PEATLANDS international 2/2011 Welcome to Stockholm! 14th International Peat Congress 3 - 8 June 2012 The member magazine of the International Peat Society 1 Talking of: sustainability Klasmann-Deilmann is the most successful group of companies in the international substrate industry. With production and sales companies in Germany and abroad as well as trade partners in more than 70 countries, we lead the world market in this sector. Our growing media provide the basis for successful plant cultivation for professional horticulturists throughout the world. In 2010, we generated sales of EUR 145 million. Our European locations produced 3.3 million m³ of growing media, potting soils and quality compost from green waste. The Klasmann-Deilmann Group employs a workforce of 830 worldwide. Our mission statement, which is based on our ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 certification, confronts us with the daily task of assuming responsibility for man, the environment and future generations. For that reason alone, Klasmann-Deilmann faced up to the diverse challenges of protecting the environment at a very early stage. As a result, we now have comprehensive expertise in matters relating to the re-waterlogging of former peat extraction sites. Over the long term, this will transform around 4000 hectares back into a typical bog landscape. The company makes another major contribution to environmental protection by producing quality composts which are increasingly included in organic substrates for use in commercial horticulture. www.klasmann-deilmann.com KD11.076_Anzeige_Umwelt_210x297mm_Lay_2.indd 1 25.05.11 18:06 PEATLANDS In this issue international 2/2011 Editorial: On our way to Stockholm - International Peat Congress 2012 3 From the President’s Desk: Strategic thoughts 4 Publisher IPS Insights International Peat Society Vapaudenkatu 12 The new IPS website 2 FIN-40100 Jyväskylä, Finland Executive Board Elections 2012 5 Phone: +358 14 3385 440 IPS Elections 2012 – Commissions and Scientific Advisory Board 5 Fax: +358 14 3385 410 IPS Award of Excellence 2012 for persons, groups, and projects 5 E-mail: [email protected] New Members of the IPS 63 Web: www.peatsociety.org IPS Membership Application Form 63 Editor-in-Chief Research reports Jaakko Silpola, Secretary General Peat extraction increasing biodiversity at Torreblanca, Mediterranean Spain 8 Assistant to the Turf Cutting and Conserving Raised Bog Habitat in Ireland 14 Editor-in-Chief Estonian Mire Inventory Completed 20 Use of Ukrainian Peat: Problems and Prospects in Energy Susann Warnecke, and Horticulture 34 Communications Manager Some Aspects of Raised Bog Conservation in Northern Poland 42 Editorial Board Symposia, workshops and conferences Paul Short, Canada 14th International Peat Congress 2012 - Register now! 6 Juhani Päivänen, Finland Peat Day 2011 in Helsinki: Finland’s Energy Sector Does Need Peat 18 Michael Trepel, Germany Workshop on Peat and Humic Substances in Zittau, Germany 24 Catherine Farrell, Ireland Baltic Peat Producers’ Forum 2011 brings more than Lech Szajdak, Poland 200 peat experts to Riga 26 Anne Jelle Schilstra, the Netherlands Visions and Visionaries at the 46th German Peat and Marie Kofod-Hansen, Sweden Humus Day in Bad Zwischenahn 27 Allan Robertson, United Kingdom Sphagnum farming workshop in the Canadian Maritimes 28 Tom Malterer, USA Conference on „Necessity of Peatlands Protection” in Tlen, Bory Tucholskie, Poland 38 Layout Future IPS Meetings and Symposia 64 Events of related organisations 64 Susann Warnecke, IPS Secretariat Taittopalvelu Yliveto Oy Tropical peatlands Printed by Biodiversity research and conservation in Borneo’s peat-swamp forests 46 University of Helsinki and University of Palangka Raya launch joint capacity building project 51 Saarijärven Offset Oy Sharing Best Management Practices on Peatlands in Southeast Asia 52 Finland, in December 2011 The Hydrology of the Ayer Hitam Peat Swamp Forest, Johore, Peninsular Malaysia 55 Cover photo News from our corporate members Crowded street in Stockholm. Photo: ola ericson/imagebank. Griendtsveen AG’s fully automated peat briquette production sweden.se line is a success! 37 Lehtopeat – feel the magic of the peat 58 To order Peatlands International, Famous Estonian conductor in peat 62 or to advertise in the magazine, please visit www.peatsociety. Book Reviews org/publications/peatlands- international or contact the Editors Vasyugan Mire – Natural Conditions, Structure and Functioning 45 at [email protected]. Carbon credits from peatland rewetting 60 ISSN 1455-8491 1 The new IPS website. The ultimate reason to join us as a member. www.peatsociety.org Editorial Jaakko Silpola On our way to the Stockholm International Peat Congress, June 2012! Dear IPS members, probably the most famous prizes dear partners, dear friends, of the world, are presented? This Congress will also be the first time The International Peat Society and when IPS’ own trophy, the € 1,000 our Swedish IPS hosts are pleased to Award of Excellence, can be given to invite you to the 14th