in cooperation with foreign partners on economic and professional issues
• Provide consulting on production rationalization and economy development issues
• Organize exhibitions, seminars and specialist training on peat production, processing and sales

Events and Meetings

• The most important event of the year for the peat industry was Baltic Peat Producers Forum 2019. The event was held in the city of Palanga on the 4-6^th  September 2019. Around 300 participants attended the event. Participants came from different countries and various fields, from peat producers to scientists and students.

Policy, advocacy and convention work

• Lithuanian Peat Producers Association is a member of IPS, Growing Media Europe, Lithuanian Confederation of Industrialists.
• Partnership with LITBIOMA (Lithuanian Biomass energy Association), Kaunas University of Technology, LINAVA (Association of Transport Companies) Nature Research Centre and Lithuanian Nature Fund.
• New member campaigns and marketing

New member campaigns and marketing

• Last year, one company joined the Lithuanian Peat Producers Association.
• Soltera JSC expressed a wish to become a member of the association in the general meeting of members. Soltera JSC is the only company in the Baltic States producing a wide range of perlite products especially for the peat industry.

Other activities

To continue activity in project “LIFE Peat Restore – reduction of CO₂ emissions by restoring degraded peatlands in Northern European Lowland”. LIFE Peat Restore – an EU peatland project funded by LIFE Climate Change Mitigation (2016-2021).

Together with nine partners from Poland, Germany and the Baltic states the LIFE Climate Mitigation project “Peat Restore” was established in 2016. Within five years the project aims to rewet degraded peatlands in the partner countries, covering an area of 5,300 hectares to restore the natural function as carbon sinks.

Project financed by European Commission. Partners and co-financers in Lithuania are the Lithuanian Fund for Nature (LFN), Peat Producers Association (PPA) and the Ministry of the Environment of the Republic of Lithuania.

LIFE PEAT RESTORE LIFE15 CCM/DE/000138

The project provides for the following research directions indicating climate change: the emission and storage of greenhouse gases, hydrological and flora and fauna research. These studies will allow us to evaluate the effectiveness of the measures taken and to estimate the potential impact of wetland drainage on climate change. The project’s experience as well as best practice scenarios to reduce greenhouse gases will be summarized in a guide of rewetting peatlands, which can be used by various stakeholders. Adapted management plans and restoration concepts for each of the project sites will be elaborated to ensure the achievements in the long term.

LIFE Aukštumala LIFE12NAT/LT/000965

The planting of Sphagnum and restoration of flora in the exhausted part of Aukštumala peatland was initiated by the Lithuanian Fund for Nature. This project is part of the international project “LIFE Peat Restore – reduction of CO₂emissions by restoring degraded peatlands in Northern European Lowland”.

In 2019, the first experimental area of 2 ha was developed in Lithuania on the north eastern edge of Aukštumala Peatland. It was done on the initiative of Lithuanian Nature Fund in cooperation with the peat company JSC Klasmann Deilmann Šilutė and Lithuanian Peat Producers Association. The Aukštumala Sphagnum cultivation field with its infrastructure and biodiversity protection area covers an area of 10 ha.

Experts investigated the experimental field, the properties of peat, the possibility of supplying the necessary water and they designed a scheme for the construction of a Sphagnum planting field. Qualified employees of JSC Klasmann-Deilmann Šilutė did all necessary work.

In September 2019, the two-day work consisted of two steps: collecting of Sphagnum material from damaged and ready-to-use peat fields, and planting in an experimental field. This work was done by volunteers and staff of Klasmann-Deilmann Šilutė. They were not afraid of bad weather and collected the 400 bags of Sphagnum and planted them by hand.

After hard work in the field, Nerijus Zableckis (NGO Lithuanian Fund for Nature, national coordinator of project LIFE Peat Restore) and Dr. Jūratė Sendžikaitė (NGO Lithuanian Fund for Nature, the Institute of Botany of the Nature Research) were delighted.

Dr. Jūratė Sendžikaitė said: “Sphagnum is spread over two hectares in a specially equipped field for the cultivation of Sphagnum and other raised bogs. If all goes well after five to six years we will have plenty of donor material to restore other parts of the peatland”.

Short video about work in Aukštumala peatland restoration.

https://youtu.be/2aWDjVNHWak

Cooperation activities with the IPS

Peat Producers Association is planning to be active and to take part in IPS events and conferences, to exchange information and to continue cooperation.

Plans for next year

• “GROWING MEDIA EUROPE” to continue participation in the activities
• To work on validation of the peat loss due to the compression method and to work with “Lithuanian Nature Fund” on this question
• To continue to work on abandoned peatlands with the Lithuanian Ministry of Environment
• To continue to work with the “LIFE Peat Restore” project

Annual Report 2018

The 2018 season was a success for Lithuanian peat producers as the weather was particularly favorable. The entire year was exceptionally dry with an average of 50 mm of rainfall per month. The hot and dry summer as well as autumn led to a fruitful season. As a result, nearly 3 million m³ of peat were harvested by members of Lithuanian Peat Producers Association. This was the best result in the last three years and almost reached the level of 2015.

