Annual Report 2013 - International Peatland Society

Annual Report 2013 1

Contents Secretary General’s Review Report of the Executive Board Conferences and other events Members of the IPS  Expenses and revenue of the IPS Balance sheet Date and signatures IPS Commissions and Working Groups Reports of Commissions  IPS National Committees Reports of National Committees  Auditor’s statement

International Peat Society Kauppakatu 19 D 31, 3rd floor 40100 Jyväskylä, Finland www.peatsociety.org Annual Report 2013 Photos: Susann Warnecke, if not other photographer mentioned Editing and layout: Susann Warnecke, IPS Communications Manager Contributions by IPS National Committees and Commissions 2

International Peat Society ANNUAL REPORT 2013

Secretary General’s Review A year of changes and challenges The year 2013 has led IPS to quieter waters after the International Peat Congress in 2012, but nevertheless the Society has remained visible and active in many projects around the world. Locally, in our National Committees, cooperation between different peat interest groups has been on the agenda every day, and the IPS Commissions continued their work to tackle burning questions of peatland conservation and restoration, climate change, aspects of peat use in horticulture, energy policies and other internationally important matters. Early in 2013, the IPS Executive Board prepared a new Strategy for the Society. One of the goals is to significantly enlarge the number of

members of the IPS. This is a task for our National Committees, but also for all current members of the Society – remember to ask your fellow workers, friends and students to join the International Peat Society! Without doubt, we can be the largest knowledge network on peatlands worldwide – with real structures, democratic decision-making and administrative, as well as financial tools to keep our “train” going in the digital era. We started working on at least four major projects for the IPS and its members, and we took some time to discuss the tasks and goals of the Society, especially with our corporate members who are still the backbone of the Society but who seem to be under financial pressure in many countries. IPS has to increase its visibility and use its strength – now more than 1500 peatland experts – to expand fact-based knowledge and understanding of peat-related science and practical applications.

The IPS Award of Excellence 2013 was presented to Professor Harri Vasander from the University of Helsinki’s Department of Forest Sciences, during the dinner at the IPS Annual Meetings in Leiden on 19 June. The Award remains a strong incentive for those that work hard in their field, and for our Society. Congratulations! The Secretariat of the IPS has seen major changes in 2013. IPS Secretary General Jaakko Silpola resigned from his position at the end of September 2013 on his own wishes. From October onwards, IPS Communications Manager Susann Warnecke has fulfilled his tasks, taking on limited responsibilities until the new Secretary General is appointed. We are also proud to present the new electronic magazine Peatlands International that was published in October and December 2013. Although many members would

The Executive Board and Scientific Advisory Board with the IPS staff in Leiden, Netherlands.

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have preferred the old printed version, it was clear that printing and distribution costs clearly threatened the financial situation of IPS, and the member survey revealed that many were surprisingly open to a new format. We hope that the new magazine can meet members’ expectations as well as before, especially when the digital edition is published up to six times a year and can be forwarded, shared and accessed on all kind of devices. The Income Statement of the IPS shows a surplus of €44,800 (2012: loss of €17,900) for the financial year 2013. This positive result was achieved due to the income from the International Peat Congress 2012, which amounted to €44,200 (15% of registration fees) and should be used over the next three years. Following a requirement by the auditors, we have this time removed unpaid membership fees of €28,900 (invoiced 2011-2012) as old bad debts from the balance sheet, not from the income statement as in previous years. This gives a fair picture of the financial situation of the IPS in 2013. In usual years with full staff, regular physical meetings

and a printed magazine, IPS produces an operating deficit of approximately €20,000 annually, mainly due to unpaid membership fees, which need to be covered by additional income. How can we generate additional funds for our Society? What is a fair and reliable system for taking all members’ interests into consideration? The total income of the IPS was €205,200 (€161,500), with expenditure amounting to €158,600 (€178,900). Bad debts amounted to €28,900 (€13,500 in 2012, now for two years) mainly due to losing our National Committee partners in Eastern Europe. We must adapt to this situation and continue adjusting our costs to the income available, which we have started to do in 2013. We must also find new external financial resources to guarantee core funding, money of a kind that is not necessarily project-related and that does not require extensive administrative resources. Big challenges lie ahead, but I sincerely hope for the continued work and funding from our faithful members. Enjoy being a part of the

“peat family” and contribute your share. As one person put it, “if it did not exist, it should be invented.” I would like to thank all hard working IPS members, our strong EB and SAB members, the diligent National Committee Chairs and Secretaries and especially our Office Assistant and the interns at the IPS Secretariat. Without your mainly voluntary work, IPS would not exist. We are looking forward to the International Peat Technology Symposium in Riga next August, when up to 600 peat professionals will meet to extend their networks, do business and learn about the latest developments in the Baltics, Europe and the rest of the world. It will be great to see this meeting bringing scientists, conservationists and the peat industry together under one roof, as we did two years ago, but of course with much more “technology”. You are welcome to be there! Enjoy 2014.

Susann Warnecke Acting Secretary General October 2013-April 2014

EB and SAB during their meeting in Leiden, Netherlands.

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International Peat Society ANNUAL REPORT 2013

Report of the Executive Board IPS Membership Membership development As of 31 December 2013, the IPS membership comprised a total of 1,511 (2012: 1,412) members in 41 (42) countries. These were 1,121 individual, 265 corporate, 29 institutional, 44 honorary (partly local) and 55 student members (appendix). IPS has most members now via its National Committees in Germany, Finland, Indonesia, Poland and the Netherlands. Our membership database is updated continuously by combining information from the National Committees and directly by our members. The names of new members are regularly published in Peatlands International and all IPS members are encouraged to ask their friends and colleagues to join the IPS. All corporate and research institute members that pay full membership fees can nominate up to six contact persons who receive full membership benefits, including Peatlands International, Peat News and registration fee discounts at IPS conferences. The online database for members on the IPS website was actively used, allowing all members to see and edit their contact information in real-time and see the details of other members (those who have made their information available by checking a special box). Members can also download publications and share other information, such as job and research announcements. It is possible to join the IPS online in countries without a National Committee, or to purchase sixmonth reading rights instantly while membership applications in our main member countries are being handled by the National Committees.

All National Committees are encouraged to further promote the student membership category within their country and networks, and to promptly provide membership updates to the IPS Secretariat. National Committees The IPS is represented by 18 National Committees with a total of 1,454 (1,354) members, of which 13 operate in Europe, two in North America and three in Asia. These comprise 1,089 individual, 245 corporate, 14 research institute, 12 governmental, 53 student and 41 honorary members (partly local). The Japan Peatland Society (JPS) was officially established at Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan on 9 October 2013. The Executive Board of the Japan Peatland Society consists of President Mitsuru Osaki from Hokkaido University, Vice President Shigeo Kobayashi from Kyoto University, Vice President Takashi Hirano from Hokkaido University, Secretary General Hidenori Takahashi from Hokkaido University and Treasurer Mitsuhiko Kamiya from Ueyama Co., Ltc. The Japan Peatland Society was authorized by the IPS Executive Board as a National Committee at its meeting in Tallinn, as of 1 January 2014. We wish our Japanese colleagues well in their future activities and look forward to a fruitful cooperation! The National Committee of the Czech Republic was dissolved due to a lack of active participation and the retirement of their Chair. The membership of the National Committees of Belarus and Russia remained suspended until membership fees are paid. Members in countries without a National Committee As of 31 December 2013, the IPS had 32 individual, 20 corporate,

two student and three honorary members in 23 countries without National Committees. Countries with the largest numbers of members are China, Russia, Italy and France. More details can be found in a special list in the appendices. During 2013, temporary membership rights have been granted to more than 100 participants of the International Peat Congress in Stockholm in 2012 who expressed their interest in IPS matters. They became temporary members of the IPS for one year as soon as we received their contact details from the Congress organisers, and their membership rights will end in May 2014. We hope to keep each of them on board for a longer time! Commissions IPS is holding 10 Commissions which organise meetings and conferences and publish scientific knowledge. Commission membership is informal and open to all IPS members. All Commission Chairs are members of the IPS Scientific Advisory Board. New active persons were elected Commission Chairs, Vice Chairs and Secretaries at the International Peat Congress in Stockholm 2012, and further supporters are needed. Commission X on Peatlands and Climate Change is looking for a new Chair after Mats Nilsson stepped down from that position. The full report of the Commissions can be found in the appendices and their contact details can be seen in a special section of this report.  

Main activities Updated strategy and mission statement During the meeting on 26 - 27 January 2013 held in Amsterdam, the IPS Executive Board proposed a new Strategy for the Society 5

for the coming years. After detailed discussions on strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats, led by facilitating IPS Board member Donal Clarke, and based on an analysis of proposals from the Scientific Advisory Board, the Board agreed on the following new identity and mandate/charter for the IPS: “The International Peat Society is an organisation of corporate and individual members dedicated to the responsible management and Wise Use of peatlands and peat. It promotes the gathering, exchange and communication of knowledge and experience. The Society serves all those interested in peat and peatlands including the scientific, industrial and commercial, and regulatory communities. It respects the economic, social and environmental values of the peatland resource.” This replaces the old vision and mission statement and better reflects the actual aims and characteristics of the Society. Project plans During 2013, the Executive Board and Scientific Advisory Board of the Society discussed the following future projects for the IPS, provided that funding can be obtained: • • •

• • •

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Updated inventory of world peat resources Global peatland rehabilitation guidelines Practical guidelines to supplement the Strategy for Responsible Peatland Management (SRPM) Provide a databank of national peatland policies and their implementation Policy and action plan on Climate Change, including interface with IPCC and REDD Produce educational materials and providing seminars and courses for all affecting peat and peatland matters Provide basic information about

• • • •

peat and peatlands on the IPS website Digitalisation of the IPS archives and proceedings Conservation and management of peatlands in emerging nations Peatlands and indigenous and local people(s) Pilot projects to examine the feasibility of IPS meeting specific research needs

These will be challenging tasks for the next few years, to be carried out in addition to the general activities of the IPS. Any financial contributions are very welcome. Strategy for Responsible Peatland Management IPS continued to promote the Strategy for Responsible Peatland Management in 2013. For instance, the document was distributed to all Ramsar Contracting Parties in countries with significant peatland resources. In addition, the SRPM was handed out at other IPS events internationally and nationally and made known via numerous presentations by IPS members at peatland-related conferences. Further copies are available for free from the IPS Secretariat. It is recommended that the IPS National Committees translate the Strategy into their own language. Much work was done in writing and implementing similar national strategies for peatland management, such as in Finland, Canada and Ireland. Peatland certification IPS is actively following the project on Enhancing the Sustainability of the Peat Supply Chain for Dutch Horticulture, the Responsibly Produced Peat (RPP) scheme and the Canadian Veriflora sustainability certification and eco-labelling programme as well as the code of conduct of the European Peat and Growing Media Association (EPAGMA). However, IPS retains its neutral position towards different certification schemes.

Conferences and other events IPS National Committees and Commissions had organised or attended a broad variety of peatand peatland-related symposia and excursions. A list of these can be found in the appendices and some more information is included in the reports of the Commissions and National Committees. The main administrative meetings of the IPS in 2013 were: Annual Assembly: 20 June 2013, Leiden, the Netherlands Executive Board meetings: 25 - 27 January 2013, Amsterdam, the Netherlands 7 - 12 March 2013, Email and phone conference 19 June 2013, Leiden, the Netherlands 26 August - 11 September 2013, Email and phone conference 28 - 30 November 2013, Tallinn, Estonia Scientific Advisory Board meetings: 18 - 19 June 2013, Leiden, the Netherlands 14 - 22 October 2013, Email conference Executive Board and Industry representative meetings: 28 November 2013, Tallinn, Estonia 3 December 2013, Brussels, Belgium

Publications Peatlands International changed to e-magazine In October 2013, the first electronic issue of the IPS magazine Peatlands International was released as a PDF file, an e-paper and as a blog at www.peatlandsinternational. wordpress.com. The magazine can be accessed by all IPS members (and those who have purchased reading rights) by a password.

International Peat Society ANNUAL REPORT 2013

The decision to switch to an electronic version of the magazine was made to speed up the editing and publishing process and, in particular, to avoid increasing printing and distribution costs, especially in view of the financial situation of the Society. As forwarding and sharing within our member companies and universities will be easier, we expect to significantly increase the readership of the magazine. Based on the member survey that was carried out during May-June 2013, many of our members are keen on a digital magazine and electronic services, although many would have also valued a paper edition. We now plan to publish Peatlands International four-six times a year with approximately 20-30 pages. The second issue of the electronic magazine was released in early December 2013 and its link distributed to all IPS members by email. Major income for the Society is generated by advertisements in the magazine. Peatlands International is supported by an Editorial Board with the following members in 2013: Paul Short, Canada Juhani Päivänen, Finland Michael Trepel, Germany Catherine Farrell, Ireland Lech Szajdak, Poland Anne Jelle Schilstra, the Netherlands Marie-Kofod Hansen, Sweden Allan Robertson, United Kingdom Tom Malterer, USA

by email to all members of the Society. In 2013, 11 issues were distributed, each to approximately 1,250 members. The latest issue and all previous newsletters can be downloaded in our member intranet. Please sign up as an IPS member to receive the newsletter automatically. Peat News has been published since 2002, and all advertisers in Peatlands International have been listed as official supporters of Peat News. New books The new book “Peatland Ecology and Forestry – a Sound Approach” by Juhani Päivänen and Björn Hånell was released in 2012 and is available for purchase at the IPS webstore. The book (ISBN: 9778-952-10-45318) was published by the University of Helsinki, Department of Forest Sciences together with the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Department of Forest Ecology and Management, in connection with the IPS Congress in Stockholm in June 2012. For more information on the book and its contents, please see Sakari Sarkkola’s book review at

www.helsinki.fi/forestsciences/ news/120618_peatland.html and Peatlands International 2/2012 (in print).

On the Internet IPS website IPS has continued developing its new website. Special member benefits include an online document database for proceedings, brochures and other publications, a searchable member database, a new online store, a news list, open positions and a number of self-updating information boxes. Further resources have to be found to enable the uploading of all previous IPS proceedings to the document database in the near future. A complete renovation of the website should be carried out within the next two to three years. In summer 2013, the IPS Secretariat has successfully uploaded the Proceedings of the International Peat Congress 2012 in Stockholm, Sweden to the document database at the IPS website. Proceedings of earlier IPS IPS Dinner walk in Leiden, Netherlands.

