ips annual report 2011

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Annual Report 2011

2 International Peat Society ANNUAL REPORT 2011

International Peat SocietyVapaudenkatu 1240100 Jyväskyläwww.peatsociety.org

Annual Report 2011Cover photo: Edgar Karofeld, IPS meetings in Québec, Canada Other photos: Susann Warnecke, if not other photographer mentionedEditing and layout: Susann Warnecke, IPS Communications ManagerContributions by IPS National Committees, Commissions and Olivia Bragg, Mires and Peat

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Annual Report 2011

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ContentsSecretary General’s Review: 2011 4

Report of the Executive Board 5

Administration 5Annual Assembly of National Representatives 5Meetings of the Executive Board 5Members of the Executive Board 5Meetings of the Scientific Advisory Board 6Members of the Scientific Advisory Board 6Members of the IPS 6National Committees 6Members in Countries Without a National Committee 7IPS Award of Excellence 7Honorary Members 7The IPS Secretariat 7Cooperation 7Economic Survey 8Audit 8

Principal Operations 8Workshops and meetings 8Congresses, symposia and other events 10 Events of related organisations 10Commissions 11 Other activities: 11Strategy for Responsible Peatland Management 11 Public Discussion 11Publications and Internet: 12 Scientific Journal “Mires and Peat” 12Peatlands International 12Peat News 12Proceedings and other books 13IPS Website 13Online shop 13Social Media 13

Members of the IPS 14IPS National Committees and contact details 15IPS Commissions and Working Groups and contact details 17

Reports of Commissions 18Commission I - Stratigraphy, inventory and conservation of peatlandsCommission II - Utilisation of peat and peatlands for horticulture, energy and other economic purposesCommission III - Agricultural use of peatlands and peatCommission IV - Chemical, physical and biological characteristics of peatCommission V - Restoration, rehabilitation and after-use of peatlandsCommission VI - Peat balneology, medicine and therapeuticsCommission VII - Ecology and management of forested peatlandsCommission VIII - Cultural aspects of peat and peatlandsCommission IX - Tropical peatlands

Reports of National Committees 28The IPS-IMCG Scientific Online Journal Mires and Peat 36Expenses and revenue 43Notes to the accounts 44Balance sheet 45Date and signatures 46Auditor’s statement 47Media Kit of Peatlands International 48


Secretary General’s Review

Three years ago, at the end of 2008, the International Peat Society started the preparation of a Strategy for Responsible Peatland Management together with various stakeholders. This work was finalized in 2010 and now, during the report year of 2011, we can see how the Strategy is being adopted and utilized in many member countries. Much work was done in writing and implementing similar national strategies for peatland management, such as in Finland, Canada and Ireland. As a next step, the Strategy will be reviewed, and follow-up measures decided on, at the International Peat Congress in June 2012.

As we have seen in the case of the IPS Strategy for Responsible Peatland Management, our National Committees provide the foundation of the Society. They act as local platforms for the exchange of information between peat and peatland professionals

IPS for all peat and peatland friends

and organizations in a country. This is also important for future challenges.

The IPS Congress in Stockholm in summer 2012 is getting closer and closer. During the reporting year we have seen how local organizers have done hard and devoted work in order to provide us with a fruitful arena to share information, learn new things and make new friends. Everything we have heard and experienced so far, tells that the International Peat Congress 2012 will be among the biggest events of the Society ever! Don’t miss it!

In November last year, IPS launched its new website, consisting of many useful tools for our members. These include an online document database for scientific papers and other publications, a searchable member database, a new online store, a news list and a section for open positions.

As major part of new website, a special online database for our members was launched. This allows all IPS members to see and edit their membership information in real-time, to download publications and to share other information, like job and research announcements. It is also possible to join the IPS online in countries without a national committee. Alternatively, there is an option to purchase immediately six-months reading rights if not being an IPS member.

The IPS Award of Excellence 2011 was conferred on Prof. Line Rochefort from Université Laval in Québec, Canada, especially

Jaakko Silpola speaking at the Baltic Peat Forum in Riga, Latvia in September 2011.

for her efforts in promoting peatland restoration and fostering cooperation between research and the peat industry. Thank you Line for your long lasting development work and good networking with very many stakeholders!

The Profit and Loss Account of the IPS shows a deficit of € 25,100 (2010: surplus of 17,000) for the financial year 2011. This is due to higher costs, including the development of new IPS website, and lower membership fee income. Regardless of the negative financial outcome of 2011, IPS has all possibilities to stay financially strong. This requires though more members, an active touch and intensive cooperation with all IPS stakeholders - as well as attractive projects with a good financial background.