New Members

Two individual members joined the Lithuanian Peat Producers Association in 2018: Dr Jurate Sendzikaite and Mr Nerijus Zableckis.

Dr Jurate Sendzikaite is a researcher with the Lithuanian Institute of Botany at the Nature Research Center. Her field of expertise, e.g., is scientific research and projections into the status and change of Lithuanian nature and biological resources, conservation, restoration and sustainable use of mires, meadows and forests ecosystems, and Sphagnum growing experiments.

Dr Sendzikaite is a mire expert with the NGO Lithuanian Fund for Nature, whose activities include mire restoration, ecology, biodiversity conservation and protected areas management. She is also a Doctor of Biomedical Sciences (Botany), and her PhD thesis was entitled The Structure, Productivity and Development of Meadow Phytocenoses on the Hilly Agricultural Landscape of Eastern Lithuania (2002).

Membership of Professional Bodies:
Lithuanian Scientific Society, since 2002
Member of the Society for Ecological Restoration International (SERI) and SER Europe, since 2005
Member of the IPS, since 2018

Mr Nerijus Zableckis has been dedicated to nature conservation since his youth, as he grew up in remote area of Western Lithuania, which is surrounded by bogs and forests. Currently, he works for the Lithuanian Fund for Nature as a Project Manager. Mainly, he is involved in peatland restoration and conservation projects related to biodiversity and mitigation of climate change. Recently, he has been leading a project which is expected to develop a new approach to peatland restoration through active usage, so-called paludiculture. “It is hard, but I like challenges, which is why I am in peatland conservation”, says Mr Zableckis.

Baltic Peat Producers Forum 2019

At the end of the year, the Lithuanian Peat Producers Association started planning the most important event of the year for the peat industry – Baltic Peat Producers Forum 2019. Today, we are excited to be able to invite you to Palanga, which is a white sandy beach resort on the eastern cost of the Baltic Sea. The event will take place on September 4-6, 2019. So, get ready!

Dear Sponsors,

We kindly invite you to join the Baltic Peat Producers Forum 2019, where you can make new friendships, as well as contribute to the main event or one of the supporting events running alongside.

This year, we are expecting 300 participants including peat producers, suppliers, equipment manufacturers, environmentalists, scientists, representatives from peat serving industries, old acquaintances and new colleagues.

As usual, we hope that the forum will be attended by willing guests from different places of the world. So, we encourage you to become a sponsor of the event and use this great opportunity to promote your company, and the innovations and technologies you drive, to the wide range of participants.

Please find bellow available sponsorship packages:

PLATINUM SPONSOR (1 position): fee from EUR 6,000
GOLDEN (2 positions): fee from EUR 3,500
SILVER (3 positions): fee from EUR 2,500
BRONZE (5 positions): fee from EUR 1,500
DINNER SPONSOR (1 position): fee from EUR 3,500
ATTRIBUTES SPONSOR (1 position): fee from EUR 1,500
“ICE-BREAKING” PARTY SPONSOR (1 position): fee from EUR 2,000
MINI-EXPO STAND (10 positions): fee from EUR 1,000

For more details, please telephone +37062055021 or email info@peat.lt.

Annual Report 2014

Organizational changes

Mr Giedrius Kavaliauskas was re-elected President of the Lithuanian Peat Producers Association for a second term. Mr Giedrius Giparas was elected new Director of the Lithuanian Peat Producers Association. He can be contacted at giedrius.giparas@asocdurpes.lt.

Season

The season of 2014 was successful even though the amount of peat extracted was slightly less (2.598 million m3) than in the previous year (2.7 million m3).

New life for old peatlands

The country has launched an inventory of damaged lands, which will determine the number of degrading drained peatlands and those no longer used. It will declare what area of the total land they occupy and what their condition is. The Lithuanian Geological Survey under the Ministry of Environment of the Republic of Lithuania expects to collect these data until the end of 2015. According to the information gathered, it will be decided which of those no longer used peatlands can be used for peat extraction, and which of them need recultivation for wetland ecosystems to recover.

Peat industry specialties presented to school students

The Klasmann-Deilmann group of companies in Lithuania is actively involved with students’ professional orientation projects. The programme is dedicated to senior students in general education schools and presents them with different areas of employment, professions and career prospects. This policy of companies’ social responsibility contributes to processes of education and the motivation of young professionals, as well as to their career planning.

Fuel peats

Recently, in a climate of geopolitical tensions between East and West and a high dependence on external energy suppliers, the Ministry of Environment of the Republic of Lithuania has seen opportunities for the sustainable use of non-conventional hydrocarbons as well as for fuel peat, which Lithuania has been known for and has been using for centuries. The Vice Minister of the Ministry of Environment several times discussed the issue with the Lithuanian Peat Producers Association.