Previous issues of Peatlands International can be found at the new IPS online database and printed issues can be ordered from www. peatsociety.org/shop. Further information on the magazine and a media kit are available at the IPS website or can be ordered from the IPS Secretariat. Peatlands International is included in the membership fee. Peat News Peat News, the electronic newsletter of the IPS, is sent out monthly 7

conferences are in the process of being digitised. Online shop The IPS online shop is an easy-touse tool for scientists, students, developers, booksellers and other persons ordering books from the IPS. Buyers can browse all publications online, fill their “shopping basket” and pay immediately by credit card or later by bank transfer. Also, payments are now accepted via PayPal which is more convenient for international transfers. The most popular books remain Peatlands and Climate Change, Finland-Fenland, Wise Use of Mires and Peatlands and proceedings of previous symposia. To purchase printed publications online, visit www.peatsociety.org/shop. IPS staff have also made efforts to promote the IPS and its logo and to raise awareness. Therefore, the IPS Secretariat created a merchandise shop at http://peatsociety. spreadshirt.fi/ that offers t-shirts, hoodies, hats, umbrellas, mugs and

other useful items (for field trips!) featuring the IPS logo. €1 from each purchase is used to support the IPS’s activities. Social media IPS has very actively shared information about its own and related activities, press articles and conference announcements via its Facebook and LinkedIn pages. At the end of 2013, about 400 persons were following IPS information on Facebook, most of whom are not yet members of the Society. The most common age group of these followers is 25-34 years old, which clearly shows that social media is the most appropriate channel to reach a younger audience. The IPS LinkedIn group allows networking between 200 peat and peatland professionals and has also proved a great tool for quickly sharing and collecting information, and for keeping new contacts in mind.

Attendees of the ISHS-IPS Growing Media Symposium in Leiden.

Scientific journal Mires and Peat The joint scientific journal of IPS and IMCG, Mires and Peat, was launched as an online publication in 2006, freely accessible to all those interested in peat, peatland and mire research. The Editor is Dr Olivia Bragg, supported by an enlarged Editorial Board. The Journal can be accessed free of charge at www.mires-and-peat.net. A report by the Editor is available on the IPS website. All issues of the former International Peat Journal, the last issue of which was published in 2004, can still be ordered from the IPS Online Store. IPS is supporting the journal with approx. €3,500 annually. Public discussion Greenhouse gas emissions, climate change, biodiversity, peatland restoration, fire management and inland water cleanliness were the most important issues with respect to peatland management in the public eye. Additionally, there are debates on responsible peat use and peatland conservation in many countries, such as Ireland, Finland and Canada. IPS is regularly following Google News and different Google Scholar alerts on peat, mire and peatland topics.

Finances and Funding The IPS is fully funded by membership fees, mainly from its corporate members, € 117,000 (2012: € 116,000) and National Committee contributions, € 26,000 (€ 29,000). Also, the International Peat Congress every fourth year is an important financial resource for the IPS, with an income of €44,200 in 2013. The Income Statement of the IPS shows a surplus of €44,800 (2012: loss of €17,900) for the financial year 2013. This resulted mainly from the 15% share of the registration fees 8

International Peat Society ANNUAL REPORT 2013

of the Stockholm International Peat Congress, which will be used to cover costs during the next three years. Bad debts amounting to €28,900 (unpaid invoices, 2011-2012) were required by the auditors to be removed from the balance of the IPS (differing from previous years’ practice where they appeared as expenses in the income statement) to give a clear picture of the financial situation in 2013. IPS suffers mainly from unpaid membership fees, and, consequently, from overly high expenditures compared to our income. In 2013, the operational result without the Congress would have been around €500; thus, income is just covering costs. IPS has brought a cost-saving programme into use, and we are searching for additional core funding from outside sources. The total income of the IPS was €205,200 (€161,500), with expenditure amounting to €158,600 (€178,900). Bad debts amounted to €28,900 (€13,500; now includes two years) with the depreciation of equipment of €1,800 (€500; 25%). Assets and liabilities increased to €154,000 (€150,100). More details can be seen in the financial appendices. The accounts and financial statements of the International Peat Society were audited by the Authorised Public Accountant Arto Saarinen from DHS Audit, an Authorised Public Accounting Firm.

Administration Annual Assembly in Leiden, the Netherlands, June 2013 The IPS held its 2013 Annual Convention together with a range of lectures and business meetings in Leiden, the Netherlands during the week of 17-21 June. The Convention was organized together with the ISHS-IPS event “International Symposium on Growing Media and Soilless Cultivation – Water Efficient

Horticulture Word Wide” which attracted some 226 participants from 36 countries. Among these were 51 IPS members from Burundi, Canada, China, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Sweden, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom. In addition to the main conference, the IPS Executive Board and Scientific Advisory Board held a special two-day strategy session at the Hotel HagenHorst Wassenaar near Leiden (21 attendees). The formal Annual Assembly of National Representatives was held on 20 June 2013 at the Hotel Holiday Inn Leiden, the Netherlands. The Assembly was attended by representatives of nine National Committees. The Plan of Activities, Budget and Membership Fees 2013 were accepted, as well as an interim budget and membership fees for 2014. The Assembly also elected the Auditor for IPS for 2013. In addition, the representatives approved a change in the IPS Statutes that allows the Annual Assemblies to be held if needed up until 30 August, instead of 30 June, making the forthcoming Assemblies in Latvia in August 2014 and Malaysia in August 2016 possible. In addition, a National Committee Round Table was held on 20 June 2013, which was attended by nine National Committees’ representatives. The discussions included the IPS Strategy and project proposals, activating and increasing involvement in the Commissions and locally in the National Committees. IPS membership fees and the communications survey, which was carried out in May-June 2013 by IPS intern Mr Mark Swarts, were discussed as well.

Vice Presidents and from two to six ordinary members. The members of the Executive Board in 2013 and their terms of office were: President Björn Hånell, Sweden 2012-2016 1st Vice President Guus van Berckel, the Netherlands/ Germany 2012-2016 2nd Vice President Jack Rieley, United Kingdom 2012-2016 Ordinary members: Donal Clarke, Ireland, 2012-2016 Valerijs Kozlovs, Latvia, 2010-2014 Erki Niitlaan, Estonia, 2010-2014 Paul Short, Canada, 2012-2016 Lech Szajdak, Poland, 2010-2014 Samu Valpola, Finland, 2012-2016 In addition, the Executive Board agreed to give observer status to Lulie Melling from Malaysia as Director General of the 2016 International Peat Congress. The IPS Executive Board held its regular meetings in 2013 in Amsterdam, the Netherlands on 25 - 27 January; a phone conference on 12 March; meetings in Leiden, the Netherlands on 19 June; an email conference from 26 August to 11 September 2013 followed by a phone conference on 11 September, and met in Tallinn, Estonia from 28 - 30 November.

Executive Board

The Executive Board also met 25 industrial stakeholders on 28 November 2013 in Tallinn, Estonia. The meeting was attended by industrial association, company and EB representatives from Canada, Finland, Germany, Estonia, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Malaysia, the Netherlands, Poland, Sweden and the United Kingdom who identified 14 action points for future cooperation.

According to the Statutes of the IPS, the Executive Board consists of the President, the First and Second

That meeting was followed by a visit to the Board of the European Peat and Growing Media Association

The EB and SAB held a working session at Hotel HagenHorst in Wassenaar near Leiden to deal with the strategic development of the IPS.

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(EPAGMA) in Brussels on 3 December 2013, in which the President, two Vice Presidents, Board member Donal Clarke and the Acting Secretary General participated. The decisions of these meetings were communicated in Peat News and Peatlands International. Scientific Advisory Board The Scientific Advisory Board had its annual meeting in Leiden, the Netherlands together with the IPS Executive Board on 18 - 19 June. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss IPS’s strategic projects and agree on further actions. In addition, the SAB held an email meeting between 14 and 22 October 2013. Its decisions and questions were regularly communicated to and considered by the Executive Board. Professor Jack Rieley from the United Kingdom continued as Chair and Dr Roxane Andersen was Acting Secretary (due to the maternity leave of Dr Catherine Farrell from Ireland). Issues discussed included IPS’s strategic plan and projects, the situation of Commission X: Peatlands and Climate Change, SAB participation in related organizations and their events, etc. Most of the decisions were communicated via Peat News. The SAB consists of the 10 IPS Commission Chairs and the Second Vice President of IPS. It provides the Society with advice and information on matters of scientific, technical and cultural importance, drawing upon the pool of knowledge available in the Commissions and elsewhere and promoting and disseminating research results. The SAB meets normally twice a year in association with other IPS meetings. IPS provides funding for travelling of up to €500/ member. The cross-commission Standing Committee on Peatlands and Climate Change was established by the Executive Board in October 2010 as a successor to the working group that had edited the Peatlands and Climate 10

Change book. The Committee was reapproved as the IPS 10th Commission in Leiden in 2013. Professor Mats Nilsson stepped down from his position as Chair in June 2013, and the positions of Chair, Vice Chair and Secretary have since been vacant.

IPS Communications Manager Susann Warnecke took the position as Acting Secretary General with limited responsibilities in addition to her administration, communications and event management tasks until a new Secretary General is appointed.

Members of the Scientific Advisory Board at the end of 2013 were:

General office duties were supported by part-time Office Assistant Sandra Lubinaite from October 2013 to March 2014; she had been working for the Secretariat as an intern since May. Mrs Birgit Hyyryläinen, former accountant for the IPS, the Finnish Peatland Society and Finbio, retired at the end of February 2013. IPS accounting and office tasks have been carried out since by Pirki Oy (official bookkeeping) and the IPS Secretariat (administration, invoices, payments, account assignment, annual reporting and controlling).

Chairman: Jack Rieley, United Kingdom Secretary: Catherine Farrell, Ireland Members: Chairs of Comm. I-X I Lars Lundin, Sweden II Gerald Schmilewski, Germany III Barbara Kalisz, Poland IV Jürgen Schoenherr, Germany V Catherine Farrell, Ireland VI Leena Larva, Finland VII Sakari Sarkkola, Finland VIII Michiel Gerding, the Netherlands IX Jack Rieley, United Kingdom X vacant It is the goal of the IPS to appoint a Chair, Vice Chair and Secretary for all Commissions to form an effective working team. Please contact Jack Rieley if you are interested.

Secretariat Organisational changes at the IPS Secretariat The Secretariat of the IPS has been located in Jyväskylä, Finland since January 1992. Since June 2012, the postal address of the Secretariat has been Kauppakatu 19 D 31, 40100 Jyväskylä, Finland. IPS Secretary General Jaakko Silpola stepped down from his position on his own wishes at the end of September 2013. Jaakko has been working as part-time IPS Secretary General since 2004 and as Managing Director of the Association of Finnish Peat Industries from 2004 to 2012. We wish him well in his future endeavours and thank him for all the years he has dedicated to IPS’s work!

From May to November 2013, the IPS Secretariat was supported by several interns. Mr Mark Swarts from the Netherlands carried out the communications survey of the IPS members, analysed IPS media channels and communication strategy and gave good insights on how to improve them. Ms Henna Honkala from Finland worked on a project regarding the Strategy for Responsible Peatland Management (SRPM). Her task was to collect and analyse data from the National Committees and IPS members on current national-level activities done or achieved based on SRPM in the IPS member countries. Ms Sandra Lubinaite from Lithuania was responsible for general office support, editorial help with IPS publications and web services, assistance in preparations of IPS events, the digitisation of the IPS proceedings and other projects. Ms Ines Boettcher from Germany supported the IPS Secretariat with regard to the investigation of project funding opportunities and coordination of future strategic projects.

International Peat Society ANNUAL REPORT 2013

Honours IPS Award of Excellence The IPS Award of Excellence 2013 was presented to Professor Harri Vasander from the University of Helsinki, Department of Forest Sciences, during the dinner at the IPS Annual Meetings in Leiden on 19 June. Professor Vasander was been nominated by the Finnish National Committee for his long carrier as a scientist, expert and lecturer promoting the Wise Use of peatlands throughout the world. His research area is mainly mire ecology, carbon gas balance on peatlands and their sustainable utilisation, and covers the boreal peatlands in Europe, Russia and North America, as well as tropical peatlands. The IPS Award of Excellence was launched in 2005 and is annually conferred on a person, group or project for a distinguished contribution in any sector of peatland activities. The Award comprises a framed scroll and a cash prize of €1,000. Proposals for the Award can be sent to the IPS Secretariat by email, letter or via our website by 31 January each year. Honorary Members

Gerry Hood, Canada Paddy Hughes, Ireland Piotr Ilnicki, Poland Ivan I. Lishtvan, Belarus Markku Mäkelä, Finland Thomas Malterer, USA Patrick McEvilly, Ireland Yrjö Pessi, Finland Reidar Pettersson, Sweden Juhani Päivänen, Finland Ansis Snore, Latvia B.N. Sokolov, Russia Raimo Sopo, Finland András Tóth, Hungary Congratulations to Professor David Bellamy, who was granted Honorary Membership as suggested by the UK National Committee. He has been a long-time member of the IPS and has contributed a great deal to peatland conservation and management over the last 50 years. Unfortunately, IPS has lost one of its long-term honorary members: it was with sadness that we heard from our USA National Committee that honorary member R.S. Farnham passed away in 2013.

Cooperation The IPS cooperated internationally with the International Society for Horticultural Science (ISHS), the International Mire Conservation Group (IMCG), the Society of Wetland Scientists (SWS), the European Peat and Growing Media Association (EPAGMA), the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) and the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands. Locally, the IPS cooperated with the University of Applied Sciences and the University of Jyväskylä, the Finnish Peatland Society and Finnish Bioenergy Association - and of course with our National Committees and industrial member associations. During the Executive Board meeting in Tallinn on 28 - 30 November 2013, a cooperation contract for the ISHS-IPS conference “International Symposium on Growing Media, Composting and Substrate Analysis”, to be held in Vienna, Austria on 7 - 11 September 2015, was approved.

National Representatives after the Annual Assembly.