I want to give my warmest thanks to all IPS members! Thank you for your valuable voluntary work for the IPS in the Executive Board and Scientific Advisory Board, and thank you for your devoted work in different Commissions and National Committees as well as several working groups around the word.

Finally I want to say how happy l am having the possibility to work with the helpful and responsible IPS staff. You all have done very important work for the IPS and for peat and peatlands.

Jaakko SilpolaSecretary General of the IPS

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AdministrationAnnual Assembly of National Representatives

The 15th Annual Assembly of National Representatives of the International Peat Society was held in Québec City, Canada on 14 June 2011. The Assembly was attended by twelve representatives, coming from the National Committees of Canada, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Indonesia, Ireland, Latvia, Malaysia, the Netherlands, Sweden, the United Kingdom and the USA. In addition, some 30 observers were present.

The Assembly adopted the Balance sheet, the Annual Report and the Auditor’s Report for 2010, and approved the plan of activities, budget, and membership fees for 2011. The interim budget and membership fees 2012 were approved on the current level. Organisational changes and thereof resulting costs will have to be considered in 2012 when the cooperation contract of IPS with the Association of Finnish Peat Industries ceases.

In addition, the Assembly accepted the new Statutes of IPS and decided to retain the maximum number of Executive Board members at 2-6. Arto Saarinen from Deloitte & Touche Oy was elected as auditor and that firm was authorised to nominate a substitute auditor for the IPS. The next election of IPS Executive Board members will take place in 2012 at the

Report of the Executive Board

International Peat Congress in Stockholm.

Meetings of the Executive Board

The IPS Executive Board held its regular meetings in 2011 in Stockholm, Sweden on 9 March, by email from 25 March to 22 April, in Québec, Canada on 13 June, and in Espoo, Finland on 16 November.

The decisions of these meetings were communicated in Peat News, Peatlands International and by email shortly after the meetings as “decision summaries in a nutshell”.

Basically, the IPS Executive Board dealt in 2011, in addition to regular administrative issues, mainly with the promotion and application of the Strategy for Responsible Peatland Management, the new Statutes and Internal Regulations of IPS, Guidelines for the Practical Application of Wise Use, the renewal of the IPS website, the development of IPS membership

services and the International Peat Congress 2012.

Members of the Executive Board

According to the Statutes of the IPS, the Executive Board consists of the President, the 1st and 2nd Vice Presidents and from two to six ordinary members.

The members of the Executive Board at the end of 2011 and their terms of office were:

PresidentDonal Clarke, Ireland, 2008-2012

1st Vice PresidentBjörn Hånell, Sweden, 2008-2012

2nd Vice PresidentPaul Short, Canada, 2010-2012

Ordinary members Satu Helynen, Finland, 2008-2012Jutta Zeitz, Germany, 2010-2012Valerijs Kozlovs, Latvia, 2010-2014Erki Niitlaan, Estonia, 2010-2014Lech Szajdak, Poland, 2010-2014

Despite the great distance, most National Committees had send their representative to the Annual Assembly in Québec. Photo: Doris Reeve


Members of the Scientific Advisory Board

Chairman: Jack Rieley, United Kingdom

Secretary:Catherine Farrell, Ireland

Members: Chairs of Comm. I-IXI Lars Lundin, SwedenII Gerald Schmilewski, GermanyIII Lech Szajdak, PolandIV Jürgen Schoenherr, GermanyV Catherine Farrell, IrelandVI Riitta Korhonen, FinlandVII Hannu Hökkä, FinlandVIII Michiel Gerding, the NetherlandsIX Jack Rieley, United Kingdom

Cross-Commission Standing Committee on Peatlands and Climate Change: Mats Nilsson, Sweden

Members of the IPS

As of 31 December 2011, the IPS membership comprised a total of 1,418 (2010: 1450) members in 37 (36) countries. Altogether, fluctuation within IPS is quite large, about 142 (122) members have joined and 150 (84) left our Society in the course of 2011, including 62 via suspended National Committees.

The membership database is updated continuously through information from the National Committees and by direct

Meetings of the Scientific Advisory Board

The Scientific Advisory Board (SAB) consists of the IPS Commission Chairs and the 2nd 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 operates between Congresses but elects its Chair and Secretary each year by secret ballot; it meets normally twice a year in association with other IPS meetings.