The International Biomass Energy Conference was held in November. Lithuanian and other countries’ experts presented on international and national-level biomass energy technologies, trends, political decisions, problems and prospects. In addition, the conference had a focus on local energy resources – fuel peat – as a means to increase Lithuania’s energy and economic security.

The Lithuanian Peat Producers Association is making efforts to ensure that the use of energy peat in the country reaches at least 1 TWh per year.

Prime Minister of the Republic of Lithuania praises Klasmann-Deilmann group of companies

The Prime Minister of the Republic of Lithuania expressed his personal gratitude to the Klasmann-Deilmann group of companies in Lithuania for their active involvement and contribution to the development of the regions in the country. The acknowledgment of these merits was made during the 25th anniversary of the Lithuanian Confederation of Industrialists – the biggest employers’ organization in the country.

LIFE+

June 2014 was marked by the international seminar in Aukstumale bog (Silute region), which was the first Lithuanian bog described in a scientific monograph. An event was held under the EU financial instrument LIFE+.

Replanting of Sphagnum

The company Rekyva was the first enterprise in Lithuania that undertook to restore depleted peatlands by employing a method involving the intensive artificial replanting of Sphagnum. Such Sphagnum planted areas are annually recovering a 5-7 cm layer of peat and ensuring a natural peat bog development process that utilizes the same vegetation that used to grow there before the harvesting of the peatland.

This kind of recultivation work was first launched in the peat bog of Rekyva in spring 2014. Peat moss (Sphagnum) was planted in an area of 0.5 ha. Employees of the company have made use of the Canadian experience – over 3,000 hectares of peat extraction fields in that country have already been successfully rehabilitated using this method. The initial results received by the Rekyva through its Sphagnum replanting operations also allow for an optimistic outlook.

It is important to note that the abovementioned approach that Rekyva is applying allows for a significant reduction in the greenhouse effect, and ensures that the process is safe and natural, and moreover that the natural environment with the specific flora and fauna that existed before the bog harvesting operations is restored and preserved for future generations.

Annual Report 2020

The Malaysian Peat Society (MPS) plays a pivotal role in promoting and supporting conferences and publicizing the insightful and sustainable use of peat and peatlands in the country, through its activities. Despite a challenging year in 2020, due to the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic, the MPS managed to successfully carry out a number of significant activities last year.

The 10th Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the MPS was delayed because of Covid-19 and was only convened on 8th August 2020 at the Sarawak Tropical Peat Research Institute, subject to stringent adherence to the SOP for meetings. Due to travel restrictions at the time of the meeting, outstation members were able to participate virtually in the meeting via video conferencing.

The AGM reviewed and discussed the reports of the Secretary and Treasury General, proposed a budget and a plan of activities, and appointed auditors for the 2020 financial year. Additionally, a proposal to review and update the MPS Constitution was also presented during the meeting and the proposed amendments were duly passed.

Another more memorable event of the MPS last year was the 10th Anniversary cum Christmas Celebration which was held on 21st December 2020 at the Sarawak Tropical Peat Research Institute.

The event was graced by the presence of YAB, Chief Minister of Sarawak, Datuk Patinggi (Dr) Abang Haji Abdul Rahman Zohari Tun Abang Haji Openg who cut the 10th Anniversary cake. MPS members and several invited guests came together to commemorate this special moment which highlighted the 10-year journey of the MPS, since its establishment on 21st May 2010.

The major highlights of the Anniversary Celebration were the awards, which were given out that evening. Four prestigious awards were given during the event: (1) Partnership award, (2) Environmental Sustainability award, (3) Young Peat Scientist award, and (4) Publication award:

Partnership Award – the award was given in recognition of the stakeholders for their unwavering support towards the successful growth of the MPS.
Environmental Sustainability Award – the award was given in recognition of the stakeholders for their support and commitment in promoting the wise use and responsible development of peatlands.
Young Peat Scientist Award – the award was given in recognition of the young scientists who are dedicated to peat research and demonstrated leadership skills in their work.
Publication Award – the award was given to recognize publication outputs in high quality research journals by Sarawak TROPI researchers.

With no definitive means of eliminating of the Covid-19 pandemic yet in sight, 2021 will remain challenging in terms of organizing physical conferences and seminars. We will have to resort to using multi-media means to host such events. Though impractical for scientific presentations, this will have to be the new normal until such time a viable vaccine and vaccination programme is in place to restore free travel without SOP restrictions.

