Challenges and Prospects for the Peat and Growing Media Industry – Leading the Way to Responsible Resource Management

Authors:
Norbert Siebels

Book:
Proceedings of the 14th International Peat Congress

Venue:
Stockholm

Keywords:
eu-regulations, industry-peat-resources, peat-certification, sustainable-development

Documentfile:
Siebels 2012: Challenges and Prospects for the Peat and Growing Media Industry - Leading the Way to Responsible Resource Managem

Summary:

Extended Abstract

SUMMARY

Peatlands are resources for land use and peat use. Formerly they were considered to be wastelands that governments wanted developed for settlements and agriculture. Today the values and functions of peatlands are manifold and therefore in the focus of many stakeholders. One-sided, maybe even prejudiced approaches belong to the past. Only multilateral discussions and holistic approaches can lead the way to the balanced and wise use of natural resources which people depend on. Sustainable business development for our sector can only be achieved by ‘promoting wise use of peatlands by safeguarding their environmental, social and economic functions and respecting their local, regional and global values’. This is the vision of the International Peat Society and all organizations involved in developing the Strategy for Responsible Peatland Management. The peat and growing media industry clearly supports this strategy.