Welcome

Peatlands! Why, you may ask would a 20 year old guy living in the metropolis of London want to write a blog about that? Although I appreciate your concern for my mental health, I hope that within the following entries you, the reader will gain a greater insight into the beauty of these landscapes in both their processes and form and thus allow yourself to get excited by them! Without trying to be overly mushy, there is undoubtedly a joy in discovering nature for yourself; whether that is from an afternoon walk, kayaking down a gorge or studying in a library. So starting as we mean to go on I thought I’d share an extract from Dylan Thomas’; Poem in October that helps me imbue that personal vibe into the science:

     These were the woods the river and sea

                  Where a boy

            In the listening

      Summertime of the dead whispered the truth of his joy   

      To the trees and the stones and the fish in the tide.

            And the mystery

                  Sang alive

      Still in the water and singingbirds.

Beyond the realm of personal appreciation, Peatlands have been recognised formally as described below:

Peatlands are important!

Within the current age of Global Warming Peatlands have risen in importance and thus changed in perception within the public imagination. This change has occurred as scientific research has developed on Peatlands in order to understand the role of the ecosystem within climate dynamics, as well as biodiversity conservation. This trend is in part due to and exemplified by the formation of the convention for “wetlands of international importance” called RAMSAR in 1971. The convention is the first of its type to bring an intergovernmental treaty into action which dictates management policies for a distinct ecosystem. Within the definition set out for wetlands by RAMSAR (see below); peatlands are identified explicitly and therefore can be deemed as sights of international importance. The designation of sights is important not only on an international, but the national and regional scales in order to provide an adequate management service.

Under the Convention on Wetlands (Ramsar, Iran, 1971) "wetlands" are defined by Articles 1.1 and 2.1 as shown below:

Article 1.1:

"For the purpose of this Convention wetlands are areas of marsh, fen, peatland or water, whether natural or artificial, permanent or temporary, with water that is static or flowing, fresh, brackish or salt, including areas of marine water the depth of which at low tide does not exceed six metres."

Article 2.1 provides that wetlands:

"may incorporate riparian and coastal zones adjacent to the wetlands, and islands or bodies of marine water deeper than six metres at low tide lying within the wetlands".

                                                                                                                                                           (Ramsar 1971)

Well, that’s a brief outline of the why, in all of this. In the next instalment, we will begin on the journey of understanding how you define and delineate peatlands from other ecosystems and differing types of peatland.

Regards

Matt