Annual Report 2019

Main Activities

• AsiaFlux 2020
• MPS 9^th Annual General Meeting (AGM)
• MPS 23^rd & 24^th Management Committee Meeting (MCM)
• Internship / Student Attachment Programme 

Events and Meetings

• IIASA-ASM Workshop on Haze & Biomass Burning in Asia 2019 (TROPI , 9 -10^th July 2019)
• Soil Science Conference 2019 (Melaka, Malaysia, 16-18^th April 2019)
• WETSCAPES 2019 (Rostock, Germany, 10-13^th September 2019)
• ESAFS 2019 (Taiwan, 3^rd-7^th November 2019) 

Policy, advocacy and convention work

• IIASA-ASM Workshop on Haze & Biomass Burning in Asia 2019 (TROPI , 9 -10^th July 2019)
• ASM Taskforce Meeting on Local and Transboundary Pollution Act Feasibility Study (Academy of Science, Malaysia)
• 2^nd International Conference on Natural Resources (ICNREC) (Bogor, Indonesia), Title: For Peat’s Sake, Keep It Tight and Moist
• 4^th Jakarta Meeting (Jakarta, Indonesia)

Education

• AsiaFlux 2020 Scholarship. AsiaFlux 2020 is offering 15 student grants to students and early career scientists to participate and present their work at the AsiaFlux 2020.
• Internship / Student Attachment

Cooperation activities with the IPS 

• IPS Executive Board Meeting – Dr. Lulie Melling as Executive Board Member  

Plans for next year

• AsiaFlux 2020
• MPS 10^th Annual General Meeting (AGM)
• MPS 25^th & 26^th Management Committee Meeting (MCM)

What do you like about the IPS?

• IPS brings together peat and peatland experts from different backgrounds – science, NGO and business under one roof, in a worldwide association.
• IPS fosters information exchange, education and dialogue through regular conferences, meetings and symposia on all matters related to peat and peatlands.

Annual Report 2017

The Malaysian Peat Society (MPS) plays a crucial role in promoting the wise and sustainable use of peat and peatlands in the country. A number of significant activities of MPS were successfully undertaken in 2017.

The 19th Management Committee Meeting was held on 7 January 2017 to discuss the activities and programmes of the MPS for that year. The meeting decided to produce a handbook on tropical peatlands as a source of information for the general public; this is currently in the process of being reviewed and refined. Additionally, technical training and some financial assistance have been provided to students interested in enhancing their technical knowledge and skills in tropical peat research.

A new MPS Management Committee was elected for the term 2017-2019 during the Seventh Annual General Meeting on 13 May 2017. The newly elected office holders are:

President: Dr. Lulie Melling
Vice President: Siaw Ting Chuan
Secretary-General: Frederick Haili Teck
Vice Secretary-General: Priscilla Esther Mikin
Treasurer-General: Dr. Sharon Lau
Vice Treasurer-General: Jee Hon Chong

Committee Members

1. Mohd. Zulhilmy
   2.    Frazer Midot
   3.    Auldry Chaddy
   4.    Bobbie Yamoh
   5.    Annie Ting

In order to learn about the latest national and international updates on peat and peatland research, some MPS members participated in the Annual Convention of the IPS in Aberdeen, Scotland, from 28 to 31 May 2017. MPS members also actively participated in the Incorporated Society of Planters event entitled ‘100 Years of Oil Palm: Surging Forward’ during the 13th NATSEM, held in Selangor, Malaysia, between 17 and 19 July 2017, which aimed to provide planters with information on the management practices of oil palm cultivation.

In addition, MPS members gave both oral and poster presentations on carbon and water fluxes from different tropical peat ecosystems at the AsiaFlux Joint Conference Workshop 2017 and the 15th Anniversary Celebration of ChinaFLUX, which was held in Beijing, China, on 16-19 August 2017.

Another memorable event was the Christmas/New Year Dinner Gathering organized by the Sarawak Tropical Peat Research Institute, in collaboration with the MPS, on 6 January 2018, which aimed to build rapport among members and attendees so that they felt ‘in sync’ with one another.

Annual Report 2021

The society staged two digital meetings for the members.

The first was from Gilles Erkens who teaches at Utrecht University and is a member of the UNESCO working group on soil subsidence, and program manager soil subsidence with Deltares. His presentation was on soil subsidence in the peat areas with intensive agricutural activities, mainly dairy farming. Slides can be obtained from the Secretary.

The second meeting was the COP 26 session of the IPS in Glasgow to which the members were stimulated to follow online.

Annual Report 2020

Covid-19, like everywhere else, has put a stop to our activities. Prior to this, the Board was able to say goodbye to Piet Cleveringa as board member, on which occasion he was granted the honorary membership of the club.

On the same day, the Chairman of the citizens’ committee of the Volgermeerpolder in Waterland also planned a joint meeting to examine the possibility of covering polluted polder with peat, based on many years of experience. However, this will have to wait until restrictions are lifted.
The Congress in Tallinn was moved to May 2021.

