Joosten, H. & Clarke, D.:Joosten, H. & Clarke, D.:

WISE USE OF MIRES WISE USE OF MIRES AND PEATLANDSAND PEATLANDS

PowerPoint-presentation byPowerPoint-presentation by

Anni TakkoAnni Takko

University of HelsinkiUniversity of Helsinki

Peatlands are often the subject of Peatlands are often the subject of conflicts, as they provide many different conflicts, as they provide many different goods and services and have various goods and services and have various functions and valuesfunctions and values

Polygon mires, Russia. Photo byPolygon mires, Russia. Photo by M. M. Succow Succow Ruff, Finland. Photo by Ruff, Finland. Photo by M.M. Aikioniemi Aikioniemi

International Peat Society (IPS)International Peat Society (IPS)

International Mire Conservation Group International Mire Conservation Group (IMCG)(IMCG)

The IPS/IMCG approach is a joint effort to The IPS/IMCG approach is a joint effort to identify, analyse and resolve possible identify, analyse and resolve possible conflicts in order to plan, design and conflicts in order to plan, design and implement the best management option implement the best management option for any mire or peatland.for any mire or peatland.

PREMISESPREMISES

There are no rules or doctrines, which are There are no rules or doctrines, which are accepted by all human beingsaccepted by all human beings

Universally, human beings share only a Universally, human beings share only a few attributes, like:few attributes, like:• absolute needs (drink, food, warmth…)absolute needs (drink, food, warmth…)• a hereditary tendency to develop specific a hereditary tendency to develop specific

preferences (wants)preferences (wants)• an ability to approach choices rationallyan ability to approach choices rationally

Therefore the IPS/IMCG approach is built Therefore the IPS/IMCG approach is built on widely accepted premises, like on widely accepted premises, like international Conventions and UN international Conventions and UN resolutionsresolutions

The IPS/IMCG adopt an The IPS/IMCG adopt an anthropocentricanthropocentric approach: all responsibilities with regard approach: all responsibilities with regard to non-human beings are based solely on to non-human beings are based solely on the realisation othe realisation off human happiness human happiness

The wisdom of decisions is depending on The wisdom of decisions is depending on the circumstances: the circumstances: • what is wise here, may not be wise therewhat is wise here, may not be wise there• what is wise for you, may not be wise for the what is wise for you, may not be wise for the

societysociety• what was wise in the past, may not be wise what was wise in the past, may not be wise

nownow

WHAT IS WISE USE?WHAT IS WISE USE?

Those uses of mires and peatlands for Those uses of mires and peatlands for which reasonable people now and in the which reasonable people now and in the future will not attribute blamefuture will not attribute blame

The challenge is to develop mechanisms The challenge is to develop mechanisms that can balance the conflicting demands that can balance the conflicting demands on the global peatland heritage to ensure on the global peatland heritage to ensure its continued wise use to meet the needs its continued wise use to meet the needs of humankindof humankind

‘‘Use’ includes conservation and non-useUse’ includes conservation and non-use

WISE USE REQUIRESWISE USE REQUIRES

Knowledge of characteristics and functions Knowledge of characteristics and functions of mires and peatlandsof mires and peatlands

Understanding of vital issues of peatlandsUnderstanding of vital issues of peatlands

Understanding of one’s own point of viewUnderstanding of one’s own point of view

Willingness to understand the others’ Willingness to understand the others’ point of viewpoint of view

Fair compromise between conflicting Fair compromise between conflicting preferencespreferences

SphagnumSphagnum species, USA. Photo by species, USA. Photo by J. J. Päivänen Päivänen

SOME BASIC FACTS AND DEFINITIONSSOME BASIC FACTS AND DEFINITIONS

A peatland is an area with naturally A peatland is an area with naturally accumulated peat layer at the surfaceaccumulated peat layer at the surface

Suo is an area with or without a peat layer Suo is an area with or without a peat layer dominated by vegetation which in pristine dominated by vegetation which in pristine stage is accumulating peatstage is accumulating peat

