Researcher Izolda Machutadze, head of the department of conservation of peatland and water ecosystems of the Institute of Phytopathology and Biodiversity of BSU, participated in the symposium "Strengthen nature, climate and the future now!" held at the University of Antwerp (Belgium) on September 19-21. 550 participants of the symposium, including representatives of the European Parliament and the European Commission, demanded joint urgent measures to protect ecosystems in Europe. A declaration was prepared at the conference, which is supported by more than 90 signatories - representatives of European Union projects, scientists, Shota Rustaveli State University of Batumi, non-governmental organizations and farmers. The declaration has been forwarded to the European Parliament.
Peatlands are the world's largest but vulnerable carbon stock, with the greatest potential to address pressing challenges. It stores water, unique biodiversity, regulates the hydrological regime and provides essential social and cultural values. In order for peatlands to fulfill these values, the permanent preservation of the wetland environment is a necessary condition. Drained peatlands cause massive economic and ecological damage by releasing stored carbon. Intact peatlands preserved in the wild play an irreplaceable role in the fight against climate change. Peatland restoration reduces greenhouse gas emissions, mitigates flood, drought, and fire risks and improves water quality.
It is necessary for decision-makers, non-governmental organizations, scientists, landowners and entrepreneurs to jointly care for the protection, restoration and conservation of peatland wetlands.
To protect and preserve climate, soil health, water, biodiversity, it is necessary to:
- Preservation of all natural peatlands in Europe and beyond
- Immediately stop the drainage and melioration of peatlands
- Accelerating rewetting of drained peatland to curb CO2 emissions and enhance water retention, water quality and biodiversity.
- Transition to sustainable business models and use of wet peat
- Environmental benefits, rural income generation and high quality biomass production
- Phase out drainage-based land use and government tax incentives
- Stimulating the creative entrepreneurship of farmers, landowners and downstream industries
- Re-wetting slope and carbon farming progress in agricultural policy and payment schemes
- Stopping all extraction and use of peat
- High-resolution open source data make science accessible to guide and facilitate conservation
- Conservation/restoration/sustainable use of wetlands
- Facilitate peatland mapping, monitoring and research to improve and verify the National Greenhouse
- Gas inventories, biodiversity reporting and carbon standards
- Recognizing the central and connecting role of water in the landscape
- Considering peatlands as an integral part of the watershed to improve landscape water security
- Incorporating ambitious peatland restoration goals into the Nature Restoration Act
- Bringing nature restoration law into line with EU and global policy goals and commitments
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