In August, a delegation from the Board was introduced to the new President of IPS, Marko Pomerants, former Minister of Estonia. This was an introductory visit with the National Committees of the Netherlands and Germany. Our President, with an interest in both countries, organized the programme. However, the outbreak of the virus resulted in travel restrictions and Estonia declared a travel ban to the Netherlands.

Fortunately, Marko Pomerants was still able to fly to Bremen where he met with Guus van Berckel and in the evening, a meaningful exchange of views took place in Woerden, focusing on, among other things, the prospect of a peat academy. The next morning, Jan van den Akker met with Marko Pomerants in Zegveld for an explanation of the peat meadow problem. Immediately afterwards Marko travelled with Guus van Berckel to Germany.

In order to organize an event for members during this strange year, Board member Jos Schouwenaars organized a webinar, in which Arnout de Vries of the Frisian Environmental Federation gave a talk on the Currency for the Peat programme. This was held via MS Teams on 25th November for a dozen members of the Dutch Peatland Society. He is affiliated to the Frisian Environmental Federation in which a programme is being initiated whereby landowners can sell their CO2 savings on the market. The initial aim is to use the product in the peat meadow areas, in the low peatland areas in the middle of Friesland.

By raising the water table, emissions can be reduced. This, in turn, will cost crop yields. This can be compensated by selling the reduced emissions. Such a system is already used by multinationals worldwide, but in this case, the intention is to do so in a regional context. For example, the Frisian transport sector could buy CO2 certificates from farmers. Such regional compensation does not yet exist, but buyers would like regional added value.

In the system are sellers, providers of CO2 savings and buyers, such as companies, but also governments and individuals. A mediator, such as the Environmental Federation services both parties, and finally there is a supervisor who has to provide certification. For the peat pasture farmer, this may mean that he can (partly) maintain his grazing function, or he can contribute to nature development, or apply wet crops.

It is important to determine how many emissions will be reduced in order to be able to issue certificates on the basis of this. The mediator goes to the farmers to find suitable locations. Currently there are six locations and around 600 ha. This could result in 55,000 – 120,000 CO2 certificates. They are estimated at €70 per certificate on purchase.

As a result of the presentation, a lively discussion took place between the participants regarding the various benefits and drawbacks of the system.

Annual Report 2019

After the successful symposium on the 50^th anniversary of the IPS in Rotterdam in the autumn of 2018, the board of the Veengenootschap devoted much of its time to the financial aftermath of this event.

The year also saw the shift of the secretariat and treasury from Anne-Jelle Schilstra to Michiel Gerding.

The issue of soil subsidence through oxidation caused by draining peatlands is becoming increasingly problematic. This is especially true for large low-lying areas of fenland in the west of the Netherlands. Rising sea levels, intensive cattle farming and subsidence of peat embankments during hot dry summers, pose huge challenges for water boards and other authorities. The expertise is being gathered into a task force slappe bodem (weak soil) coordinated by Deltares, an independent institute for applied research in the field of water and subsurface.

The main event of this year was the presentation of the book on peatlands in the Netherlands. The book was edited by our members André Jansen and Ab Grootjans and has contributions from sixty specialists in peatland ecology, conservation and management. Members of the Veengenootschap participated in the symposium that accompanied the presentation.

The title of the book is Hoogvenen, landschapsecologie, behoud, beheer, herstel and is only available in Dutch. (www. noordboek.nl; ISBN 978 90 5615 552 00, 391 p. ill.)

Annual Report 2019

Main activities:

• Annual meeting in Jönköping; invited speaker: Maureen Kuenen (RPP)
• Autumn meeting in Stockholm
• Establishment of the working groups peat as growing media, energy peat and law
• For more information, please visit our website: www.svensktorv.se

Events and meetings:

TorvForsk/Svensk Torv have participated in some 20 seminars, referral seminars, hearings organized by the Government Offices, authorities, Svebio, energy companies, EnergiForsk, SvD Summit, Swedish Enterprise, IVA, the Royal Swedish Forest and Agricultural Academy, Svebio, the Climate Policy Council, Ministry of Finance and others.

Publications:

A new information leaflet, Peat Facts, has been prepared in collaboration with all working groups and the Board. This is the basis for the meetings with e.g. the parliament and with the ministries. Peat facts can be found on our website: www.svensktorv.se.

Benchmarking report about Swedish legislation/obligations for licensing of peat extraction sites against criteria of the RPP-certification-scheme.

Policy, advocacy and convention work:

Meetings with politicians, authorities and other organizations:

• The Swedish Forest agency
• Field seminar for LRF Horticulture (The Federation of Swedish Farmers) and Svenskt Sigill (the leading independent food and flower certification scheme in Sweden)
• Center Party’s spokesperson for environmental issues
• Parliament, the Environment and Agriculture Committee
• Meeting with the Ministry of Finance as a result of the Swedish Tax Agency’s decision to tax peat extraction properties as the peat law was abolished. Svensk Torv has challenged the legislation and paid for a legal investigation as peat is today taxed according to the same principle as rock mining. Svensk Torv has requested a review of the law, where peat extraction areas should be handled in the same way as forestry.