Honorary membership is conferred by the Executive Board on persons nominated by National Committees who have made outstanding contributions to the IPS and to international cooperation on peatlands and peat. At the end of 2013, the IPS had the following Honorary Members: Honorary President: R. Allan Robertson, UK (passed away February 2014) Honorary Members: F. Baranyai, Hungary David Bellamy, UK Jean-Yves Daigle, Canada A. K. Dergunov, Russia Hartmut Falkenberg, Germany Henk van de Griendt, Netherlands Donald N. Grubich, USA Matti Hilli, Finland 11

Conferences and other events Events of the IPS and its National Committees Executive Board Strategy Meeting Amsterdam, 26 - 27 January 2013 Executive Board Meeting Email, 7 - 12 March 2013

Duluth, Minnesota, 3 June 2013 www.swsannualmeeting.org IPS Polish National Committee IV Workshop of Structural Geomorphology “The structural factor in the development of wetland ecosystems” Lublin, Poland, 5 - 8 June 2013 German Peat Society (DGMT) Peat and Peatland Seminar and Excursion Bad Wurzach Germany 7 - 8 June 2013 www.dgmtev.de

Finnish National Committee (Suoseura) Spring Meeting and Seminar Helsinki, 13 March 2013 www.suoseura.fi German Peat Society (DGMT) Peat and Peatland Seminar and Excursion Zeven, Germany, 19 - 20 April 2013 www.dgmtev.de

German Peat Society (DGMT) Prospects for the sustainable use of peatlands in Lower Saxony Schneverdingen, Germany, 12 - 13 June 2013 www.dgmtev.de

IPS Commission V Symposium on Advances in Peatland Restoration at the Annual Meeting of the Society of Wetland Scientists

Polish National Committee and Commission III Workshop Fen Peatlands after Drainage

for young scientists and PhD students Solec, Warsaw, Poland 9 - 11 July 2013 www.uwm.edu.pl/gleba/IPSC3/ UK National Committee War & Peat – The military heritage of moors, hearths, bogs and fens Sheffield Showroom & Workstation Sheffield, United Kingdom, 4 - 6 September 2013 www.ukeconet.org/event/war-andpeat-conference-september-2013/ Finnish National Committee (Suoseura) Autumn excursion to Western Finland 16 - 17 September 2013 www.suoseura.fi German Peat Society (DGMT) Annual Assembly Freising, Germany, 25 - 27 September 2013 www.dgmtev.de IPS Commission VI International Workshop “Peat and humic substances and their applications” 10 - 12 October 2013, Riga, Latvia IPS Commission III International Conference: Protection of soil functions – challenges for the future Puławy, Poland 15 - 18 October 2013 Finnish National Committee (Suoseura) Member meeting and Seminar Finland, 15 October 2013 www.suoseura.fi IPS Executive Board and Industry Meeting Tallinn, Estonia, 28 - 30 October 2013

IPS interns and EB members visiting Tallinn in October.

12

Irish Peat Society Annual Meeting, Study Tour and Seminar October 2013, Killarney, Co. Kerry

International Peat Society ANNUAL REPORT 2013

Finnish National Committee (Suoseura) Autumn meeting and Seminar 19 November 2013 www.suoseura.fi Dutch Peatland Society A “study-day”, in the old UNESCO World Heritage water steam pumping station (1920) Lemmer, Friesland, November 2013 www.woudagemaal.nl IPS-EPAGMA Meeting Brussels, 3 December 2013 www.epagma.org

Cooperation events IPS Convention, Annual Assembly, Executive Board, Scientific Advisory Board and Commission Meetings at the ISHS-IPS “International Symposium on Growing Media and Soilless Cultivation” 17 - 21 June 2013 in Leiden The Netherlands www.peatsociety.org/events/ leiden2013 www.grosci2013.wur.nl Society of Wetland Scientists & US National Committee Annual Meeting 2013 Duluth, Minnesota, 2 - 6 June 2013 www.swsannualmeeting.org

Events of related organisations

National Ecological Networks Conference Scottish Wildlife Trust Edinburgh, UK, 6 - 7 February 2013 https://scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk/ shop/nen-conference-2013 International Conference on “Reed as a Renewable Resource” (RRR) Greifswald, Germany 14 - 16 February 2013. www.rrr2013.de International Conference on Climate Change and Local Wisdom: Living in Harmony within Our Built Environment Makassar, Sulawesi Selatan, Indonesia, 14 - 15 February 2013 http://genius-loci-conference.com World Sustainable Energy Days 2013 Wels, Austria 27 February - 1 March 2013 www.wsed.at International conference on Southeast Asian Gateway Evolution (SAGE 2013) & Symposium and workshop on “Southeast Asian peat swamp forests: biodiversity vs. biofuel” Berlin, Germany, 11 - 15 March 2013 www.sage2013.org FAO Peatland Expert Workshop “Towards more sustainable land management practices for peatlands – special focus on drained areas” Rome, Italy, 3 - 4 April 2013 www.fao.org

4th European Conference on Renewable Heating and Cooling Dublin, 22 - 23 April 2013 www.rhc-platform.org Towards sustainable land management practices for peatlands – special focus on drained areas Rome, Italy, 7 - 9 May 2013 www.fao.org Biohydrology Conference 2013. Bio meets Hydrology Landau/Pfalz, Germany 21 - 24 May 2013 www.biohydrology2013.de 21th European Biomass Conference and Exhibition Copenhagen, Denmark 3 - 7 June 2013 www.conference-biomass.com Side event on role of peatlands in post-2020 UNFCCC framework ‘Learning for a post-2020 UNFCCC framework using national mitigation actions for peatlands as pilots’ at the SBSTA Climate Change Conference Bonn, Germany, 8 June 2013 www.succow-stiftung.de 38th Session of the FAO Conference Rome, Italy, 15 June 2013 www.fao.org/bodies/conf/c2013/en 4th AEBIOM Bioenergy Conference Brussels, Belgium, 17 - 19 June 2013 www.aebiom.org/conference

EGU General Assembly 2013 Vienna, Austria, 7 - 12 April http://meetingorganizer.copernicus. org/EGU2013

2nd International Conference Energy & Meteorology Weather and Climate for the Energy Industry 25 - 28 June 2013, Toulouse, France www.icem2013.org

Bioenergy, Environment and Sustainable Technologies Tiruvannamalai, Tamilnadu, India 27 - 30 January 2013 http://best.biotechpage.com

ALTER-Net Conference 2013 Science underpinning the EU 2020 Biodiversity Strategy Ghent, Belgium, 15 - 18 April 2013 www.alter-net.info/outputs/conf2013

1st International Conference on Sustainable Agriculture and Environment Central Java, Indonesia 27 - 29 June 2013 http://icsae.uns.ac.id/

Student Conference on Conservation Science Australia Brisbane, QLD, Australia 21 - 24 January 2013 http://sccs-aus.org

AWARE: Approaches in WetlAnd Restoration - focus on fen landscapes Warsaw, Poland, 21 - 23 April 2013 www.biol.uw.edu.pl/aware/main.php

4th CASEE Conference Food and Biomass Production-Basis for a Sustainable Rural Development 1 - 3 July 2013, Zagreb, Croatia

The following events were of interest and/or attended by IPS members:

13

32nd congress of International Society of Limnology (SIL) Budapest, Hungary, 4 - 9 August 2013 www.sil2013.hu

UN Biodiversity Talks Convention on Biological Diversity Montreal, Canada 2 - 18 October 2013 www.cbd.int/meetings

Sphagnum Mosses Identification Workshops 16 October and 20 November 2013 Sheffield area – Rivelin Valley http://www.ukeconet.org/

Waxcaps and Wood-pasture Fungi Identification Workshops Longshaw, Peak District, United Kingdom 9 October 2013

German Garden Industry Association (IVG) 48. German Peat Day Bad Zwischenahn, 24 October 2013 www.ivg.org

INTECOL 2013: Into the next 100 years London, United Kingdom 18 - 23 August 2013 www.intecol.org

Anglesey and Llyn Fens project final conference Plas Menai, United Kingdom 9 - 11 October 2013 www.angleseyandllynfens.com

Nordic seminar on peatland drainage and environment Kuopio, Finland, 4 - 6 November 2013 http://bit.ly/1hz0E04

Investing in Peatlands: Partnership for a New Era York, United Kingdom 10 - 12 September 2013 www.iucn-uk-peatlandprogramme. org/news/230

Conservation conference on upland bogs York, United Kingdom 12 October 2013 www.place.uk.com

98th ESA Annual Meeting Ecological Society of America Minneapolis, Minnesota 4 - 9 August 2013 www.esa.org/minneapolis/symposia. php

Workshop and field visit to the Humberhead Levels Peatlands National Nature Reserve, UK 2 October 2013

37th session of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Batumi, Adjara, Georgia 14 - 18 October 2013 www.ipcc.ch/scripts/_session_ template.php?page=_37ipcc.htm#. Ul-wQBDz1vg

Tutkas Parliament Seminar Finland’s Peatlands - Resource or Nature Value Helsinki, 13 November 2013 http://web.eduskunta.fi/Resource. phx/eduskunta/organisaatio/ kansanedustajat/tutkas/index.htx International Mire Conservation Group Re-Visiting Fraser Island 26 - 29 November 2013 www.imcg.net/pages/events.php Finnish Peat Initiative and Bioenergy Days Helsinki, Finland, 27 - 29 November 2013 www.bioenergia.fi International Mire Conservation Group IMCG Field Symposium Australia, 1 - 13 December 2013 www.imcg.net/pages/events.php EPAGMA Growing Media Forum Brussels, 4 December 2013 www.epagma.org

IPS Award of Excellence winner Harri Vasander of Helsinki University.

14

International Peat Society ANNUAL REPORT 2013

Members of the IPS

Counting of IPS Membership 31.12.2013

Industrial Corporate Members

Individual members Canada Estonia Finland Germany Hungary Indonesia Ireland Japan Latvia Lithuania Malaysia The Netherlands Norway Poland Sweden Ukraine United Kingdom USA 31 December 2013 31 December 2012 31 December 2011 31 December 2010

8 1 340 284 16 104 31 32 2 1 52 54 3 92 25 0 22 22 1089 971 1003 1000 Individual Members

Argentina Australia Belarus Belgium Burundi Czech Republic Chile China Denmark Falkland Islands France India Italy Pakistan Peru Romania Russia Serbia Singapore Slovenia South Korea Spain Taiwan ROC 31 December 2013 31 December 2012 31 December 2011 31 December 2010

35 29 3 59 1 0 4 0 28 22 5 15 4 3 24 4 6 3 245 237 233 276 Corporate Members

Governmental Institutes 0 0 1 4 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 1 0 2 0 1 1 14 43 38 44

Honorary Members

0 1 2 2 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 2 1 12 16 16 16 Honorary Members

Students 1 0

0 0

0 0

0 1 0 0 0 9 2 1 0 1 5 1 0 1 4 1 0 1 0 2 1 32 41 31 29

1 2 1 1 1 3 1 0 5 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 1 1 0 20 15 14 7

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 2 2 1 1

1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0

1454 57 1511

December 2012 1354 58 1412

December 2011

3

December 2010

1372 46 1418

The National Committees of Belarus and Russia are suspended until membership fees are paid.

Students 2 0 11 10 2 0 2 0 6 0 0 3 0 1 1 0 1 2 41 41 43 45

TOTAL

0 2

December 2013 NC members Non-NC members

Research Institutes, Universities

20.2.2014

1413 37 1450

1 2 2 3 1 1 1 12 3 1 5 1 5 1 1 1 8 1 1 1 1 3 1 57 58 46 37

December 2009 1384 28 1412

TOTAL 1 0 0 39 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 0 0 0 0 9 0 53 46 39 32

46 31 357 398 21 105 38 32 36 23 57 80 8 96 52 4 41 29 1454 1354 1372 1413

Table 1: Members of IPS National Committees.

Table 2: IPS members in countries without National Committees.

Table 3: Development of the IPS membership from 2007 to 2013.

December 2008

December 2007

1238 34 1272

1255 30 1285

15

Expenses and revenue of the IPS

International Peat Society

Income Statement 31.12.2013

Realised 31.12.2013

STAFF AND EXTERNAL SERVICES Ordinary operations, income 3009 Sales of publications (old)

% of budget

0,00 € 0,00 €

Ordinary operations, expenses Staff and external services 3100 Salaries 3101 Auditing 3102 Debited salaries 3103 Accounting 3104 Social security 3105 Pension funds 3106 Insurances required by law 3107 Healthcare 3108 Other social costs 3110 Training

-71 692,37 € -1 562,40 € 3 343,83 € -2 045,99 € -1 460,13 € -13 243,20 € -827,13 € -717,82 € -26,00 € -207,00 €

101 % 112 % 73 % 97 % 98 % 55 % 120 % 26 % 69 % 95 %

-88 438,21 € Facilities 3115 Rent 3116 Cleaning /WLAN

-8 270,00 € -158,88 €

95 % 18 % 88 %

-8 428,88 € Administration 3120 Office materials 3121 Printing and copying 3122 Books and magazines 3123 Mailing 3124 Phone 3125 IT and maintenance 3126 Internet 3127 Other insurances 3128 Other costs (recruiting) 3129 TTL Admistration

-443,93 € -2 242,03 € -25,00 € -1 956,35 € -1 232,35 € -2 093,24 € -1 125,64 € -861,83 € -1 699,27 € 0,00 €

0,00 € 0,00 €

934,00 € 934,00 €

-71 000,00 € -1 400,00 € 0,00 € -2 800,00 € -1 500,00 € -13 500,00 € -1 500,00 € -600,00 € -100,00 € -300,00 €

-50 419,65 € -1 328,40 € 2 702,75 € 0,00 € -1 056,13 € -9 069,51 € -1 317,47 € -447,76 € -23,67 € -86,00 €

-92 700,00 €

-61 045,84 €

-8 700,00 € -900,00 €

-7 237,16 € 0,00 €

-9 600,00 €

-7 237,16 €

-1 350,00 € -1 500,00 € -100,00 € -2 000,00 € -1 200,00 € -2 500,00 € -900,00 € 0,00 € -50,00 € 0,00 €

-1 293,68 € -1 477,98 € -76,00 € -2 119,74 € -1 142,77 € -3 864,91 € -938,29 € 0,00 € -67,25 € -16 530,00 €

122 %

-9 600,00 €

-27 510,62 €

-40,00 € -455,86 € -810,92 € -1 007,50 € -272,80 € 0,00 €

-100,00 € -400,00 € -1 200,00 € -1 000,00 € -100,00 € -1 600,00 €

-75,00 € -327,10 € -1 066,00 € -1 000,00 € 0,00 € -4 038,53 €

-2 587,08 €

40 % 114 % 68 % 101 % 273 % 0% 59 %

-4 400,00 €

-6 506,63 €

-111 133,81 €

96 %

-116 300,00 €

-102 300,25 €

1 680,00 € 1 680,00 €

1680 % 1680 %

100,00 € 100,00 €

0,00 € 0,00 €

-500,00 € 0,00 € -100,00 € -500,00 € -3 000,00 € -1 700,00 € -3 000,00 € -1 300,00 € -4 000,00 € -1 100,00 € 2013 -1 500,00 € -1 500,00 € 0,00 €

-2 962,40 € 0,00 € -190,30 € -144,48 € -9 039,48 € -4 008,65 € -4 359,51 € -1 058,89 € -6 299,62 € -1 173,00 € -1 142,62 € -1 825,23 € 0,00 €

