As we enter the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration, it is crucial that we ensure peatlands are protected, restored, and sustainably managed now and for our future. Peatlands are our largest terrestrial organic carbon stock, and if we are to meet our global goals and commitments, we must work hard to understand, protect, restore, and sustainably manage these vital ecosystems. Read More
On 19 November 2020, Natuurpunt organised the symposium 'Veen in Vlaanderen' (Peat in Flanders). Over the span of 1.5 hours, Flemish peat experts from the University of Antwerp (UA) and the Institute for Nature and Forest Research (INBO) told the 180 registered participants via Zoom about the opportunities and obstacles that stand in the way of successful peat restoration. Read More
On 29 October 2020, over 150 experts, farmers, landowners, and policy makers joined a Peatland Policy webinar hosted by Care Peat. The webinar sought to identify barriers, enablers and policy gaps in peatland restoration and was highlighted by the attendance from Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage Malcom Noonan, and Minister of State for Agriculture Pippa Hackett. The webinar featured discussions from all stakeholders to progress peatland rewetting policies. Read More
On 7 October 2020, Natuurmonumenten in cooperation with the Dutch Coalition Natural Climate Buffers, organised the Care-Peat workshop “Policy and Strategies on Peat Rewetting in the Netherlands”. The workshop aimed to list current policies, strategies and approaches in the Netherlands and identify priorities for the future. Read More
On 30 September 2020, Lancashire Wildlife Trust, Manchester Metropolitan University and Eurosite hosted a peatland policy makers virtual workshop. The event was entitled ‘The Climate Emergency: the role of peatlands – from ambition to action’ and aimed to bring together peatland policy makers and professionals to identify policy gaps and the actions needed to move rapidly to wide-scale adoption of alternative peatland management. Read More
On 28 September 2020, the French team (Orléans University – CNRS – BRGM) of Interreg Care-Peat organised, in the form of a webinar, a workshop on the restoration strategies of peatlands in France with the collaboration of Francis Muller, from the Conservatoire des Espaces Naturels – Pole Relais Tourbières. Read More
The restoration works at Cloncrow Bog in Ireland have been completed. Restorations began in early September with drain blocking using peat dams. The restorations also included a first of its kind bunding technique that will be used to inform future rewetting at other State owned degraded bog sites. Read More
The restoration plan of pilot site Vallei van de Zwarte Beek has come into effect this summer. Natuurpunt together with Natuur- en Landschapszorg, started closing 15 km of ditches. Read More
The restoration works at the French pilot site, La Guette, took place from the 24th of November to the 5th of December 2020. As planned, the vegetation and the first 10 cm of peat were stripped in two areas. Read More