Education:

• Sphagnum Farming Seminar in cooperation with SLU, Germany and Finland

New member campaigns and marketing:

• Via communication channels (see below)

Other activities: 

The magazine Svensk Torv was published in four issues and was sent out as an appendix in the journal Bioenergi, which has an edition of 6000 copies and reaches all parliamentary members, marketing and sales managers, project managers, consultants and energy advisers and also Svensk Torv’s/Torv Forsk’s members.
News are also published on our page on Linkedin and Facebook.

Plans for next year:

• Constructive dialogue with politicians and county governments

Annual Report 2020

Producing UK Peatland News three times a year
Keeping in touch with Allan Robertson’s daughters
Publication of UK Peatland News
Contributing to AR Grants
Covid-19 has prevented any other activities or interaction

Plans for next year:

Video conference early in the new year
Establish a Work Group to consider activities during UNFCCC COP 26 in Glasgow in November 2021.

Annual Report 2019

Main Activities

• Information
• Communication
• Newsletter

Publications

• Peatland Snippets
• Peatlands International
• UK Peatland News

Other activities 

• Participation in UK meetings on peatlands organized by other organizations such as IUCN UK Peatland Programme, Flow Country, and Moors to the Future

Cooperation activities with the IPS 

• Jack Rieley is active on the IPS Executive Board and two Expert Groups 

Plans for next year

• To hold one meeting of the UK Peatland Society
• Liaise with DEFRA over the Peatland Strategy for England

What can be improved at the IPS?

Encourage adjacent NCs to hold joint meetings for discussion, scientific meetings and planning.

Annual Report 2018

2018 was an important year for peatlands and peat not only in the UK but in Europe and the rest of the world. UK IPS members participated in numerous meetings, events and projects including:

• 9th European Ramsar Meeting in Olomouc, Czech Republic
• LIFE End of Project Conference on Humberhead Levels Peatlands in Doncaster
• IUCN UK Programme Peatland Strategy Launch in York
• IUCN UK Programme Annual Conference at Balloch, Loch Lomond, Scotland
• Mires and Peat Editorial Board meeting in Leeds
• Joint meeting of the Irish Peat Society and UK Peatland Society in Enniskillen, Northern Ireland on cross border peatlands.
• Tropical Peatland Restoration Conference in Palangka Raya, Central Kalimantan, Indonesia, preceded by the Second Tropical Peatland Round Table that on Batam and Meranti Islands, Sumatra. Jack Rieley and Susan Page represented the IPS at these events.

But of course, the main event of the year was the IPS 50th Jubilee Congress that was held on the SS Rotterdam in Rotterdam Harbour in September preceded by a special Peat Summit meeting for our industry corporate members.

IPS UK Annual Subscriptions

Annual subscriptions were increased in 2017 to the following:
Individual members: £45; Corporate and institutional members: £150; Student members: £25

Most of the money raised from subscriptions is transferred to IPS in Finland to help maintain the Secretariat and its activities. A small amount from UK subscriptions is retained and put to good use for peatland projects in the UK. For the last four years we have contributed generously towards the Allan Robertson Grants for early career peatland scientists and managers and this year we also part-funded the first meeting of the Editors of the Scientific Journal Mires and Peat.

However, already we are suffering from consequences of Brexit, especially devaluation of the pound sterling by around 25% compared to its value against the Euro several years ago. This is having a major effect on the finances of the UK Peatland Society because we pay our annual subscription contribution to the IPS Secretariat in Finland in Euros. UK member subscriptions will be maintained at their current level for 2019 but if the exchange rate remains as it is or deteriorates further, they may need to be increased in 2020.

Restoring England’s largest lowland peatland – LIFE and Beyond

In 2014, funding was secured from the European Union’s LIFE+ programme to help the restoration of the Humberhead Peatlands. The project, called That’s LIFE – Restoring the Humberhead Peatlands was launched in July 2014 and continued until the end of June 2018. The project has extended the area of peat bog habitat under active restoration and provided a long-term future for the plants, birds and insects that have evolved to live on this unique wetland habitat and resulted in it being designated a Special Area of Conservation (SAC) and a Special Protection Area (SPA). The project has also promoted research on and monitoring of the bog’s unique bird and insect populations that will help inform similar restoration projects elsewhere.

Jack Rieley attended the End of Project Conference that was held in Doncaster, South Yorkshire, England in May 2018. This meeting was a celebration of everything that the project achieved, shared knowledge and best practice, and looked towards the future of bog restoration in Europe. The conference programme included presentations, workshops and site visits delivered by members of the LIFE+ Project team, project partners and bog restoration experts.