A mire is a peatland where peat is currently A mire is a peatland where peat is currently being formedbeing formed

Peat is sedentarily accumulated material Peat is sedentarily accumulated material consisting of at least 30% (dry mass) of consisting of at least 30% (dry mass) of dead organic materialdead organic material

There are over 400 million ha of peatlands There are over 400 million ha of peatlands on Earth, 80% of this extent is still virgin, on Earth, 80% of this extent is still virgin, 60% still accumulates peat60% still accumulates peat

Human activities have disturbed 80 million Human activities have disturbed 80 million ha of mires: 50% by agriculture, 30% by ha of mires: 50% by agriculture, 30% by forestry, 10% by peat extractionforestry, 10% by peat extraction

The global mire area decreases with 0.1% The global mire area decreases with 0.1% per yearper year

The global peat volume decreases with The global peat volume decreases with 0.05% per year0.05% per year

Relationship between peatland, wetland, suo Relationship between peatland, wetland, suo and mireand mire

Non-peatlandNon-peatland PeatlandPeatland

WorldWorld

WetlandWetland

SuoSuo

MireMire

Photo from Argentina byPhoto from Argentina by H. H. Joosten Joosten

Photo from Ireland by Bord na MónaPhoto from Ireland by Bord na Móna Photo from Finland by Photo from Finland by J. J. PäivänenPäivänen

VITAL VITAL FUNCTIONFUNCTIONS OF PEATLANDS:S OF PEATLANDS:(are expected to be non-substitutable) (are expected to be non-substitutable)

The maintenance of problem-solving The maintenance of problem-solving capacitiescapacities

The regulation of global climateThe regulation of global climate The maintenance of food production The maintenance of food production

capacitycapacity The availability of drinking waterThe availability of drinking water The availability of habitable landThe availability of habitable land The insurance of health conditionsThe insurance of health conditions The preservation of peoples’ value The preservation of peoples’ value

systems systems

All relate to All relate to climateclimate changechange and and biodiversitybiodiversity

Intrinsic valueIntrinsic value

Instrumental values: Instrumental values: material material and non-materialand non-material life support life support functions functions

VALUESVALUES

Cloudberries, Finland. Photo byCloudberries, Finland. Photo by A. A. Torvinen Torvinen

MATERIAL FUNCTIONS:MATERIAL FUNCTIONS:

Production:Production: food, raw materials, food, raw materials, energy, genetic materialsenergy, genetic materials

Carrier:Carrier: space and substrate for space and substrate for many different usesmany different uses

Regulation:Regulation: good climate, water, soil, good climate, water, soil, other ecological conditionsother ecological conditions

NON-MATERIAL FUNCTIONS:NON-MATERIAL FUNCTIONS: Amenity:Amenity: home, affection, company, home, affection, company,

respect, respect, employment employment Recreation:Recreation: recuperation, stress mitigation recuperation, stress mitigation Aesthetic:Aesthetic: beauty beauty Signalisation:Signalisation: indicators, status, price, taste indicators, status, price, taste Symbolisation:Symbolisation: mascots, status symbols, money mascots, status symbols, money Spirituality:Spirituality: religion, spirituality religion, spirituality History:History: cultural continuity, heritage cultural continuity, heritage Existence:Existence: notions of connectedness notions of connectedness Cognition:Cognition: satisfaction of curiosity, science satisfaction of curiosity, science Transformation:Transformation: change of preferences and character change of preferences and character Option:Option: insurance, heritage insurance, heritage

RIGHTS, NEEDS, WANTSRIGHTS, NEEDS, WANTS

Rights:Rights: are “boundary are “boundary conditions” that conditions” that may not be violatedmay not be violated

Needs:Needs: absolute needs have to be fully absolute needs have to be fully metmet