TRAVELLING AND ORGANISATION Travelling income 3142 Travelling + meeting income Travelling costs 3150 Domestic travelling 3151 Domestic accommodation 3152 Domestic allowances 3153 Mileage allowances 3154 Secretariat foreign travel 3155 Secreteriat foreign accommodation 3156 EB travelling 3157 EB accommodation 3158 SAB travelling and accommodation 3159 Secretariat foreign allowances 163160 Meeting costs / room rentsInternational 3161 Representation costs / catering 3162 Registration fees

3399 %

Realised 2012

-11 679,64 € Other costs 3133 Membership fees 3134 Banking fees 3135 Webshop/credit card fees 3136 Award of Excellence 3137 Marketing 3138 Other costs

total ordinary operations

33 % 149 % 25 % 98 % 103 % 84 % 125 %

Budget 2013

Peat

-792,51 € -245,40 € -416,00 € -407,40 € -4 260,26 € -2 023,06 € -2 741,57 € -1 379,16 € -3 168,96 € -1 366,00 € Society -4 753,38ANNUAL € -5 384,93 € -721,40 €

159 % 416 % 81 % 142 % 119 % 91 % 106 % 79 % 124 % REPORT 317 % 359 %

3156 EB travelling 3157 EB accommodation 3158 SAB travelling and accommodation PUBLISHING ACTIVITIES 3159 Secretariat foreign allowances Income from publishing 3160 Sales Meeting costs / room rents 3200 of magazines 3161 Advertisement Representationincome costs / catering 3201 3162 Reading Registration fees 3202 rights online 3203 Sales of publications 3204 Other publication income PUBLISHING ACTIVITIES Publishing expenses Income from publishing 3211 Mires and Peat 3200 Online Sales ofjournal magazines 3212 + PN 3201 Proofreading AdvertisementPIincome 3213 3202 Printing ReadingPI rights online 3214 3203 Mailing Sales ofPIpublications 3215 3204 Other publication costs income 3216 Website and e-mail 3217 Book scanning Publishing expenses 3211 Online journal Mires and Peat 3212 Proofreading PI + PN 3213 publishing Printing PI total 3214 Mailing PI 3215 Other publication costs PROJECTS 3355 3216 Project Websiteexpenses and e-mail 3217 Book scanning CONFERENCES 3400 Conference income (IPC 2012, to be used publishing 2013-2016) total 3455 Conference expenses PROJECTS 3355 Project expenses

-2 741,57 € -1 379,16 € -3 168,96 € -1 366,00 € -4637,00 753,38€ € 384,93€ € 11-5210,00 -721,40 50,00 € € 1 078,00 -27 660,03€ € 64,54 € 13 039,54 € -6 500,00 637,00 € 11-655,75 210,00 € -6 515,78 50,00 € -5 1 427,79 078,00 € -14,96 64,54 € 13-644,60 039,54 € 0,00 € -6 758,88 500,00 € -19 -655,75 € -6 719,34 515,78 € -5 427,79 € -14,96 € 0,00 € -644,60 0,00 € -19 758,88 € 44 241,10 € -6 719,34 €

91 % 106 % 79 % 124 % 317 64 %% 359 112 %% 152 108 %% 109 % 200 64 % 82 % 112 65 % 54 % 108 15 % 72 % 109 0% 78 % 200 82 % 51 % 65 54 % 15 % 72 % 0% 78 % 100 % 51 %

0,00 €

-3 000,00 € -1 300,00 € -4 000,00 € -1 100,00 € 500,00 1 -1 000,00 € € 500,00 10 -1 000,00 € € 0,00 0,00 € € 1 000,00 € € -18 200,00 0,00 € 12 000,00 €

-4 359,51 € -1 058,89 € -6 299,62 € -1 173,00 € 142,62 1 -1 258,50 € € 825,23 12 -1 450,00 € € 0,00 0,00 € € € € -32 0,00 204,18 0,00 € 13 708,50 €

-3 1 250,00 000,00 € 10-800,00 000,00 € -10 000,00 0,00 € -10 1 000,00 € -100,00 0,00 € 12-900,00 000,00 € -200,00 € -3 250,00 € -25 -800,00 € -10 250,00 000,00 € -13 -10 000,00 € -100,00 € 0,00 € -900,00 -200,00 0,00 € -25 250,00 € 44 240,00 €

-4 1 762,15 258,50 € 12-750,12 450,00 € -9 647,73 0,00 € -10 192,31 0,00 € -72,88 0,00 € 13-865,92 708,50 € 0,00 € -4 291,11 762,15 € -26 -750,12 € -9 582,61 647,73 € -12 -10 192,31 € -72,88 € -1-865,92 419,80 € 0,00 € -1 419,80

-13 250,00 €

-12 582,61 €

-26 291,11 € 0,00 €

0,00 €

-3 233,40 € -3 233,40 € -1 419,80 € -1 806,24 419,80 € -150

44 241,10 € 0,00 € 0,00 € -99 592,08

100 % 96 %

44 240,00 € 0,00 € 0,00 € -103 410,00

44 241,10 €

100 %

44 240,00 €

0,00 €

3510 Committee fees 3455 National Conference expenses 3511 Industrial fees 3512 Individual members 3513 Corporate members Surplus/Deficit 3514 Student members 3515 Late payments MEMBERSHIP FEES

26 059,00 0,00 € 110 941,00 € 44 241,10 2 240,00 € 6 592,08 475,00 € -99 48,00 € 469,50 €

100 % 100 % 111 % 146 96 % 100 %

26 059,00 0,00 € 110 940,00 € 44 240,00 2 009,00 € 4 410,00 425,00 € -103 48,00 € 0,00 €

28 987,00 € -3 233,40 111 800,00 € -3 233,40 1 529,00 € 4 806,24 465,00 € -150 43,00 € 0,00 €

Income 3510 National Committee fees Expenses 3610 debtsfees 2011 3511 Bad Industrial Bad 2012members estimation 3512debts Individual 3513 Corporate members 3514 Studentremoved membersvia balance sheet! € 28,923.10 3515 Late payments membership fees total Expenses 3610 Bad debts 2011 SURPLUS/DEFICIT Bad debts 2012 estimation

146 232,50 € 26 059,00 € 0,00 € 110 941,00 0,00 € 2 240,00 6 475,00 € 48,00 0,00 € 469,50 € 146 232,50 €

102 % 100 % 0% 100 111 % 146 % 0% 100 113 102 %

143 481,00 € 26 059,00 € -14 180,00 110 940,00 € 2 009,00 € 4 425,00 € 48,00 € -14 180,00 0,00 € 129 481,00 301,00 € 143

146 824,00 € 28 987,00 € -13 459,00 111 800,00 € 1 529,00 € 4 465,00 € 43,00 € -13 459,00 0,00 € 133 824,00 365,00 € 146

0,00 € 46 640,42 0,00 €

180 0%

-14 180,00 € 25 891,00

-13 441,24 459,00 € -17

SAVINGS AND FINANCING € 28,923.10 removed via balance sheet! Income 4090 Other income membership fees total

0,00 €

0%

-14 180,00 €

-13 459,00 €

0,00 € 146 232,50 0,00 €

0% 113 0% 180 %

0,00 € 133 365,00 0,00 € -17 441,24 € -5,49 € -5,49 € -5,49 €

Surplus/Deficit CONFERENCES 3400 Conference income (IPC 2012, to be MEMBERSHIP FEES used 2013-2016) Income

Expenses SURPLUS/DEFICIT 4100 Interest expenses SAVINGS AND FINANCING Income 4090 Other income SURPLUS/DEFICIT Expenses 4100 Interest expenses DEPRECIATION 6000 Depreciation (25%) TOTAL SURPLUS/DEFICIT SURPLUS/DEFICIT

DEPRECIATION

-3,36 €

-1 %

500,00 € 129 301,00 500,00 € 25 891,00 € 0,00 € 0,00 € 500,00 €

0,00 € 46 637,06 0,00 €

177 0% 0%

500,00 € 26 391,00 500,00 €

0,00 € -17 446,73 0,00 €

-3,36 € -1 851,46 -3,36 € -1 851,46 -3,36 € 44 785,60 € 46 637,06 €

370 % 370 -1 % 173 % 177 %

0,00 € -500,00 0,00 € -500,00 500,00 € 25 891,00 € 26 391,00 €

-5,49 € -500,00 -5,49 € -500,00 -5,49 € -17 946,73 € -17 446,73 €

46 640,42 € -3,36 € -3,36 €

17

Balance sheet

International Peat Society BALANCE SHEET 31.12.2013

ASSETS NON-CURRENT ASSETS Tangible assets Machinery and equipments 1200 Machinery and equipment Investments Other investmants 1400 Other shares CURRENT ASSETS Debtors Trade debtors 1700 Trade debtors Prepayments 1830 Prepayments Other debtors 1855 Other debtors Other debtors 1870 Prepayments and accrued income Cash and bank account 1920 Danske Bank ASSETS TOTAL LIABILITIES CAPITAL AND RESERVES Capital 2020 Retained earnings/loss Profit/loss of the period

BALANCE 31.12.2012

5 554,39 5 554,39 5 554,39

** ***

6 162,65 6 162,65 6 162,65

** ***

84,09 84,09 84,09

** ***

84,09 84,09 84,09

** ***

4 435,00 4 435,00

**

8 013,30 8 013,30

**

725,00 725,00

**

725,00 725,00

**

44 882,00 44 882,00

**

41 551,00 41 551,00

**

850,73 850,73 50 892,73

** ***

447,76 447,76 50 737,06

** ***

97 473,75 97 473,75 154 004,96

*** ****

93 122,87 93 122,87 150 106,67

*** ****

***

143 442,16 -17 946,73 125 495,43

***

96,572,33 44 785,60 141 357,93

CREDITORS Short-time Advances received 2650 Advances received Trade creditors 2670 Trade creditors Other creditors 2820 Creditors of salary/taxes 2822 Creditors of taxes/social costs Other creditors 2940 Accruals and deferred income LIABILITIES TOTAL

BALANCE 31.12.2013

0,00 0,00

**

-156,50 -156,50

**

-3 370,50 -3 370,50

**

-15 197,65 -15 197,65

**

**

-1 835,77 -130,97 -1 966,74

**

-1 099,09 -89,52 -1 188,61 -8 087,92 -8 087,92 -12 647,03 -154 004,96

** *** ****

List of accounting books used The following accounting books have been used during the financial year: Balance sheet book, Normal ledger, General journal and Fixed assets book 18

International Peat Society ANNUAL REPORT 2013

-7 290,35 -7 290,35 -24 611,24 -150 106,67

** *** ****

Date and signatures

19

IPS Commissions and Working Groups In 2013, the International Peat Society had the following Commissions and Working Groups: Commission I - Stratigraphy, inventory and conservation of peatlands Professor Dr. Lars Lundin Department of Soil and Environment Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences P.O. Box 7014 S-750 07 Uppsala, Sweden Phone: +46 18 671070 Email: [email protected] Vice Chair : Ass. Professor Maria Strack Department of Geography University of Calgary, Canada Email: [email protected] Working Groups: Peatland Geology, Peatland Ecology, Peatland Hydrology

Commission II - Utilisation of peat and peatlands for horticulture, energy and other economic purposes Gerald Schmilewski Klasmann-Deilmann GmbH Moorgutsweg 2 D-26683 Saterland-Sedelsberg Germany Phone: +49 4492 82775 Email: gerald.schmilewski@ klasmann-deilmann.com Secretary: Pat Fitzgerald Bord na Móna Main Street Newbridge, Co. Kildare, Ireland Mobile: +353 86 256 5825 Email: [email protected] Working Groups: Energy Peat, Horticultural Peat (HOPE WG)

Commission III - Agricultural use of peatlands and peat Barbara Kalisz University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn Dept. of Soil Science and Soil Protection Pl. Lodzki 3 PL-10 727 Olsztyn, Poland Phone: +48 895 234 820 Email: [email protected] Secretary: Associate Professor Ryszard Oleszczuk Warsaw University of Life Sciences Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering Department of Environmental Improvement Ul. Nowoursynowska 159 02-776 Warsaw Email: [email protected] Commission IV - Chemical, physical and biological characteristics of peat

Excursion of the Finnish National Committee to Western Finland.

Prof. Jürgen Schoenherr Institut für Technologie-entwicklung, Torf- und Naturstoff-Forschung (iTN) Zittau University of Applied Sciences Theodor-Körner-Allee 16 D-02763 Zittau, Germany Phone: +49 3583 61 2304 Email: [email protected] Web: www.hszg.de/itn Vice Chair: Maris Klavins Riga University of Latvia Department of Environmental Sciences, Raina blvd 19 1586 Riga, Latvia Phone: +371 6733 2704, Email: [email protected]

20

International Peat Society ANNUAL REPORT 2013

Commission V - Restoration, rehabilitation and after-use of peatlands Dr. Catherine Farrell (maternity leave) Bord na Móna Energy Limited Boora, Leabeg Tullamore, Co. Offaly, Ireland Phone: +353 579 345958 Office: +358 506 45900 Mobile: +358 87 242 5471 Email: [email protected] Vice Chair: Roxane Andersen (Acting Chair) Environmental Research Institute, North Highland College University of the Highlands & Islands Castle Street Thurso, Scotland KW14 7JD United Kingdom [email protected] Working Groups: Forest Plantation on Cutover Peatlands, Cloudberry Production in Peatlands Commission VI - Peat balneology, medicine and therapeutics Leena Larva Aino Klinikat Toijalantie 286 37850 Metsäkansa, Finland Phone: +358 208 607 553 Mobile: +358 40 542 1818 Email: [email protected]

Commission VII - Ecology and management of forested peatlands Sakari Sarkkola Finnish Forest Research Institute PO Box 18, Jokiniemenkuja 1 01301 Vantaa, Finland Phone: +358 29 532 5409 Mobile: +358 40 801 5409 Email: [email protected] Vice Chair: Sylvain Jutras Département des sciences du bois et de la forêt Faculté de foresterie, de géographie et de géomatique 2405, rue de la Terrasse Pavillon Abitibi-Price, bureau 2150 Université Laval Québec, G1V 0A6, Canada Email: [email protected] Commission VIII - Cultural aspects of peat and peatlands Dr. Michiel Gerding Parkstraat 49401 LJ Assen, The Netherlands Phone: +33 592 315435 Email: [email protected]

Vice Chair: Marie Kofod-Hansen Mosebackegatan 15 S-761 31 Norrtälje, Sweden Phone: + 46 708 931 861 [email protected] Secretary: Ilze Ozola Latvian Peat Producers Association K. Ulmana Gatve 2 Riga, LV-1004, Latvia Phone: +371 25477354 Email: [email protected] Web: www.peat.lv Commission IX - Tropical peatlands Prof. Jack Rieley 1 Closes Side Lane East Bridgford Nottingham NG13 8NA, United Kingdom Phone: +44 1949 20920 Mobile: +44 7793 373236 Email: [email protected] Commission X - Peatlands and Climate Change Chair to be recruited

Field trip of the Baltic Peat Forum in Lithuania.