IUCN UK Peatland Programme launch of UK Peatland Strategy

The IUCN United Kingdom National Committee launched its new UK Peatland Strategy on 19th April 2018 at the Friargate Quaker Meeting House in York, England. This was followed by a reception in Grays Court Hotel, York. The event was attended by over 60 participants from many parts of the UK including Jack Rieley who represented the IPS.

The Workshop was introduced by Clifton Bain, Executive Director of the IUCN UK Peatland Programme and chaired by Rob Stoneman, Director of Yorkshire Wildlife Trust. After an introduction to the UK Peatland Strategy the meeting divided into six focus groups to discuss the major strategy goals and identify possible actions needed to implement them.

The IUCN UK Peatland Programme has developed the UK’s first collaborative Peatland Strategy to capture and embed, for the long term, a shared vision for UK peatlands, helping maintain a focus across a broad partnership and allowing progress to be marked and celebrated. It encompasses all peatlands in the United Kingdom and is also of relevance to the UK Overseas Territories. It sets the context for strategic peatland action plans of the devolved administrations of Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

Allan Robertson Grants awarded in 2018

The IPS received 17 applications for the Allan Robertson Grants 2018. The standard of all of them was very high. IPS Executive Board at its meeting in Vilnius, Lithuania in April 2018 awarded 8 grants of €500 each to the following:

–    Hui Zhang, China
–    Martha Ledger, United Kingdom
–    Jerome Blewett, United Kingdom
–    Henk Pieter Sterk, Netherlands
–    Jasmijn E. Sybenga, Netherlands
–    Kirsten Lees, United Kingdom
–    Danielle Rupp, USA
–    Elisa Männistö, Finland

New IPS Secretary General takes up his position on January 1st

The UK Peatland Society welcomes the appointment of the first full-time IPS Secretary General Dr Gilbert Ludwig who started his work on 1st January 2019. Dr Gilbert will spend his first year mostly travelling and getting to know our members, but also playing a major role in implementing the IPS Strategy 2016-2020, including cooperation with international conventions, bridging science and industry, improving communication and enhancing IPS’ project management.

New Executive Board elected

At the IPS Annual Assembly held on SS Rotterdam in September 2018 Professor Jack Rieley of UK was re-elected as a member of the Executive Board for the period 2018-2022. Six ordinary members were elected by secret ballot out of nine candidates, among which are, for the first time in IPS history, three women.

Flow Country in the North of Scotland is a Candidate World Heritage Site

The Flow Country of Caithness and Sutherland in the north of Scotland occupies 4000 km². This landscape is the best blanket bog habitat of its type anywhere in the world and has been on the UK’s list of potential World Heritage Sites since 2012. The background to this and the reasons why it should be designated are explained in a recent article by Joe Perry and Roxane Andersen in Peatlands International. Two technical evaluations were submitted to UNESCO in 2013 and 2015 and a third will be finished by the end of summer 2019. This will be sent to the UK Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport and if accepted will be forwarded to UNESCO for decision.

Members of the IPS, its Executive Board and National Committees can support this proposal for World Heritage status by sending letters to Joe Perry, Project Coordinator, Flow Country World |heritage Site Working Group, Highland Council Offices, Drummuie, Golspie, Scotland, KW10 6TA, United Kingdom. DON’T DELAY!

Joint meeting of Irish Peatland Society and UK Peatland Society in Enniskillen, Northern Ireland

The Irish Peatland Society organised a joint meeting with the UK Peatland Society focussing on cross border peatlands between the Republic and Northern Ireland based in Enniskillen, County Fermanagh on 16th and 17th October.

The meeting commenced with a study visit to the Cuilcagh Legnabrocky Trail, Slieve Rushden peatland, followed by a tour of the Marble Arches cave system. This was followed by a seminar that covered the following topics: Marble Arch Geopark, Revision of the IPS Strategy for Responsible Peatland Management, Conservation Status of Peatlands in Northern Ireland, CANN and QUBBES projects, and Peatlands and Climate Change.

The invited speakers included:

• Martina O’Neil (Marble Arches Geopark)
• Jack rieley (UK Peatland Society)
• Richard Wyle (Northern Ireland Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs)
• Francis Mackin (QUBBES Project)
• Trish Fox (CANN Project)

These presentations were followed by a question and discussion session.
It is hoped to organise a joint meeting of the Irish and UK Peatland Societies again soon. Suggestions are welcome.

England Peat Strategy Moves Forward

The UK Peatland Society (IPS) is a consultee to the preparation of the England Peat Strategy that is being coordinated by Judith Stuart, DEFRA Soils and Peatlands Policy Specialist.

The aim of the Strategy is that in 25 years all of England’s peatlands shall be functioning healthily for the needs of wildlife and people. It will be based on local partnerships reporting into local governance and national governance aligned with biodiversity and forestry strategies to ensure trade-offs are evaluated and managed. This approach will be tested in five pilot areas across England, working with Natural England and other stakeholders.

