Annex 2

Responsible Peatland Management Strategy – Final Version for Approval

terms and definitions

(under review by terminology working group)

After-use of peat extraction sites

Planned use of peatland after the termination of peat extraction. After-use may include restoration of peatland ecosystem functions, rehabilitation of peatland processes and/or services or alteration managing the site for other purposes, e.g. agriculture, forestry, bird-watching areas, angling, nature walks or construction development.

Biodiversity

The variability of living organisms from all sources including, inter alia, terrestrial, marine and other aquatic ecosystems and the ecological complexes of which they are part; this includes diversity within species, between species and adherent ecosystems.

Synonym to Biological diversity

Source: United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (1992).

Conservation

The action of keeping something entire, keeping unchanged, preservation. Used in the sense of a deliberate or political decision to preserve

Source: Joosten and Clark 2002

Greenhouse gas (GHG)

Any gas that absorbs infrared radiation in the atmosphere. Greenhouse gases include, but are not limited to, water vapour, carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs), ozone (O3), hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), perfluorocarbons (PFCs), and sulfur hexafluoride (SF6). See carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, hydrochlorofluorocarbon, ozone, hydrofluorocarbon, perfluorocarbon, sulfur hexafluoride.Source:

Interested party

A person or group having an interest in the policies and operations of an activity or business with a willingness to participate in related decision-making and/or implementation at an appropriate level.

Interested parties include peatland managers, industry, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), social groups, relevant government bodies, etcetera.

Local people

Local people are any individuals or groups of people in the area who are affected directly or indirectly by peatland management decisions.

Mire

A peatland where peat is currently being formed and accumulating

Source: Joosten and Clarke 2002 p. 170

Paludiculture

The cultivation of biomass on wet and rewetted peatlands

Peat

Sedentarily accumulated material consisting of at least 30% (dry weight) of dead organic material.

Source: Joosten and Clarke 2002 p. 172

Peat

Sedentarily accumulated material consisting of at least 30% (dry weight) of dead organic material.

Source: Joosten and Clarke 2002 p. 172

Peatland

An area with or without vegetation with a naturally accumulated peat layer at the surface.

Source Joosten and Clarke 2002 p. 172

Peatland management

Management decision and control on the use of peatlands including non-use.

Peatland rehabilitation

The reparation of ecosystem processes, productivity and services of the former peatland, but does not imply the re-establishment of the pre-existing biotic integrity in terms of species composition and community structure.

Source: SERI 2004

Peatland restoration

The process of assisting the recovery of peatland that has been degraded or damaged.

Source: SERI 2004

Protection

Preservation, maintenance and enhancement of specific biological, social or cultural value.

Public consultation/ participation

A consultation process in which all stakeholders can actively participate.

Source: Joosten and Clarke 2002 p. 17

Responsible peatland management

Responsible peatland management respects the balanced stewardship of the environmental, social and economic values or peatlands involving local, regional and global aspirations.

Source: Vision for RPM

Resource

An available supply that can be drawn on when needed.

Source: Joosten and Clarke 2002 p. 174

Stakeholder

Any person, organization, company or other party that has a direct interest in an activity

Stewardship of peatlands

Stewardship is the assumption of responsibility for the welfare of peatlands’ social, cultural, economic and ecological functions. The stewardship of peatlands is the mantle under which all of the progressive causes operate ― related to the responsibilities of peatland management , such including nature and environmental conservation, culture, safeguarding of ecological functions, human and labour rights, economic welfare, good governance, education, health.

Source: Adapted from

Wise use of peatland

Use of peatland for which reasonable people now and in the future will not attribute blame. Use includes conscious non-use (conservation).

Source: Adapted from Joosten and Clarke 2002.