Vice Chair: M.Sc. Riitta Korhonen Tilanhoitajankaari 22 C 55 00790 Helsinki, Finland Mobile: +358 40 524 2486 Email: [email protected]

for update s see www.peats ociety. org/aboutus/ commissio nsworking-g androups

21

Reports of Commissions Commission I – Stratigraphy, inventory and conservation of peatlands Chair: Lars Lundin Scope The IPS Commission I embraces inventory, stratigraphy and conservation of peatlands. Included in this context are ecology, geology, hydrology, biology and terminology. Peat formation is also an issue, as are ecosystem services related to mires and peatlands. Each of these subjects could be the subject of a Working Group. A vision is to instigate new activities within the Working Groups, while keeping in mind collaboration with other Commissions. State The Commission I addresses all IPS members interested in Commission activities. Traditionally, there have Finnish peatland seminar in Helsinki.

been members from 13 countries: Belarus, Canada, Estonia, Finland, Greece, Hungary, the Netherlands, Norway, Ireland, Russia, Sweden, the United Kingdom and the USA. An invitation was sent out from the IPS Secretariat for all IPS members to sign up with Commissions. Replies for Commission I showed interest from 69 names from 18 countries. Further countries involved are now Denmark, France, Germany, Latvia and Poland. There has also been a move to begin Working Groups (WG) in Geology, Ecology and Hydrology. However, activities in the groups have been limited during 2013. At the quadrennial meeting in Stockholm in 2012, Chair and Vice Chair were elected and remain in their positions: Lars Lundin, Sweden, as Chair and Assistant Professor Maria Strack, Department of Geography, University of Calgary, Canada, as Vice-Chair (mstrack@ ucalgary.ca, www.geog.ucalgary.ca/ index.cfm?page=people&style=2&t his=332)

Activities and Plans The priorities of the Commission I remain the inventory, stratigraphy and conservation of mires and peatlands with special emphasis on the Working Groups. Two Scientific Advisory Board (SAB) meetings have been held with participation of Commission I: 1. Hotel HagenHorst, Wassenaar, The Netherlands on June 18-19, 2013 in conjunction with EB meetings and the ISHS-IPS International Symposium on Growing Media and Soilless Cultivation, “Water Efficient Horticulture Word Wide” and the IPS Annual meeting. The IPS Strategic Plan 2012-2016, IPS projects, IPCC Guidelines for National Greenhouse Gas Inventories: Wetlands, and the activities of the IPS and Commissions were studied and discussed. 2. E-mail meeting between October 14 and 22, 2013, following up the Wassenaar meeting with suggestions for strategic projects. Main issues at the electronic SAB meeting October 14-22, 2013 The meeting emphasised that the Commissions needs to become stronger, more proactive and responsive and integrate better in cross-Commission activities such as those on climate change and Global Peat Resources. The Chair of the Commission X on climate change was discussed and three suggestions put forward: Dr David Wilson, Dr Florence RenouWilson and Dr Maria Strack. Initiatives in the “Secretariat Followup Paper on Strategic Plan Projects” included, chiefly: 1. An updated inventory of global peat resources 2. Supplementation of SRPM with practical guidelines 3. Providing a databank of national

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International Peat Society ANNUAL REPORT 2013

peatland policies 4. Peatlands and indigenous people 5. Policy and action plan on climate change, include interface with IPCC and the REDD process

Commission III Agricultural use of peatlands and peat Chair: Barbara Kalisz

A workshop was held by the UNFAO: MICCA Programme (Mitigation of Climate Change in Agriculture) with the intended outcome of writing a guidebook on improved and responsible peatland management. IPS will contribute.

BioHydrology 2013

Plans Commission I is involved in the International Peat Technology Symposium being organised in Riga. Together with Commission V, it will carry out a special session and excursion on the theme of “Peatland Conservation and Restoration”. Furthermore, there will be one full day designated for Commission activities. Planning for the IPC15 Sarawak 2016 in Kuching, with input from the Scientific Advisory Board and the Commissions, will be on-going over the next three years. A review of the Wetlands Supplement to the 2006 IPCC Guidelines was carried out with additional input from Commission I. Commission I initiatives include those of the Geology Working Group, such as activities for renewing the work on geological methods and techniques with the involvement of Laimdota Kalnina. Another suggestion was to enhance work within the theme of “Mire Conservation and Wetlands for Landscape Functionality”. Here Elve Lode, Estonia, and Tatiana Minayeva, Russia, showed interest in future developments.

IPS Commission II – Utilization of peat and peatlands for horticulture, energy and other economic purposes Chair: Gerald Schmilewski not received yet

Members of Commission III took part in the international conference “Biohydrology: Bio meets Hydrology: Water for Life”, which was organized in Landau in der Pfalz, Germany on 21-24 May 2013. Interesting presentations about bio-hydrological processes occurring in wetlands were given.

and moorsh or mucks, as well as discussions over changes in physical and chemical properties after several dozen years of peatlands drainage. The workshop gathered 17 participants from Poland, Germany and Denmark, and was divided into two parts: theoretical (lectures) and practical (field works on peatland). The lectures were aimed at presenting knowledge on fen peatlands and their properties, using Solec peatland descriptions as an example. More specifically, the following presentations were provided:

IPS Convention and Annual Assembly 2013

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Commission III took part in the IPS Convention and Annual Assembly 2013, which was organized during the ISHS-IPS International Symposium on Growing Media and Soilless Cultivation, “Water Efficient Horticulture Word Wide”, in Leiden, the Netherlands, on 17-21 June 2013.

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4th CASEE Conference Food and Biomass Production-Basis for a Sustainable Rural Development Members of Commission III represented IPS at the 4th CASEE Conference Food and Biomass Production-Basis for a Sustainable Rural Development, which took place in Zagreb, Croatia on 1-3 July 2013. A poster entitled “The influence of different land use types (plant cover) on spatial moisture changes in 0-10 cm surface layer of drained peat-moorsh soil” was presented by Monika Gąsowska, Jan Zawitkowski and Ryszard Oleszczuk. International Workshop on Fen Peatlands after Drainage Commission III (and other contributors) was an organizer of an international workshop on “Fen Peatlands after Drainage”, which took place in Solec (near Warsaw in Poland) from 9-11 July 2013. The workshop was mainly aimed at young scientists and PhD students. The topics of the workshop focused on morphological classification of peats

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Peatlands in Poland, classification and distribution (Barbara Kalisz) Drainage of peatlands and criteria of water managements on drained peatlands (Ryszard Oleszczuk) Functioning of peatlands in the range of drainage systems in Biebrza river valley (Ryszard Oleszczuk) Laboratory evaporation experiments in undisturbed peat columns for determining peat soil hydraulic properties (Ullrich Dettmann) Labile organic carbon in drained peatlands (Barbara Kalisz) Phosphorus in drained peatlands (Paweł Sowiński) Spatial distribution of moisture content in selected profiles of drained peat-moorsh soils (case study) (Edyta Hewelke) Solec peatland - history of drainage, current state of peatlands (Monika Gąsowska) Field works including: measurements of saturated hydraulic conductivity, profiles of peat-moorsh soils, type of muck, depth and state of muck-forming process, measurements of soil moisture at differently used parts of peatlands (grassland and fallow), measurements of peat thickness, depth of drainageirrigation ditches of peat decomposition and subsidence of soil surface

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International Conference: Protection of Soil Functions – Challenges for the Future Commission III represented IPS at the international conference on “Protection of Soil Functions – Challenges for the Future” which took place on 15-18 October 2013, in Puławy, Poland. An oral presentation entitled “The criteria of water management (land use and protection) in peat-moorsh soils” was made by Ryszard Oleszczuk, and a poster, “Organic carbon in rewetted peatland”, was presented by Barbara Kalisz. Papers written by Commission III members: •

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Oleszczuk R., TrubaM. 2013. The analysis of some physical properties of drained peatmoorsh soil layers. Ann. Warsaw Univ. of Life Sci. - SGGW, Land Reclam. 45 (1): 41-48. Kalisz B., Oleszczuk R. Sowiński P. 2013. Fen peatlands after drainage - a workshop in Poland. Peatlands International 2. Oleszczuk R., Kalisz B., Sowiński P. 2013. Warsztaty międzynarodowe „Torfowiska niskie po odwodnieniu – Fen peatlands after drainage”. Wiadomości Melioracyjne i Łąkarskie 4: 195. Kalisz B., Lachacz A. 2013. Water absorptive ability of a drained peatland. 3rd Biohydrology Conference. Water for Life. 21-24.05.2013, Landau/Pfalz. Abstracts of oral and poster contributions, P1-08: 41. Oleszczuk R. 2013. The criteria of water management (land use and protection) in peat-moorsh soils. International Conference Protection of soil functions – challenges for the future, IUNG Puławy. Conference materials: 59-60. Kalisz B., Łachacz A. 2013. Organic carbon in rewetted peatland. International Conference Protection of soil functions – challenges for the future, IUNG Puławy. Conference materials: 162-163.

Commission IV Chemical, physical and biological characteristics of peat Chair: Jürgen Schoenherr not received yet

Commission V Restoration, rehabilitation and after-use of peatlands Chair: Catherine Farrell June 3-8, 2013 – Society of Wetland Scientists meeting Duluth, Minnesota Roxane Andersen attended the Peatland Restoration session of the SWS chaired by Rod Chimner (Michigan Tech University) and participated in the field trip supported by the IPS. The first stop took us to two cedar swamps that are currently undergoing restoration, where Rod Chimner discussed the ecology and management of cedar swamps. An excursion to a bog that was restored about five years ago using the “Canadian Approach” to re-establish sphagnum moss followed, led by Tom Malterer and Kurt Johnson. The participants were able to take a critical look at the importance of goal setting, timescales and adaptation of methods. The full day session comprised several talks discussing the methods involved in large scale restoration of various peatland types and generated a lot of interest. Other sessions at the SWS that related to peatlands covered the response of peatlands to disturbances and climate (GHG) as well as conservation issues, mostly in the United States. Overall it was a well-attended event and showed that there is a significant amount of interest in peatland restoration in the USA. This should now be taken forward and reflected on the Global Peatland Restoration map.

June 2013 – IPS joint SAB-EB annual meeting Leiden Roxane and Catherine both attended the annual EB-SAB meeting in Leiden, Netherland. At this meeting a number of IPD projects were discussed to re-vitalise the IPS in general as well as make the most of the expertise available through the various commissions. Within Commission V, it was agreed there should be work done to collate information relating to Peatland Restoration etc. and to arrange it on a dedicated webpage on the IPS website under Project 2: Global peatland rehabilitation/ restoration guidelines. A first outline draft proposal for the project was circulated in August 2013 which included most of the relevant text to be included on the website. It will now need to be formatted according to the IPS website framework for before further work is carried out and the webpage goes live. Relating to the project, Catherine and Roxane have continued to develop the Global Restoration and Rehabilitation map (on Google maps), which has a number of project sites with detail easily viewed relating to project name, type, information of management, size etc. A number of sites from Canada have recently been added with collaboration from the PERG (from Université Laval, Line Rochefort’s lab) but there are still gaps. Please send details of sites to either Catherine or Roxane for inclusion on the map. See www.tiny.cc/peatrestmap. It was agreed at the meeting between the EB and SAB that Roxane Andersen would take over as Acting Chair of the Commission V while Catherine Farrell is on maternity leave. Two other meetings were conducted by email between the SAB members in February and November 2013 where Commission V was represented. September 2013 – IUCN Symposium 2013 Roxane Andersen attended the 4th IUCN symposium Investing in

International Peat Society ANNUAL REPORT 2013

Peatlands: Partnership for a New Era held in York in September 2013. As part of the symposium, Roxane took part in the workshop International Peatland Projects – Demonstrating success, where the IUCN presented its project of a peatland portal and booklet called “Demonstrating success” presenting case studies of restored peatlands around the world. The FAO also presented their project, a similar map of restored/ managed peatlands. Roxane and Catherine both made contact with the coordinators of both projects (Rea Cris for IUCN and Armine Avagyan for FAO) and pointed out the IPS initiative. There have been some emails exchanged but no concrete action has been taken yet to work together. Both FAO and IUCN projects appear to be in a pre-development phase, while the IPS map is a more advanced. It is obvious that there are some risks of duplication, and given the resources allocated to both the IUCN and the FAO, the IPS will keep an active involvement in these projects. Upcoming events: 20th Anniversary of PERG symposium, Québec (Canada), February 19-21st 2014

explore opportunities to expand research with the international peatland community, especially related to restoration of blanket bog and climate impact on GHG. The conference is sponsored by the UK Peat Society. During the poster session, IPS registration forms will be displayed and the IPS promoted, and RA will present the global peatland restoration map during her talk (Putting the Flow Country on the Global Map). Special session on peatland restoration at SER Europe in Oulu, Finland (August 2014) CF and RA are helping to organise a special session on peatland restoration at the SER Europe conference in Oulu, Finland. Given the location of the conference, it will already have a strong focus on peatlands, and will be a good opportunity to exchange and hear about different initiative in Europe and beyond. The abstract submission will be from January 15th-March 30th, early-bird registration will be until April 30th and deadline for late registration will be May 30th. We will circulate the call for abstracts to

IPS members and details when they become available. RA will not be attending the conference because she will be doing field work in Western Siberia at the same time. Special joint session IPS commissions I and V in Riga during IPS conference in Latvia (August 2014) Lars Lundin (Comm. I), CF and RA are collaborating to organise a joint session (Comm. I and V), workshop and field visit at the International Peat Technology Symposium in Riga. The registration will open on February 1st and the information will be circulated to IPS members and contacts. It will be especially important to circulate the information widely since there are a number of events over the next year with special focus on peatlands, and so a lot to choose from. Other: There are many other conferences and events of relevance to Commission V scheduled for 2014, and wherever possible the IPS should support those events and encourage

Registration for the Baltic Peat Forum in Vilnius.

RA will be attending the PERG’s annual meeting (February 19-21st) in Québec, Canada. The meeting will look at 20 years of partnership with the industry, how it has contributed to the development of current restoration approaches, and what challenges lay ahead, especially with ongoing Oil Sands development. Commission V will hold a meeting there to provide an update on current projects and upcoming activities and also integrate the North American activities with the European activities (e.g. global restoration maps). Research in the Flow Country: Looking Forward. Thurso (Scotland), March 4-7th 2014. RA is organising and hosting a conference on research in the Flow Country (North of Scotland). A major focus of the conference will be to 25

members to attend. Information should be circulated through Peat News as early as possible.