The Strategy will focus on lowland peat used for agriculture given that it is responsible for most of England’s greenhouse gas emissions from peatland. A Lowland Agricultural Peat Taskforce is being set up (as announced by the Secretary of State – https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/michael-gove-speech-on-uk-climate-change-projections) that will deliver recommendations for a new more sustainable future for agriculture on lowland peatlands in England

Mires and Peat Editors’ Meeting

Mires and Peat is a peer-reviewed free-access internet journal focusing specifically on mires, peatlands, and peat.  It is published jointly by the International Peatland Society (IPS) and the International Mire Conservation Group (IMCG). The first meeting of the Editors of Mires and Peat was held at the University of Leeds, UK in October 2018 sponsored by the UK Peatland Society. Ten of the 12 editors attended including Olivia Bragg, Editor-in-Chief and Jack Rieley, Deputy EIC. Richard Payne, an Associate Editor also attended.

Present: Andy Baird, University of Leeds; Olivia Bragg, University of Dundee; Frank Chambers, University of Gloucestershire; Dicky Clymo, Queen Mary University of London; Stephan Glatzel, University of Vienna; Bartek Glina, University of Poznan; Ab Grootjans, University of Groningen; Richard Payne, University of York; Jack Rieley, IPS and University of Nottingham; Katy Roucoux, University of St Andrews, David Wilson, Earthy Matters Consultants. Apologies: Jonathan Price, University of Waterloo

Aims of Meeting

• To discuss the current situation of the journal with respect to use of the Online Journal System facility (OJS) provided by the University of St Andrews: Improvements to instructions for authors to include: example papers that have been done well, be more specific about what’s required, refer to the book by Dickie Clymo on how to write a scientific paper; importance of authors formatting own references; editing guide
• Number of editors:If we identify new potential editors, send names to Olivia for approval
• Future direction: Development of the journal; work towards improving quality; get informal help (e.g. proof-reading?)
• Olivia Bragg’s role / succession / sustainability: Suggestions about how to ease the work load of Olivia: recruit more editors; editors be more willing to reject papers; be more self-reliant – editorial responsibilities now clearer.
• Future editorial meetings

Annual Report 2018

The US National Committee (USNC) met several times during 2017. Three goals were addressed during the year. The first goal: to continue to work with the US Geological Survey (USGS). The USGS has nationwide responsibility for collecting and publishing yearly data on peat production and use. They are dependent on a voluntary reporting system by peat producers. The USNC has given the USGS contact information for companies and encouraged peat producers to report on their production. We have also reviewed yearly estimates with local resource managers.

The second goal: to maintain (refresh) contacts with state and federal agencies that regulate horticultural peat harvesting and the preservation of peatlands. Given the ever-changing personnel in these agencies, personal contact is essential, so that IPS perspectives can be presented and weighed as part of regulatory decision-making. Seven agencies were contacted. Under the current federal Trump Administration, the regulatory environment is being drastically reduced, and it is in a high state of flux. Under this uncertainty, the USNC remains active in communicating with regulatory agencies acting in an educational capacity, by providing agencies with reference publications and through discussions of peatlands during site visits.

The third goal: to increase IPS membership in the USA. IPS membership remains low among peatland experts and companies. Promotional efforts were directed at contacting current and past individual members and attracting new members who belong to scientific organizations (e.g., Society of Wetland Scientists). We emphasized the benefits of IPS membership in a local, state and world context. Results of our efforts are mixed. Some individuals and companies expressed interest in joining, while others stated that their interests were better served by other organizations.

Annual Report 2017

The U.S. National Committee (USNC) met several times during 2017. Three goals were addressed during the year. The first goal: to continue to work with the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). The USGS has nationwide responsibility for collecting and publishing yearly data on peat production and use. They are dependent on a voluntary reporting system by peat producers. The USNC has given the USGS contact information for companies and encouraged peat producers to report their production. We have also reviewed yearly estimates with local resource managers.

The second goal: to maintain (refresh) contacts with state and federal agencies that regulate horticultural peat harvesting and the preservation of peatlands. The ever changing personnel in these agencies require personal contact so IPS perspectives can be presented and weighed as part of regulatory decision-making. Seven agencies were contacted. Under the current federal Trump Administration, the regulatory environment is being drastically reduced and it is in a high state of flux. Under this uncertainty, the USNC remains active in communicating with regulatory agencies acting in an educational capacity by providing agencies with reference publications and through discussions of peatlands during site visits.

The third goal: to increase IPS membership in the U.S.A. IPS membership remains low among peatland experts and companies. Promotional efforts were directed at contacting current and past individual members and attracting new members that belong to scientific organizations (e.g. Society of Wetland Scientists).

We emphasized the benefits of IPS membership in a local, state and world context. Results of our efforts are mixed. Some individuals and companies expressed interest in joining while others related that their interests were better served by other organizations.