International groups and projects. Peat Congress, held in Stockholm, Sweden on 3 - 8 June 2012. Furthermore, do not forget to register for one of the two Pre- The International Peat Congress (IPC) Congress Tours. One of them is takes place every forth year. The created especially for students and theme of the 14th IPC is ”Peatlands the second for peat producers. in Balance” and at its core will be There are also two Post-Congress presentations and documentation of Tours directed to Northern the latest research results on peat Sweden, towards the magic Nordic and peatlands in the broadest sense mires and towards the famous from the boreal, temperate, and midnight sun. tropical regions of the world. Benefit from early registration fees The Congress will offer an excellent and register now at the Congress opportunity for all stakeholders – website at www.ipc2012.se. scientists, policy makers, and industry We hope to see all of you in representatives – to meet and share Stockholm! new knowledge on all aspects of peat and peatlands. New IPS homepage – Visit and share with your Swedish mires and more colleagues In addition to various presentations A few weeks ago, IPS has in full-day sessions, there are established its brand new altogether 15 different Mid-Congress homepage. The new website Tours around Stockholm area, from contains, in addition to the content Also all previous issues of Peat News topics like ”Peat geological history we had on our old pages, a database and Peatlands International will be in the pioneer L. von Post trails – of downloadable IPS publications and published online in the member changes of peatlands during the last the full IPS membership list. section. In addition to this, you have 90 years” to “Wetlands and peat the possibility to post open scientific in the Uppsala municipality with All IPS members should have or industry career opportunities and Linnaeus Culture”. received their personal user names, to browse recent peatland news and passwords and instructions to log scholar links. We hope that these During those field trips, different in and view this special content by features will be actively used. Please aspects of peatland forestry, email. At the same time, you were have a look and explore the new agriculture and peat production asked to open your contact data so pages at www.peatsociety.org! as well as characteristics of the that other members can see and Swedish mire landscape and pristine email or phone you for joint projects. With best regards from the peatlands are studied. We believe IPS Secretariat, that there is something interesting You are also able to browse and and new for all of you. In addition, download scientific papers from when will you have the possibility the proceedings of IPS congresses, Jaakko Silpola again to see Stockholm’s City hall, the conferences and symposia for free. Secretary General of the IPS very place where the Nobel prizes, New content will be added daily. email: [email protected] 3 Strategy for Responsible From the President’s Desk Peatland Management Donal Clarke Strategic thoughts Edited by Donal Clarke and Jack Rieley 4 The Strategy for Responsible International Peat Society ANNUAL RE Peatland Management (SRPM) PORT 2010 was adopted in October 2010 and distributed soon afterwards. In September 2011 a reminder press release in 19 languages was issued and feedback suggests it has since been extensively noted. Since its launch the SRPM has contributed to the development of public policy in a number of countries, including Germany, The IPS Executive Board at work Ireland, Estonia, Finland, the in Espoo, Finland on 16 November Netherlands and Canada. It is 2011. Photo: Susann Warnecke being used as a support for the development of sustainable peatland Practical Application of Wise Use. strategies in Ireland and Finland and A consultative process to develop In this context the 2012 elections the preparation of a ‘sustainable peat and finalise these guidelines is to the Executive Board represent an supply chain’ in the Netherlands. currently under way. important milestone for the Society. The SRPM has also been used as a guidance document in the Veriflora Other initiatives currently being If these and future projects are certification system developed in considered or undertaken by the IPS to be successfully progressed the North America, and in the initial include: continuation of a strong Board will be stages of the development of codes important. In the last year changes of conduct and possible eventual • The preparation of a have been made to the election certification procedures in Europe. comprehensive set of best system so that the President and practice guidelines for after-use First Vice President will be directly The IPS endorses the efforts to of cutaway peatlands. elected by National Committees and achieve certification systems for • The updating of information on not nominated by countries hosting responsible peatland management. the extent and uses of global future Congresses. As an agency the IPS is neutral in its peatlands.