The Scientific Advisory Board met this year in Stockholm, Sweden on 7-8 March and in Québec City on 13 June. Its decisions and questions were regularly communicated to and considered by the Executive Board. Prof. Jack Rieley from the United Kingdom continued as Chair and Dr. Catherine Farrell from Ireland as Secretary in 2011. All SAB members were involved in preparing the scientific programme and the excursions of the International Peat Congress 2012. The Chair of the newly activated Cross-Commission Standing Committee on Peatlands and Climate Change was invited to join the SAB.

The first meeting of the SAB and EB in 2011 was held in Stockholm. Photo: Riitta Korhonen.

contacts to our members. New members are regularly published in Peatlands International and all IPS members are encouraged to ask their friends and colleagues to join the IPS.

In November 2011, a special online database for members was launched together with the new IPS website. This allows all members to see and edit their member information in real-time, to download publications and to share other information, like job and research announcements. It is also possible to join the IPS online in countries without a national committee, or to purchase immediately six-months reading rights while membership applications are being handled by our national offices.

All National Committees are encouraged to further promote the student membership category within their country and to quickly announce membership updates to the IPS Secretariat.

National Committees

The IPS is represented by 17 (2010: 19) National Committees with a total of 1,372 (1,413) members, of which 13 operate in Europe, two in North America, and two in Southeast Asia. A complete list can be found in the appendices.

In 2011, the membership of the National Committees of Belarus, Russia and Ukraine remained suspended until membership fees are paid.

The National Committee of France announced its resignation in summer 2011, after which the majority of French corporate members joined IPS directly.

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Members in Countries Without a National Committee

As of 31 December 2011, the IPS had 31 (2010: 29) individual, one (1) student and 14 (7) corporate members in 20 (17) countries without National Committees. The complete list is contained in the appendices.

IPS Award of Excellence

The IPS Award of Excellence 2011 was conferred on Prof. Line Rochefort from Université Laval in Québec, Canada, especially for her efforts in promoting peatland restoration and fostering cooperation between research and the peat industry. The Award was handed over at the festive Dinner in Québec by the IPS Secretary General and Communications Manager.

The IPS Award of Excellence was launched in 2005 and is annually conferred on a member of the International Peat Society for a distinguished contribution in any sector of peatland activities. The Award comprises a framed scroll and a cash prize of EUR 1,000.

In November 2011, the terms of reference for the Award were reviewed and the applications process made much easier: only one application letter or email is required from 2012 onwards. In addition, proposals for the Award can be filled in at the IPS website.

Honorary Members

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

The Secretariat of the IPS has been located in Jyväskylä, Finland since January 1992. The current address is Vapaudenkatu 12, 40100 Jyväskylä, Finland.

The Secretariat is managed by Mr. Jaakko Silpola, M. Sc. (Agriculture and Forestry), MBA, who has held the post of IPS Secretary General since November 2004. Communications Manager Ms. Susann Warnecke (Bankkauffrau, Diplom-Kauffrau FH), has been working for the IPS since January 2002. Mrs. Birgit Hyyryläinen, Office Manager of the Association of Finnish Peat Industries, is responsible for the financial accounting of the IPS.

In 2012, the IPS Secretariat will look for a new office and cooperation partners, as the Association of Finnish Peat Industries, with whom it has shared offices since the 1990s, has joined forces with other organisations to form the Bioenergy Association of Finland, headquartered in Helsinki.

Cooperation

The IPS cooperates internationally with the International Society for Horticultural Science (ISHS), the International Mire Conservation Group (IMCG), the Society of Wetland Scientists (SWS), the

Late spring is a good time to visit Finnish peatlands, here Communications Manager Susann Warnecke. Photo: Mika Pasanen

peat. In 2011, the IPS had the following Honorary Members:

Honorary President Mr. R. Allan Robertson, UK

Honorary Members Mr. F. Baranyai, HungaryDr. A. K. Dergunov, RussiaDr. R.S. Farnham, USAMr. Hartmut Falkenberg, GermanyMr. Henk van de Griendt, NetherlandsMr. Donald N. Grubich, USAMr. Matti Hilli, FinlandMr. Gerry Hood , CanadaMr. Paddy Hughes, IrelandProf.dr.hab. Piotr Ilnicki, PolandAcad. Ivan I. Lishtvan, BelarusProf. Markku Mäkelä, FinlandDr. Thomas Malterer, USAMr. P. McEvilly, IrelandMr. H.M.S. Miller, IrelandDr. Yrjö Pessi, FinlandMr. Reidar Pettersson, SwedenMr. Ansis Snore, LatviaMr. B.N. Sokolov, RussiaMr. Raimo Sopo, FinlandDr. András Tóth, Hungary

We congratulate Mr. Matti Hilli, former Managing Director of Vapo Oy in Finland, on becoming new IPS Honorary Member in 2011. With great sadness we heard that honorary member Ted Tibbetts from Canada had passed away suddenly on 6 June 2011.