Commission VI Peat balneology, medicine and therapeutics Chair: Leena Larva Commission VI participated in the international workshop, “Peat and Humic Substances and their Applications”, in Riga, Latvia, on 10 - 12 October 2013. The event was organized by the University of Latvia and there were about 60 participants from Latvia, Germany, Belarus and Finland. Over two days, 20 oral presentations and eight posters were given, and on Saturday there was a very nice excursion to Kemeri National Park; Kemeri mire is one of the largest raised bogs in Latvia at 6192 hectares. The Chair discussed collaboration with the Russian National Committee and Commission VI of the IPS with Dr Vera Krestapova in Helsinki. Vera Krestapova would like to organize

an international balneological symposium in the Russian Federation this year. In June, the Chair and Vice Chair, Leena Larva and Riitta Korhonen, participated in the SAB meeting in Leiden, the Netherlands.

Commission VII - Ecology and management of forested peatlands Chair: Sakari Sarkkola During 2013, Commission members received two information letters from the Chairperson by email. Planning and application of funding for the symposium the Nordic Peatland Forestry Expert Group intended to arrange in some Nordic country in 2014 was performed. The group was established in Norway in 2010, and it originally included members from Finland, Sweden and Norway. New members from Baltic countries, Russia and Ireland were included in 2013. Unfortunately, the planned meeting did not obtain funding, and it had to be postponed for at least one year.

The annual Assembly of European Geosciences Union (EGU) was held in Vienna, Austria on 7-12 April 2013, where several members of the Commission participated in the session on peatland hydrology. The five-year research programme “Forests and Water (H2O)” was initiated at the beginning of 2013 by the Finnish Forest Research Institute. This is a large-scale interdisciplinary project covering the key components of the terrestrial water cycle, from the physiological processes of forest trees to the water cycle at the catchment level of the Baltic Sea in Finland. One important focus of the project is the investigation of the effects of peatland forests and forest management (cuttings, regeneration, timber harvesting methods and ditch network maintenance) on water cycle and water quality, and the seeking of new methods and tools to mitigate the environmental impacts of forestry. Two new doctoral theses in peatland forestry were defended at the University of Helsinki, Finland: Ms Meeri Pearson investigated the impacts of soil preparation after clear-cutting Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) forest on thick-peated soil from silvicultural and climatic standpoints (https://helda.helsinki. fi/handle/10138/39063), and Mr Markku Saarinen studied the regeneration success of artificial and natural regeneration of Scots pine in old nutrient and poor drainage areas (www.metla.fi/dissertationes/df164. pdf). Commission VII members participated in the review process of the Review of the Second Order Draft (SOD) of the IPCC guidelines for National Greenhouse Gases on wetlands. The final improved version of the report has been accepted as of 2 November 2013.

Evening tour in Leiden with IPS members.

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Commission VIII - Cultural aspects of peat and peatlandsChair: Michiel Gerding not received yet

International Peat Society ANNUAL REPORT 2013

Commission IX Tropical peatlands Chair: Jack Rieley The interest in and importance of tropical peatland continues to increase with most of the activity in SE Asia although there is much new research starting in Africa and South America. A major focus is now centred on the 15th International Peat Congress that will be held in Kuching, Sarawak in August 2016, the first time in a tropical country. 15th International Peat Congress This will be held in Kuching, capital city of Sarawak State of the Federation of Malaysia from 15-19 August 2016. Kuching is situated on the banks of the Sarawak River and it has a tropical atmosphere with evidence of its British colonial past. Sarawak’s population of 2.35 million is made up of 28 ethnic groups, each with their own distinct language, traditions and lifestyle. The Congress host is the Malaysian Peat Society (MPS), a nongovernmental and non-profit organization that aims to foster national and international cooperation concerning peatlands, peat and related materials with a view to advancing knowledge and understanding in the scientific, technical, industrial and general economic fields especially relating to the wise use of peat and peatlands, and to affiliate the peat community in Malaysia to the International Peat Society. Sarawak is a very appropriate location for this Congress because it has 1.66 million hectares of peatland, 13% of its land area. In Malaysia, tropical peatlands play a vital role in the welfare of both people and wildlife, because of their large extent and the range of functions and values that they generate. Tropical peatlands are important reservoirs of carbon, water and diversity. They provide direct services such as water flow regulation (water storage, filtration and supply), protection from natural forces (erosion

prevention, flood mitigation), macroclimate stabilization, education and recreation and production of food and other resources for local communities. The themes of the Congress scientific programme will be based on the activities of the IPS ten Commissions although special sessions can also be included. The First Circular giving details of the Congress Programme, excursions and accommodation will be released soon. The Second International Indonesia Peatland Conversation (IIPC) This was held in Mandarin Hotel, Jakarta on 11-12 February 2014. The aim was to bring together internationally renowned scientists, policymakers, NGOs and peatland practitioners from relevant ministries to conduct a dialogue aiming to increase awareness, understanding and what is needed to achieve Indonesia’s targets for greenhouse gas emission reductions from peatland. Professor Jack Rieley was invited to attend this meeting because of his knowledge and experience of tropical peatland and to represent the International Peat Society. The current climate change and global environment issue has placed the tropical peatland of Indonesia in a strategic position for climate mitigation studies. Peatlands are ecologically unique and well known for their ecosystem benefits. Peatland functions and services are vulnerable to Land Use, Land Use Change, and Forestry (LULUCF), as well as the predicted consequences of climate change. Based on conservative estimates for the two categories of peatrelated emissions (drainage and fire), about 2,052 MtCO2e are emitted annually (2005). LULUCF and peat contributed 760 MtCO2e and 850 MtCO2e respectively. In the BAU scenario, LULUCF and peat would remain the largest sources of emissions, contributing more than 50% in 2020 and approximately 50% in 2030, which means that 2.5% of the world’s GHG emissions could be

emitted from LULUCF and peatland in Indonesia. In fact, most analyses of Indonesia’s emissions related to peat drainage and fires fall within the range of 0.75 to 1.5 GtCO2e, and vary considerably from year to year, depending on interactions among climate, fire, and peatland conversion. Several challenges remain in interpreting the emission reduction policy owing to the varying estimates of GHG emissions from peat drainage and fires. While a great deal of research on peat emissions and measurement is ongoing in Indonesia, the scientific understanding of peat-related emissions is still developing. Therefore, it is imperative that a comprehensive and robust framework is devised to resolve critical issues pertaining to peatland management and associated greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The overall goals of the meeting were to: 1. Bridge current scientific understanding with policy development in order to achieve national targets for GHG emission reductions on peatland; 2. Update information of ongoing research on peatland including mapping, monitoring, GHG emissions measurement and water table management 3. Identify the policy development process, especially how to link peatland with REDD+, GHG inventory and moratorium forest mapping. Sustainable Wetlands Adaptation & Mitigation Programme (SWAMP) The Sustainable Wetlands Adaptation and Mitigation Programme (SWAMP) is a collaborative effort by the Centre for International Forestry Research (CIFOR), the USDA Forest Service (USFS) and Oregon State University with support from the US Agency for International Development (USAID). SWAMP evolved from a multi-stakeholder exercise called the Tropical Wetlands Initiative for Climate Adaptation and Mitigation (TWINCAM), when the group was called to respond to 27

a variety of challenges requested by stakeholders, ranging from local to global imperatives of sustainable wetlands management. Carbon-rich mangroves and peatlands are high priorities in climate change adaptation and mitigation strategies throughout the world. Tropical wetlands provides a wide range of ecosystem services, such as supporting services (nutrient cycling, soil formation, primary production), provisioning services (food, fibre and fuel), regulating services (pollution, flood and erosion control, carbon/climate), and cultural services (education and recreational). High rates of tree and plant growth coupled with low-oxygenated, water-logged soils in mangrove forests and peatlands may offset the emission of greenhouse gases (GHGs) through long-term storage of carbon (C). Preliminary studies have demonstrated that carbon stocks in these ecosystems are among the highest of any forest type. However, most countries do not have sufficient information to include wetlands in their national reporting to the United Nations nor to develop plans for avoiding GHG emissions from wetland conservation. To better understand the C-dynamics in these ecosystems, USFS and CIFOR have further developed a collaborative agenda by involving their partners. By employing robust scientific approaches and methodologies, SWAMP is expected to generate knowledge that is relevant to policymakers and practitioners regarding the sustainable management of wetlands in the face of changing global climate and livelihoods of local communities. The overall goal of the programme is to provide policymakers with credible scientific information needed in order to make sound decisions relating to the role of tropical wetlands in climate change adaptation and mitigation strategies.

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Australia Terminates Landmark REDD+ Project in Borneo Australia has ended its major forest restoration project in Indonesian Borneo. Launched during the peak of excitement about the potential of forest conservation to help mitigate greenhouse gas emissions in 2007, this $47AUS million initiative aimed to restore 200,000 hectares of peatland that had been drained for the ill-conceived mega-rice project in the mid-1990s. The project, known as the Kalimantan Forests and Climate Partnership (KFCP), would have reflooded that area by blocking off drainage canals, planted some 100 million trees, and protected 70,000 hectares of carbon-dense peat forest. It expected to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 700 million metric tons over 30 years. But the project faced challenges from the start owing to approval delays and objections from local communities and officials. KFCP was eventually scaled back to just 10 percent of its original target in terms of the area to be reflooded. A sister $30 million project in Sumatra was cancelled completely. While KFCP may continue on in some form AusAid, Australia’s foreign development assistance agency made it clear on its website that the main thrust of the project has ended. The project’s termination before achieving its objectives will be viewed as a setback for the Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation (REDD+) programme in Indonesia. To date only a single REDD+ project has been officially approved in Indonesia despite hundreds of millions of dollars in investment over the past six years. Projects have been challenged by Indonesia’s complex bureaucracy and opposition by a range of parties and interests, among other issues. Deforestation, forest degradation, and peatlands draining are the sources of more than three-quarters of Indonesia’s greenhouse gas emissions. The sectors that drive these emissions account for less than 5 percent of GDP, seemingly offering

a ripe opportunity for helping to slow climate change at relatively low cost while potentially yielding other benefits, including rural livelihood development, biodiversity conservation, and protection of other ecosystem services Asia Pulp and Paper (APP) Announces New Forest (and Peatland) Conservation Policy In early February 2013, Asia Pulp & Paper (APP) announced a new Forest Conservation Policy (FCP). This included an immediate moratorium on all further forest clearance by all of its Indonesian suppliers and a commitment to no further plantation development in forest areas. Within APP’s supply chain, natural forests are being identified via High Carbon Stock (HCS) assessments being undertaken by The Forest Trust (TFT). The FCP also committed all APP suppliers to ensuring that ‘no further canal or other infrastructure activities will take place within undeveloped suppliers’ concessions on nonforested peatland until independent HCVF assessments including input from peat experts has been completed’. In response, Greenpeace suspended its active campaign work to allow APP the time and space to deliver upon these new ‘No Deforestation’ commitments. APP has hired an independent third party to audit the implementation of its FCP. Companies intending to resume any trade with APP must apply strict conditions to commercial contracts requiring continued progress be made against the FCP. APP is still at an early stage of implementing its FCP commitments. Many of the conservation assessments that are the foundation for the FCP commitments are still in progress – a reflection of the reality of organising such a process for a company of APP’s scale. The longer-term success of the FCP will stand or fall by how APP’s implementation of conservation and management practices contributes to the protection and rehabilitation of the broader forest and peatland landscapes in Indonesia within which its suppliers operate. This model of

International Peat Society ANNUAL REPORT 2013

conservation in Indonesia will need to be reflected across APP’s global supply chain. This apparent new direction embarked upon by APP has considerable consequence for peatland management in Indonesia where this company and its subsidiaries control more than one million hectares. It will be essential to monitor what they propose and how they do it. New Peatland Ecosystems Documented in Myanmar A joint Myanmar-international team of peatland specialists have announced the discovery of rare peatland ecosystems near Inle Lake in North-east Myanmar. Surveys were undertaken between 1527 February 2014 and involved detailed examination of the area in and around Inle Lake in Shan State with sampling and peat depth assessments carried out in more than 70 locations. A total of 9021 hectares of peatland was identified comprising three separate types: 1. Lake-margin peatlands up to three metres thick along the shores of Inle Lake 2. Floating peatlands between 50cm to 1.5m thick on the surface of the lake. These are subdivided into two - natural floating peatlands and modified floating peatlands used as floating gardens for the cultivation of tomatoes and other vegetables. 3. Calcareous spring mound peatland found in Taung Bo Gyi Village in the northwest corner of the Inle Lake wetland. This peatland has developed over thousands of years around an active spring fed by calcium rich groundwater. It has formed a mound of peat about 6.5 m thick and covers about three hectares. Mound spring peatlands are very rare and this is one of the first to be described in Asia. The peatlands of Inle Lake play a key role in stabilizing water levels and improving water quality in the lake. The floating peatlands are also integral to the culture and economy of the local Intha Community who

have cultivated the peat in floating gardens for hundreds of years. Although the floating vegetation around Inle Lake has been known for years it was not recognized that these were part of a much larger peatland system along the margins of the lake. The 9,021 hectares (ha) of peatlands represents the largest single area identified during 18 months of surveys in different parts of Myanmar. In addition, 1,599 ha of peatlands were found in the nearby Heho Basin where peatlands are all cultivated and covered with soil eroded from nearby hills.

these Amazonian wetlands would benefit both the climate and thousands of people like Ríos whose livelihoods depend on the fruit.

The peatlands at Inle are home to a range of rare and threatened species including the Eastern Sarus Crane, Ferruginous Duck and a number of endemic fish species. During the survey freshwater crabs were observed breeding in burrows on the calcareous mound spring at Taung Bo Gyi.

Tropical peatlands occupy over 44 million hectares of the earth’s land surface in Africa, Asia, Central and South America, the Caribbean and Pacific. They are of many different types from sea level to several thousands of metres above in mountains. More information is coming to light constantly of the extent and nature of tropical peatlands and all are of interest to Commission IX of the International Peat Society.

The Mysteries of Peru’s Peatlands Peru has the second-largest expanse of peatland in the tropics, after Indonesia storing large amounts of carbon. Much of Peru’s Amazonian wetlands are dominated by the Mauritia flexuosa palm, which grows in swamps known as aguajales. These are important not just because of the aguaje fruit, but also because some contain peat that has accumulated over thousands of years. The swamps also help purify water and provide breeding habitat for fish, while many mammals feed on the palm fruit. However, Peru’s aguajales face threats from development, agriculture and even the people who harvest the fruit. In various parts of the Peruvian Amazon, palm swamps have been cleared, drained and turned into rice paddies or oil palm plantations.

