Information day 1 Peatland Perspectives
Information about keynotes, speakers en panel discussion from day 1 Peatland Perspectives.
Chair: Nicole Olland
Nicole Olland is chairing today’s session of Peatland Perspectives – restoring for tomorrow and will guide you through today’s programme. As Head of Nature & Environment she is responsible for all policy and management relating to nature, landscape and the environment in Overijssel.
Host: Andries Heidema | The King's Commissioner in Overijssel
Andries Heidema is hosting Peatland Perspectives – restoring for tomorrow and warmly welcomes you. The King’s Commissioner chairs the Provincial Executive (daily administration) and Provincial Council (representative body) of Overijssel. He also represents the state government in the province.
Restoring European nature together
The European Nature Restoration Law came into effect on 18 August 2024. Despite a turbulent run-up, the law represents an important step towards the ecological recovery of habitats, including peatlands. The law imposes binding goals for the restoration and improvement of threatened ecosystems. It supplements existing legislation, such as the Habitats Directives. Member states will implement the law in the forthcoming years. Angelika Rubin will examine the law in greater detail and discuss its implications for Europe and European peatlands. (Includes Q&A session)
Implementation of the Nature Restoration Law
Following the adoption of the Nature Restoration Act by the European Environment Council in June 2024, a long period of uncertainty as to whether the law would 'make it' came to an end. Implementation then had to be organised at the national level in all European countries. In the Netherlands, the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security and Nature is responsible for implementing the law. How is the ministry tackling it and what will be the impact on existing regulations, rural areas and peatlands?
The role of peatlands in climate, biodiversity and restoration strategies
‘Essential allies’ in the struggle against climate change: this is how Hans Joosten characterises peatlands. Although just 3% of the earth’s surface is covered by peatlands, they capture twice as much carbon as all of the forests in the world combined. Peatlands are also habitats for rare flora and fauna that are seldom found elsewhere in Europe. His motto is ‘peat needs moisture’. That means hydrological restoration, the removal of trees and enriched soils, developing wet utilisation techniques and executing all of this at scale and consistently with the surrounding landscape. (Includes Q&A session)
An inspiring perspective: the Danish green transition
In Denmark, the government, the farmers’ union and the nature conservation organisation signed an historic agreement in 2024. This represents the greatest change in Danish landscape and agricultural policy in the last century. 15% of agricultural land will be transformed into nature reserves to benefit the climate, coastal waters and biodiversity. No less than 70,000 hectares of peatland will be restored and 250,000 hectares of woodland will be planted. Voluntary cooperation with local farmers who own the land is a critical success factor.
BOG4LIFE: If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together
Four peat bog restoration projects are underway in the provinces of Overijssel, Friesland and Drenthe (NL) and in the district of Borken (DE) under the collective name BOG4LIFE. All four are subsidised by the European LIFE programme and have more or less the same goals, including the organisation of a closing symposium to share their acquired knowledge and experience. Overall coordinator Gert-Jan Hoeve will introduce you to the projects behind Peatland Perspectives – restoring for tomorrow. BOG4LIFE strives for maximum collective impact. This is visualised and qualified using the Theory of Change (ToC). (Includes short film and Q&A session)