Wants:Wants: the satisfaction of wants is a the satisfaction of wants is a comparative concept but comparative concept but

the satisfaction of needs prevailthe satisfaction of needs prevail

over that of wantsover that of wants

CONFLICTSCONFLICTS

The wise use approach identifies The wise use approach identifies six six typestypes of conflicts that must be resolved in of conflicts that must be resolved in different waysdifferent ways

Conflicts dealingConflicts dealing withwith factsfacts:: true ↔ not truetrue ↔ not true

Conflicts dealing Conflicts dealing with with choiceschoices:: agree ↔ agree ↔ not agreenot agree

Photo from Canada by Photo from Canada by J. J. PäivänenPäivänen

CONFLICTS DEALING WITH FACTS:CONFLICTS DEALING WITH FACTS:

1.1. Different understandingDifferent understanding of terms of terms and conceptsand concepts

2.2. Different judgementsDifferent judgements what are the what are the most suited means to achieving a most suited means to achieving a particular endparticular end

→→ Solution:Solution: effective communication effective communication and sufficient information exchangeand sufficient information exchange

CONFLICTS DEALING WITH CHOICES:CONFLICTS DEALING WITH CHOICES:

3.3. Different preferences:Different preferences: is there a way to rank different is there a way to rank different preferences e.g. cultivated orchids ↔ wild preferences e.g. cultivated orchids ↔ wild orchids in a mireorchids in a mire

→ → Solution: Solution: In the absence of other premises, no In the absence of other premises, no

preference is better or worse than otherspreference is better or worse than others Preferences more related to needs Preferences more related to needs

prevail over those more related to wantsprevail over those more related to wants All means of meeting preferences should All means of meeting preferences should

be distributed equally unless an unequal be distributed equally unless an unequal distribution is to the advantage of the distribution is to the advantage of the least favouredleast favoured

4.4. Different precedences:Different precedences: conflicting rights of human beingsconflicting rights of human beings vital vital local ↔ vital global human interestslocal ↔ vital global human interests

→ → Solution:Solution: People must be allowed to give more People must be allowed to give more

weight to their own interests than to weight to their own interests than to those of othersthose of others

People also have a duty to sacrifice their People also have a duty to sacrifice their interests for the sake of larger benefits to interests for the sake of larger benefits to othersothers

People do not need to accept great People do not need to accept great losses to secure a small increase in the losses to secure a small increase in the aggregate goodaggregate good

5.5. Different priorities:Different priorities: intergenerational justiceintergenerational justice present present generations ↔ future generationsgenerations ↔ future generations

→ → Solution:Solution: Some problems for the future generations Some problems for the future generations

will be less important than the same will be less important than the same problems right nowproblems right now

In question of In question of vital functionsvital functions of peatlands (= of peatlands (= essential and non-substitutable): progress essential and non-substitutable): progress will not solve the problems associated with will not solve the problems associated with their decrease → no discountingtheir decrease → no discounting

In question of In question of normal functionsnormal functions of peatlands of peatlands (= non-essential and substitutable): progress (= non-essential and substitutable): progress will not solve the problems associated with will not solve the problems associated with their decrease → discountingtheir decrease → discounting

6.6. Different positions:Different positions: different different conceptionsconceptions which entities have which entities have intrinsic valueintrinsic value anthropocentrism anthropocentrism ↔ ecocentrism↔ ecocentrism

Moral positions relate to the Moral positions relate to the fundamentals of people’s value systemsfundamentals of people’s value systems

→→ Solution:Solution: Conflicts cannot be solved through Conflicts cannot be solved through

compromisecompromise Conflicts can only be mitigated by Conflicts can only be mitigated by

acknowledging and respecting the acknowledging and respecting the other’s position, so long as the positions other’s position, so long as the positions do not fundamentally clashdo not fundamentally clash

THE MONETARISATION OF PEATLAND THE MONETARISATION OF PEATLAND VALUESVALUES

Instrumental values and preferences can Instrumental values and preferences can be monetarisedbe monetarised