Peru’s peatlands are a bit of a mystery. They are estimated to cover 50,000 square kilometers but the real figure could be more. No one knows for certain, because there is no reliable inventory. To complicate matters, not all palm swamps contain peat, and scientists are not sure which ones do, or why. Editor’s Comment

There is a pressing need for scientists and other stakeholders in all of these regions to join the IPS Commission IX network so that information and experiences can be shared. There is already a small network of specialists in existence but more contacts are needed especially in Africa and the Americas. If you have knowledge that would be useful or time to build up local contacts please contact Jack Rieley, Chair of Commission IX: Tropical Peatlands at jack.rieley@nottingham. ac.uk

As long as the partly decomposed peat layer is underwater, the carbon in it remains trapped. If the swamp dries or drains and the peat is exposed to the air its decomposition is hastened, releasing large amounts of carbon dioxide, which contributes to climate change. Better conservation and management of 29

IPS National Committees In 2013, the International Peat Society had National Committees in the following countries. The contact information of the Chairs and Secretaries can also be found at www.peatsociety.org/about-us/national-committees. Canada

Germany

Dr. Jean-Yves Daigle Canadian Society for Peat and Peatlands 196 15 ième Rue Shippagan, NB E8S 1E8, Canada Phone: +1 506 336 6600 Email: [email protected]

Dr. Gerfried Caspers Deutsche Gesellschaft für Moor- und Torfkunde e.V. Stilleweg 2 D-30655 Hannover, Germany Phone: +49 1523/189 82 84 Email: [email protected] Web: www.dgmtev.org

Paul Short Canadian Sphagnum Peat Moss Association 13 Mission Avenue Suite 2208 St. Albert, AB T8N 1H6, Canada Phone: +1 780 460 8280 Email: [email protected] Web: www.peatmoss.com Estonia

Hungary Prof. Dr. István Szabó University of Pannonia Festetics Gy. Út. 7 H-8360 Keszthely, Hungary Phone: +368 354 5242 Email: [email protected]

Erki Niitlaan Estonian Peat Association Männiku tee 104 EE-11216 Tallinn, Estonia Phone: +372 668 1016 Mobile: +372 552 7327 Email: [email protected] Web: www.turbaliit.ee

Dr. Julianna Balázs Jegenye u. 35 H-8360 Keszthely, Hungary Email: [email protected]

Finland Dr. Leila Korpela Finnish Forest Research Institute Vantaa Research Center P.O. Box 18 01301 Vantaa, Finland Phone: +358 10 211 2629 Email: [email protected] Web: www.suoseura.fi Jenni Simkin National Land Survey of Finland Tietopalvelukeskus Opastinsilta 12 C, Pasilan virastokeskus 00520 Helsinki, Finland Phone: +358 50 357 5337 Email: jenni.simkin (at) gmail.com www.maanmittauslaitos.fi

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Jörn Kasch Deutsche Gesellschaft für Moor- und Torfkunde e.V. Stilleweg 2 D-30655 Hannover, Germany Email: [email protected]

Indonesia Prof. Supiandi Sabiham Indonesian Peat Association Bogor Agricultural University Wing 12 Level 5 Jl. Meranti, Kampus Dramaga Bogor 16680, Indonesia Phone: +62 251 8629360 Email: [email protected] Prof. Fahmuddin Agus Indonesian Soil Research Institute Indonesian Center for Agricultural Land Resources Research and Development Jl. Tentara Pelajar No. 12 Bogor 16114, Indonesia Phone: +62 251 8336757 Email: [email protected]

Prof. Budi Intra Setiawan Indonesian Peat Association Bogor Agricultural University Jl. Meranti, Kampus Dramaga Bogor 16680, Indonesia Phone: +62 251 8629 360 Email: [email protected] Ireland Dr. Catherine O’Connell Irish Peat Society Irish Peatland Conservation Council Bog of Allen Nature Centre Lullymore, Rathangan Co. Kildare, Ireland Email: [email protected] Pat Fitzgerald Bord na Móna p.l.c. Main Street Newbridge, Co. Kildare, Ireland Email: [email protected] Web: www.bnm.ie Japan Mitsuri Osaki Japan Peatland Society Research Faculty of Agriculture, Hokkaido University Kita-9, Nishi-9, Kita-ku Sapporo 060-8589, Japan Phone: 011 706 2554 Email: [email protected] Latvia Andis Gredzens Seda JSC Skolas laukums 1 LV-4728 Seda, Valkas district, Latvia Phone: +37 129 233 365 Email: [email protected] Ilze Ozola Latvian Peat Producers Association K. Ulmana Gatve 2 Riga, LV-1004, Latvia Phone: +371 25477354 Email: [email protected] Web: www.peat.lv

International Peat Society ANNUAL REPORT 2013

Lithuania

Norway

Ukraine

Giedrius Kavaliauskas Kauno g. 17 LT-53387 Ezerelis, Kauno rajonas Lithuania Phone: +370 375 34260 Email: giedrius.kavaliauskas@ klasmann-deilmann.com

Magnus Valen-Sendstad Norske Torv- og Jordprodusenters Bransjeforbund Herremyr Gård N-2150 Årnes, Norway Phone: +4763909505 Mobile: +4792235606 Email: [email protected]

Igor Horobec National University of Water Management and Nature Resources use Soborna st. , 11 Rivne 33028, Ukraine Email: [email protected]

Juozas Daukantas Lithuanian Peat Producers Association M. Marcinkeviciaus Str. 5 - 40 LT-08412 Vilnius, Lithuania Email: [email protected] Web: www.asocdurpes.lt Malaysia Frederick Haili Teck Department of Agrilculture Sarawak Jalan Badruddin, 93000 93050 Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia Phone: 016-8896156 Email: [email protected] Dr. Lulie Melling Tropical Peat Research Laboratory, Chief Minister’s Department, Jalan Badruddin 93400 Kuching, Malaysia Email: [email protected] The Netherlands Drs. A.H.P. van Berckel Nederlands Veengenootschap Intervema BV Burg. J.G. Legroweg 80 9761 TD Eelde, the Netherlands Phone: +31 50 3095950 Email: [email protected] Dr. A.J. Schilstra Nederlands Veengenootschap Hoofdstraat 152 9355 TE Midwolde The Netherlands Phone: +31 594 513701 Email: [email protected] www.veengenootschap.nl

Trond Haraldsen Bioforsk jord og miljö Fredrik A. Dahls vei 20 N-1432 Ås, Norway Email: [email protected] Poland Prof.Dr. Lech Wojciech Szajdak Doctor Honoris Causa Polish Academy of Sciences Institute for Agricultural and Forest Environment ul. Bukowska 19 PL-60-809 Poznan, Poland Phone: +48 61 847 5601 Email: [email protected], [email protected] Dr. Katarzyna Styla Polish Academy of Sciences Institute for Agricultural and Forest Environment ul. Bukowska 19 PL-60-809 Poznan, Poland Email: [email protected] Sweden Mr. Torbjörn Claessson Neova AB Arenavägen 33 121 77 Johanneshov, Sweden Email: [email protected] Phone: +46703734802 Claes Rülcker Torvforsk Torsgatan 12 S-111 23 Stockholm, Sweden Phone: +46 8441 7073 Email: [email protected] Web: www.torvforsk.se

Hnieushev Volodmyr National University of Water Management and Nature Resource Use Soborna st., 11 Rivne 33028, Ukraine Email: [email protected] United Kingdom Neil Godsman Northern Peat and Moss Co. Cairnfield, Longside, Peterhead Aberdeenshire AB42 4XR, United Kingdom Email: [email protected] Prof. Jack Rieley 1 Closes Side Lane East Bridgford Nottingham NG13 8NA, United Kingdom Phone: +44 1949 20920 Mobile: +44 7793 373236 Email: [email protected] USA Donald N. Grubich 10105 White City Road Britt, MN 55710, USA Phone: +1 218 741 2813 Email: [email protected] Dr. Thomas J. Malterer 2201 Vermilion Road Duluth MN 55803, USA Email: [email protected]

for update s see www.peats ociety. org/aboutus/nation alcommittee s! 31

Reports of National Committees Estonia In 2013, the Estonian Peat Association had 32 members from peat production, processing and consulting companies from Estonia and abroad. There were no changes in the membership. The main activities included legal cooperation, especially with the Ministry of the Environment. The most important legal questions were related to permits’ renewal and natural resources taxation policies. In these questions, EPA was in close cooperation with the Estonian Association of Mining Enterprises, the Association of Estonian Construction Material Producers and the Federation of Estonian Chemical Industries. In 2012, the abovementioned associations commissioned a study from Ernst & Young, analysing the tax burden on Estonian mining industry companies. In 2013, the results of the study were presented

at various seminars, at the Ministry of the Environment and also at the EPA General Meeting. In addition, on 13 December 2013, the Estonian Supreme Court supported the Chancellor of Justice’s appeal regarding a rapid growth in taxation of natural resources. The Supreme Court declared that changes made by the Estonian Government on 12 November 2009 to regulations numbers 171 and 172 were unconstitutional. In 2013, meetings were held with the Estonian Competition Authority and the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications. The main topic of the meetings was changing the District Heating Act in order to favour the use of local fuels (including peat) in local boiler houses. Two representatives of the Association, Matti Puuronen and Erki Niitlaan, were designated to the Ministry of Economic Affairs and the Communications Energy Council. EPA representatives also continued to participate in two work

commissions – the Commission of Estonian Mineral Resources and the Peat Roundtable. EPA in cooperation with the Peat Roundtable and the Estonian Convention Bureau prepared bid documents for organizing the International Peat Congress 2020 in Estonia. The organiser of the Congress will be elected in Riga in August 2014. EPA members participated in and presented data at various international conferences, and cooperated closely with the International Peat Society (IPS), the European Peat and Growing Media Association (EPAGMA), and the Latvian and Lithuanian Peat Producers’ Associations. Important events also included the Baltic Peat Producers’ Forum in Vilnius, seminars in Brussels and meetings relating to a responsiblyproduced peat certification system in Amsterdam, Riga and elsewhere. In addition, members participated in the Estonian Mining Congress in Narva. As usual, EPA advised its members, drew up statistical overviews, and published a wall calendar as well as the fifth edition of the Peat newspaper. EPA also took part in establishing the Tootsi Peat Museum and continued to cooperate with scientists and other organisations (such as the Estonian Mining Society and the Estonian Nature Fund). One more important event was our field trip to Spain on 23 - 29 September. During the trip, participants visited seven horticultural companies who use horticultural peat produced in Estonia.

Architecture and peat discussions during the Annual Meetings in Leiden.

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International Peat Society ANNUAL REPORT 2013

Finland The Finnish Peatland Society’s activities were numerous in 2013. Current research topics and the latest research results concerning peatlands were presented in three seminars arranged by Suoseura. Typically, the meetings and seminars were open to anyone interested, without any attendance fees. A twoday autumn excursion headed to the mires of western Finland in the middle of September. The main goals of the excursion were to get to know the mires of the land uplift coast and those on acid sulphate soils. A special seminar in conjunction with the Finnish Association of Members of Parliament and Scientists (TUTKAS) was arranged in November at the Parliament House. The theme of the seminar was Peatlands of Finland – Resources or Nature Values? The Society published the 64th volume of the scientific journal Suo Mires and Peat. Meetings and seminars 1) In connection with the annual spring meeting on 13 March 2013, a half-day seminar on the latest developments relating to ongoing legislative issues concerning mires and peatlands was held at the House of Science and Letters in Helsinki. The latest legislative amendments concerning mire protection were presented by the Ministerial Counsellor Satu Sundberg (Ministry of the Environment), and the new Forest Law was presented by Johnny Sved, M.Sc. (Forestry Development Centre, TAPIO). In addition, the latest research results relating to “Sphagnum moss as a growing media and its growing techniques” were presented by Professor Emeritus Risto Tahvonen (MTT Agrifood Research, Finland) and Dr Niko Silvan (Metla, Finnish Forest Research Institute). Among these issues, the new Bioenergy Association of Finland, which started its work in Helsinki at the beginning 2013, was introduced by its managers Jouko Rämö and Hannu Salo. The seminar attracted a total of 48 participants.

2) On 15 October, a half-day seminar was arranged on “Restored Wetlands: On the Point of View of After-Use”. The seminar was held at the House of Estates in Helsinki, gathering 43 participants. Five different after-use methods and related issues were presented: “A general overview of after-use methods” was given by Project Manager Olli Reinikainen (Vapo Oy); “Results of newest research and ecosystem services of water chemistry in connection with restoration” were presented by Dr Tapani Sallantaus (Finnish Environment Institute); “The new restoration guide for drained peatlands” was presented by Special Planner Maarit Similä (Metsähallitus, Department of the Natural Heritage Services); a presentation about tree biomass production on cut-away peatlands was given by Lasse Aro, M.Sc. For. (Finnish Forest Research Institute, Metla); while Special Planner Mikko Alhainen (The Finnish Wildlife Agency) spoke about “The life and return of rural wetlands project”. At the end of the day, newly graduated Dr Meeri Pearson (Metla/University of Helsinki) presented work from her doctoral thesis, “Effects of Soil Preparation on Scots Pine Seedling Vitality and GHG Emissions” (www.metla.fi/ dissertationes/df159.htm).

by the theory. At the end of the seminar, Dr Markku Saarinen gave a presentation on his newly-published doctoral thesis as a “research checkup” on the subject of “Vegetation succession and the layers of raw humus in drained peatland forest regeneration areas” (www.metla.fi/ dissertationes/df164.htm).

3) In connection with the Society’s annual autumn meeting, on 19 November 2013, at the House of Estates in Helsinki, an afternoon seminar was held to honour the 100th birthday of Cajander’s famous mire classification system (Über die Moore Finnlands 1913). The seminar gathered together 55 participants. The seminar started with a presentation by Dr Tapio Lindholm (Finnish Environment Institute) on “A.K. Cajander the person and how he came to create the system which has tenaciously kept its power up to present”. After this historical introduction, Dr Kimmo Virtanen (Geological Survey of Finland) discussed how the Cajander theory is applied in geological surveys in Finland, whileas Professor Harri Vasander (University of Helsinki) gave a presentation about how drained peatland forests are also classified

Excursions

4) On 13 November, a seminar called “Peatlands of Finland – Resources or Nature Values?” was held at Finland’s Parliament House in Helsinki. Suoseura had the special opportunity to arrange a seminar together with the Finnish Association of Members of Parliament and Scientists (TUTKAS). The aim of the seminar was to introduce up-todate information concerning the resources of peatlands and peat, peatland forestry, peat energy use, environmental effects, ongoing research and the National Peatland Strategy to the members of the Finnish Parliament as well as to the general public. Nearly 80 participants attended the seminar. A short report on this seminar is published in Suo – Mires and Peat 64 (4). At all seminars there was a vivid discussion about the topics concerned. (See all the seminars and presentations on www.suoseura.fi/ toiminta).

The traditional autumn excursion was arranged to the mires of western Finland in the middle of September. The main goals of the excursion were to get to know the mires of the land uplift coast and those on acid sulphate soils. 19 members of the Suoseura took part in this two-day excursion. The interesting and diverse programme and guidebook for the excursion was put together by Samu Valpola (Geological Survey of Finland, Kokkola). The excursion started from the “baby” mires on the coastline and ended with an excursion to the world’s biggest energy plant, Alholmens Kraft, which uses biofuel to generate heat and power. In between, we became familiar with the work of the Finnish Forest Research Institute/Metla in Kannus municipality and peatland research 33

sites fertilized by ash, saw Finland’s largest nature conservation site owned by private citizens, learned how to conduct drainage and careful forest management practices on acid soils, and also visited one energy peat production site. The evening programmes included a traditional sauna and a good dinner with joyful company. A report of this excursion by Samu Valpola and Jenni Simkin will be published in Suo – Mires and Peat 65(1) in 2014. Publications In 2013, the Finnish Peatland Society published four numbers (1, 2-3 and 4) of the 64th volume of the quarterly journal SUO - Mires and Peat; this issue was 184 pages in total and the number of reprints was 450 (see also www.suoseura.fi/Suo). Activities in the IPS Dr Samu Valpola, as a member of the IPS Executive Board, participated in the EB meetings in Leiden, the Netherlands and Tallinn, Estonia. Dr Sakari Sarkkola and Dr Leena Larva participated in the Scientific Advisory Board (SAB) meetings and

Riitta Korhonen, Chair of Suoseura, participated in the SAB meeting as well as in the Annual Meeting of IPS and the National Committee Round Table in Leiden. The Annual IPS Award of Excellence 2013 was given to Professor Harri Vasander, also in Leiden.

Germany In 2013, the German Peat Society (DGMT - Deutsche Gesellschaft für Moor- und Torfkunde e. V.) organized many activities and some of them became regular events, such as the “DGMT Seminar and Excursion on Peatlands and Peat”, a training course in which laypersons and students are introduced to peat and peatland science. Some other selected events include a workshop with excursions on “Current Peatland Conservation: Implementation in the Niederlausitzer Heidelandschaft & Faunistic Aspects”, organized by DGMT-Section I (geosciences) and Section V (nature conservation) in cooperation with the forest authority of Brandenburg and the

Niederlausitzer Heidelandschaft Nature Reserve; a workshop on “Perspectives for a Sustainable Use of Peatlands in Lower Saxony” and a symposium on “Climate Relevance of Peatlands and Peaty Soils”, held in Freising/Bavaria. In connection to this, the Annual Assembly of the German Peat Society summarized the latest research about greenhouse gas emissions from peatlands, rewetting, research on humic substances and environmental education. An annual assembly report can be read in TELMA 43, 2013. Seventy members participated and listened to 18 oral and seven poster presentations. PDF files of the presentations can be found at www.dgmtev.de/veranstalt_ jt_2013.html. A new flyer on the issue of “Why are peatlands meaningful archives?” has been published and can be downloaded at www.dgmtev.de/ publikationen_flyer.html. Prof Dr Renate Klöcking and Herr Prof Dr Dr Hans-Peter Klöcking have received awards for their efforts within humic substance research. For his long-standing and enduring merits, Prof Dr Volker Schweikle has been granted the DGMT honorary membership. The German Peat Society consists of 325 individual and 64 corporate members. Activities of the German Peat Society can be found at www. dgmtev.de.

Ireland

Field trip of the Irish Peat Society near Killarney. Photo provided by Irish NC.

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The main event of the Irish Peat Society in 2013 was the organisation of the Annual Meeting, Study Tour and Seminar to Killarney in Co. Kerry. The two day event took place in October and was based in the beautiful Lake Hotel in Killarney town. It was the red deer rutting season which added much to this wonderful location. Over 50 members took part in the meeting over the two days. On the first day the group visited a

International Peat Society ANNUAL REPORT 2013

variety of peatland sites in Kerry which showcased work being done on blanket bog education and management. Site visits were undertaken on Sheheree Bog SAC, Glencar Bog SAC and carbon study site, Killarney National Park Education Centre, Dromalonhurt Restoration site, Kerry Bog Village Museum and the Natterjack Toad farm management project. On the second day following the AGM, members heard talks about the Raised Bog Conservation Assessment, the National Peatland Conservation Strategy, the Freshwater Pearl Mussel, The Upland Blanket Bog Survey, The Stacks Mountains and the Management of Blanket Bog Uplands using Dexter Cattle. The Irish Peat Society continued to update our Facebook site during the year with relevant news.

Latvia The year 2013 has been very dynamic for the Association: the summer blessed us not only with beautiful weather but also with an abundant harvest of peat; we have had great and sunny annual sports events, and we have admitted new members, including one Honorary Member Juris Nusbaums - over the course of the year. We have built a plank-way and a tower in Cenas Mire, and also put up boards with peat sector-related information. The video clip we distributed to the media attracted a large number of first-time visitors to the mire and perhaps showed the peat sector from a different perspective. It is also worth noting that Ansis Šnore has finished his hard toil on the long-awaited book on peat production (Kūdras ieguve) this year. Following some discussion, we have decided to change the logo of the Association, along with updating the Association’s website. Besides this, we also started organisational work for the International Symposium of Peat Technologies this year.

We have started to follow the European trend of considering peat as a raw material for substrates and, accordingly, have been working on the Responsible Peat Production (RPP) certification. Likewise, we have started to work on reclaiming for peat its rightful place in the energy sector – as fuel in heat generation. This will create 450-500 jobs. A total of 700,000 tonnes of peat per year could be harvested for energy generation just from those areas where peat production has already been licensed. This new economic activity in Latvia would benefit the economy and reduce the outflow of money to Russia for purchasing gas. According to the estimate of the Latvian Peat Producers’ Association, peat production in 2013 has reached a symbolic milestone of one million tonnes (the official data on mining are only made public in May), which is about 0.3 million tonnes more than in 2012 (0.7 million tonnes) and can be explained by the relatively dry spring and summer. At the same time, peat exports have decreased in 2013 compared to 2012 by 64,000 tonnes, amounting to a total of 1,096,292 tonnes, worth 73.5 million Lats. Equally importantly, the sector reached another symbolic milestone last year: peat was exported to 101 countries worldwide, seven countries more than in 2012. For comparison: in 2003 we exported peat to 53 countries. In 2013 we ceased exporting peat to Sudan, Venezuela and Zimbabwe, while starting export to 10 countries: Iceland, Kyrgyzstan, North Korea, Montenegro, Mauritius, Mozambique, Nicaragua, French Polynesia, Seychelles and Yemen. The main export countries have been the same for several years: Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Belgium and France. Peat export to Germany, Japan, Syria, Sweden, Lithuania, South Africa, et al. has dropped, while significantly increasing to China, the UK, Austria, Denmark, Turkey, Peru, Oman, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Brazil, et al. Finally we warmly invite you to join us in Riga – the European Capital

of
Culture – for the International Peat Technology Symposium 2014 and 14th Baltic Peat Producers Forum in August 2014 (www.peat2014.lv)!

The Netherlands This year was marked by a number of important events and issues. Our spring activity is usually combined with the formal annual meeting and traditionally, also with the quadrennial IPS conference, as in Stockholm in 2012. This year the Symposium Grosci 2013 in Leiden, organised in July by the ESHA and the IPS, was the event selected. The Nederlands Veengenootschap contributed to this Symposium, amongst others, organizing a dinner and a city walk through the ancient town of Leiden (first mentioned in AD 860; its university dates from AD 1575) for both attendees of the symposium and our members. Reactions afterwards were very positive. The Nederlands Veengenootschap has proposed to host the IPS Symposium in 2020 in the Netherlands, in the ancient town of Groningen. The Dutch Board is of course of the opinion that Groningen and the Netherlands are ideally suited to host this symposium. Our bid book (on the theme of “Peat and Peatlands: Its Ancient Past and Future Perspectives”) was presented to the Executive Board in August; one year later, in Riga at the International Peat Technology Symposium, the National Commissions will vote on which of the two competing cities (Tallinn is the other bidder) will be honoured with organizing the 2020 symposium. In November, the University of Groningen, the Friesland Water Board and the Nederlands Veengenootschap organized a “studyday”, in the old water steam pumping station (1920, www.woudagemaal. nl) in Lemmer, Friesland, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Large areas of the province of Friesland are peatlands, mostly used as meadows. The conflicting ideas of what the 35

Jack Rieley, Sakari Sarkkola and Björn Hånell busy with IPS tasks in Leiden.

water table should be, the competing short- and long-term interests, and the issue of who benefits from the profits and who bears the costs were among those illustrated by four specialists. The subsequent discussions indicated the great social and economic significance of how to manage this beautiful landscape, in Friesland and other parts of our country. About 50 people attended the lectures, many of them professionals. This year, more people than usual left our Genootschap, while others showed genuine interest in becoming members (or actually did so), the former fortunately being outnumbered by the latter.

United Kingdom UK Membership of IPS is the highest it has been for many years thanks to the continued faithful support of most members. More than 90% of those who were members in 2012 paid their subscription for this year. We gained six new members and lost only three, mostly students whose courses finished and they moved on. 36

We welcome Westland Horticulture Ltd as our newest corporate member. They have taken advantage of the multiple benefits of corporate membership by naming six of their staff to receive Peat News and Peatlands International. Thanks to the prompt payment of subscriptions and the increase in membership the UK Peat Society was able to contribute £500 towards the costs of the ”War and Peat” conference that was organised by the Landscape History Research Institute of Hallam University, Sheffield (Dr Ian Rotherham) on 4-6 September 2013. This meeting was attended by some 70 participants who listened attentively to 14 presentations and contributed to poster sessions and discussions. The meeting began with an afternoon visit to Burbage and Houndkirk Moors in the Dark Peak of Derbyshire close to Sheffield that were used for military training in both World Wars. In WWI large numbers of soldiers were located there prior to being sent to the Front. During WWII decoy buildings and armaments were constructed on these moors to

draw German bombers away from Sheffield. The oral presentations provided much detailed information on the role of peatlands and moorlands in military campaigns from the middle ages up to WWII including the billeting of tens of thousands of soldiers on Cannock Chase in WWI to practice trench warfare. The Battle of Northampton (Wars of the Roses) and the River Nene and the role of wetland in determining the victor was the subject of an exciting presentation. Information was not confined only to England but there were presentations about the Falklands War, bogs in the 17th Century Dutch Republic and the military heritage of St. Helena. Other speakers dealt with military environmentalism on Ministry of Defence estates, role of warfare in early modern Europe, impact of military activity on peatland landscapes, ecology and archaeology and an account of modern conflicts between conservation and peat industry on Thorne Moors. The UK Peat Society AGM was held in the Sheffield Showroom and Workstation on Thursday 5th September 2013. It was attended by six members with 8 apologies. The minutes of the meeting have been distributed to members. The following officers and ordinary members of the Executive Committee were elected: Chair: Neil Godsman Vice Chair: Susan Page Secretary/treasurer: Jack Rieley England: Chris Turner Northern Ireland: James Hayes Scotland: Steve Chapman Wales: Fred Slater Internal Auditor: Richard Meade The secretary/treasurer presented the balance sheet and statement of accounts for the year ending 31st December 2012 which was accepted subject to scrutiny by Roger Meade the internal auditor. It was agreed to contribute £500 to the Flow Country Conference that will be held in Thurso on 4-7 March 2014. Similarly, £500 was allocated towards

International Peat Society ANNUAL REPORT 2013

the cost of organising the ‘In the Bog’ conference in Sheffield on 3-5 September 2014 when we shall also hold the next AGM. It was decided to continue discussions with the International Mire Research Group (UK) and the British Ecological Society Peatlands Interest Group (PRIG) for joint activities and other forms of co-operation. The secretary reported that David Bellamy had been made an Honorary Member of IPS and we expressed our congratulations and best wishes to him. Two prominent UK members of IPS received honours during the year. The Executive Board of the IPS granted Honorary Membership of the Society to Professor David Bellamy. David is a very significant and memorable person in peatland science and public life who has contributed massively to peatland conservation, education and management over the last 50 years. He is known as a prominent university professor, botanist, author, broadcaster and environmental campaigner. He has written and presented some 400 television programmes on botany, ecology and environment. His academic

and research achievements include research on the peatlands of Europe from Iceland to the Mediterranean on which he published over 80 scientific papers and supervised more than 36 Ph.D. students. In addition he launched several conservation awards and programmes. David became a lecturer in Botany at the University of Durham in 1960 and was Senior Lecturer from 1968 until 1982, now being their Honorary Professor for Adult and Continuing Education. He has been a member of the International Peat Society since it was established in 1968, and was a principal keynote speaker at the Tullamore International Peat Congress in 2008. Professor Susan Page, Professor and Head of the Department of Geography at the University of Leicester, UK and a member of IPS for many years was awarded the Busk Medal 2013 by the Royal Geographical Society for her work on conservation research on tropical peatland in Indonesia. The Medal was presented at the Society’s Medals and Awards celebrations on Monday 3 June 2013, hosted by the RGS President Professor Judith Rees.

The interest in peatlands and peat in the UK is very high, especially in the fields of climate change and restoration. These activities involve a large number of peatland scientists and land managers many of whom are members of IPS. IUCN UK Committee has played a major role in coordinating peatland restoration activities and disseminating information through meetings and publications. The Mires Research Group of the British Ecological Society (MRG) of which several IPS members are founders has been renamed the Peatland Research Interest Group (PRIG) and is becoming more active. A meeting was held to discuss future collaboration between these groups in Sheffield in May 2013 attended by Jack Rieley (IPS), Ian Rotherham (PRIG), Olivia Bragg (IMCG) and Rob Stoneman (IUCNUK). The group discussed current and emerging issues affecting peatlands in the UK and their responsible management, protection and restoration. Possibilities for future collaboration are being investigated.

Marie Kofod-Hansen, Jaakko Silpola, Dioni ten Busschen and Susann Warnecke after the Leiden Annual Meetings.

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International Peat Society ANNUAL REPORT 2013