Monetarisation is useful to get Monetarisation is useful to get aa minimum minimum value, not for getting value, not for getting thethe value value

Every determination of monetary value is Every determination of monetary value is marginal, due to:marginal, due to:• Some ecosystem functions cannot be valuedSome ecosystem functions cannot be valued• The order of peoples’ preferences changesThe order of peoples’ preferences changes• Evaluation by future generations is impossibleEvaluation by future generations is impossible

There are failures in the market:There are failures in the market:• Market failure: “third party costs”Market failure: “third party costs”• Intervention failure: “perverse incentives”Intervention failure: “perverse incentives”• Global appropriation failure: “global financial Global appropriation failure: “global financial

system for those functions that exceed system for those functions that exceed national boundaries” national boundaries”

A framework within which conflicts between A framework within which conflicts between different values and uses of mires and different values and uses of mires and peatlands can be resolvedpeatlands can be resolved

Two stages:Two stages:• Decision inDecision in

principleprinciple• ImplementationImplementation

decisionsdecisions

WISE USE GUIDELINESWISE USE GUIDELINES

Tropical agriculture in Indonesia.Tropical agriculture in Indonesia. Photo byPhoto by J. J. Rieley & Rieley & S. S. Page Page

System of:System of:

• Basic criteriaBasic criteria• General considerationsGeneral considerations• Guidance principlesGuidance principles• Modifiers (for special conditions)Modifiers (for special conditions)• Instruments (on all operational Instruments (on all operational

levels)levels)

Stage 1

Stage 2

Criteria for decision

Generalconsiderations

Principles

Modifiers

Instruments:-based on countries

-based on enterprises

Decision in principle (stage one):Decision in principle (stage one):

Assesses the permissibility of Assesses the permissibility of interventions in mires and peatlandsinterventions in mires and peatlands

The assessment takes place by The assessment takes place by considering the basic criteria and general considering the basic criteria and general considerationsconsiderations

Basic criteria:Basic criteria:

The use of a peatland resource or service The use of a peatland resource or service is basically permissible:is basically permissible:

-- when the resource or service is non-when the resource or service is non-substitutable and essential for the substitutable and essential for the

maintenance of human lifemaintenance of human life OROR- - as long as that resource or service is as long as that resource or service is

abundantabundant

In the latter case, the side-effects have to In the latter case, the side-effects have to be taken into accountbe taken into account

With respect to side-effects an With respect to side-effects an intervention is basically permissible:intervention is basically permissible:

-- when no negative side-effects occurwhen no negative side-effects occur OROR-- the affected resources and services the affected resources and services

remain sufficiently abundantremain sufficiently abundant OROR-- the affected resources and services the affected resources and services are are easily and completely substitutableeasily and completely substitutable OROR-- the impact is easily reversiblethe impact is easily reversible

In all other cases a complete cost-benefit In all other cases a complete cost-benefit analysis is necessaryanalysis is necessary

General considerations:General considerations: All human beings have rights that may not All human beings have rights that may not

be violatedbe violated The satisfaction of needs prevail over that of The satisfaction of needs prevail over that of

wantswants A smaller amount of good equally A smaller amount of good equally

distributed should be preferred to a larger distributed should be preferred to a larger amount of good disproportionately sharedamount of good disproportionately shared

Preference should be given to those with Preference should be given to those with fewer native assets and less favourable fewer native assets and less favourable social positionssocial positions

There is no single set of concepts or There is no single set of concepts or principles, which can govern every situationprinciples, which can govern every situation

NOT GO

Integratedcost-benefit

analysis

GO

ADVANTAGE

ESSENTIALITY

IMPACT

ABUNDANCE

SELF-MAINTENANCE

ABUNDANCE

ESSENTIALITY

SUBSTITUTABILITY

N

Y

Y N

N Y

Y NN Y

Y N

Y NY N

Implementation decisions (stage two):Implementation decisions (stage two):

If a decision comes through the stage one If a decision comes through the stage one (decision in principle) process with a clear (decision in principle) process with a clear “yes” then it “yes” then it mustmust be examined further in be examined further in stage twostage two

Stage two assesses the implementation of Stage two assesses the implementation of the intervention through guidance the intervention through guidance principles and effecting modifiers and principles and effecting modifiers and instrumentsinstruments

Guidance principles:Guidance principles:

Clarity:Clarity: use terms clearly and consistently use terms clearly and consistently Access to information:Access to information: provide the public provide the public

with understandable informationwith understandable information Public participation:Public participation: consult all consult all

stakeholdersstakeholders Motivation:Motivation: motivate the interventions by motivate the interventions by

a greater advantage for societya greater advantage for society Careful decision-making:Careful decision-making: decide on the decide on the

basis of all available informationbasis of all available information Responsibility:Responsibility: take the effects on other take the effects on other

levels into accountlevels into account

Plurality:Plurality: look at cases from different look at cases from different perspectivesperspectives

Distributive justiceDistributive justice Minimum intervention:Minimum intervention: limit interventions to limit interventions to

the minimum necessarythe minimum necessary Re-location:Re-location: relocate activities to where relocate activities to where

they cause least impactthey cause least impact Precaution:Precaution: don’t risk possible serious don’t risk possible serious

damagedamage Avoidance:Avoidance: adapt the intervention to the adapt the intervention to the

natural characteristics of peatlandsnatural characteristics of peatlands Species integrity:Species integrity: protect species protect species Compensation:Compensation: let the responsible party let the responsible party

repair or compensate damage in case of repair or compensate damage in case of violating these principlesviolating these principles

Modifiers:Modifiers:

In practice, guidance principles may be In practice, guidance principles may be modifiedmodified

- - Space:Space: location, spatial scale location, spatial scale

-- Time:Time: point of time, period of time point of time, period of time

Photo from Russia byPhoto from Russia by M. M. Succow Succow

Instruments:Instruments:

Mechanisms which facilitate the Mechanisms which facilitate the application of the modifiers of time and application of the modifiers of time and place to the guidance principlesplace to the guidance principles

-- International level:International level: international law, international law, cooperation, certification…cooperation, certification…

-- Regional level:Regional level: regional law, regional law, transboundary protected areas…transboundary protected areas…

-- National level:National level: public policy, land use public policy, land use planning, education, legislation...planning, education, legislation...

-- Sub-national level:Sub-national level: integrated integrated catchment management…catchment management…

-- The level of the enterprise:The level of the enterprise: corporate governance, cost-benefit-corporate governance, cost-benefit-analysis, technology improvement…analysis, technology improvement…

-- The level of the individual person:The level of the individual person: civic civic responsibility, information responsibility, information gathering…gathering…

CONCLUSIONS:CONCLUSIONS:

The most important:The most important: General consideration: parties may have General consideration: parties may have

different moral positions and they have different moral positions and they have the right to have different preferencesthe right to have different preferences

Principles: are those of clarity, information, Principles: are those of clarity, information, motivation, responsibilitymotivation, responsibility

Instrument: is dialogueInstrument: is dialogue

Modifiers take into account that local and Modifiers take into account that local and momentary conditions may modify the momentary conditions may modify the principlesprinciples

Different perspectives can reveal things Different perspectives can reveal things which are overlooked when only a single which are overlooked when only a single perspective is usedperspective is used

The wisdom of a decision is judged by The wisdom of a decision is judged by balancing pros and cons of the effects on balancing pros and cons of the effects on human beingshuman beings

For this Wise Use Framework to succeed it For this Wise Use Framework to succeed it will need to form the basis of continuing will need to form the basis of continuing co-operation between those who have co-operation between those who have helped to create ithelped to create it

An almost pristine percolation peatland in An almost pristine percolation peatland in South Africa, threatened by inundation South Africa, threatened by inundation for hydro-electricity. Photo byfor hydro-electricity. Photo by J. J. Sliva Sliva