The IPS Secretariat

The City Congress Centre in Stockholm will also be the venue of the 14th International Peat Congress in 2012.


Workshops and meetings

IPS Executive Board and Scientific Advisory Board Meetings Stockholm, Sweden 7 - 9 March 2011

Annual Assembly, SAB Meeting and EB Meeting Québec City, Canada, 13 - 14 June 2011

IPS Executive Board Meeting Espoo, Finland 15 - 17 November 2011

Congresses, symposia and other events

IPS participated actively in the joint IPS-ISHS Symposium on Responsible Peatland Management and Growing Media Production in Québec, Canada on 13 - 17 June 2011. Altogether about 250 peatland and growing media experts had joined the conference, at which some 110 presentations were given in 13 different sessions. In addition, the participants enjoyed especially the diverse field trips, the splendid social programme and the exhibition of suppliers and related organisations.

Principal OperationsEuropean Peat and Growing Media Association (EPAGMA), and the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands.

Economic Survey

The Profit and Loss Account of the IPS shows a deficit of 25,100 (2010: +17,000) for the financial year 2011. This is mainly due to increased costs for publications, such as the IPS website, and lower membership fee income. The results of the International Peat Congress in Tullamore 2008 are used during the years until the next Congress.

The total income of the IPS was € 154,800 (185,300), with expenditure amounting to € 179,900 (167,300). Bad debts amounted to € 22,900 (15,000) and the depreciation to € 500 (500). Assets and liabilities decreased to € 163,600 (187,700).

Audit

The accounts and financial statements of the International Peat Society were audited by the Authorised Public Accountant Arto Saarinen from Deloitte & Touche Oy, an Authorised Public Accounting Firm.

In June, many IPS members participated in the Symposium on Growing Media and Responsible Peatland Managmeent in Québec. Part of this conference was a meeting between IPS and Canadian peat producers.

More details on the conference can be found in Petlands International 1/2011 and in Acta Horticulturae published by the ISHS.

Further conferences were organised by the IPS Commissions and National Committees, the most important of which are mentioned below.

Further information on these symposia and excursions is available in Peat News and Peatlands International as well as in the detailed country and commission reports attached to this Annual Report.

Finnish National Committee: Multiple use of peat and mires Espoo, Finland, 8 February 2011www.suoseura.fi

Canadian National Committee:PERG 17th Annual WorkshopUniversité Laval, Québec, Canada, 14 February 2011www.gret-perg.ulaval.ca

German National Committee: Peatlands and Water – facing a position Plön, Germany, 17 - 19 March 2011www.dgmtev.de/downloads/ploen_2011/programm_ploen_2011.pdf Finnish National Committee: Annual spring meeting and seminar: Proposal of a national strategy for responsible utilization and conservation of mires and peatlands in FinlandHouse of Estates, Helsinki, Finland, 23 March 2011 www.suoseura.fi

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German National Committee:Peatlands in climate change – Peatland conservation as a chance for climate, biodiversity and water resources Augsburg/Bavaria, 5 - 7 April 2011www.dgmtev.de

Russian National Committee: All-Russian Peat Forum Tver, Russia, 27 - 28 April 2011www.peatlands.ru/files/1300694229.pdf

Finnish National Committee: Spring excursion to the mires of Belarus in co-operation with the Finland-Belarus Society Finland - Belarus, 5 -10 May 2011www.suoseura.fi

German National Committee: Seminar and Excursion on peatlands and peat Zeven, Germany, 6 - 7 May 2011www.dgmtev.de

IPS and ISHS Symposium on Responsible Peatland Management and Growing Media Production Québec, Canada, 13-17 June 2011www.peatlands2011.ulaval.ca

German National Committee: Rewetting of raised bogs – why does it not work everywhere?Schneverdingen, Germany, 22 - 23 June 2011www.dgmtev.de

German National Committee: Facilities, operation and maintenance of field railways in tourist and museum institutionsDiepenau-Essern, Germany, 30 June - 1 July 2011www.dgmtev.de

German National Committee in cooperation with the BUND regional association Lower Saxony and the county Diepholz:Biodiversity and climate impact – peatlands potentials for nature, economy and society

Peatland restoration and rehabilitation matters were presented in many sessions by Dr. Catherine Farrell and her colleagues from IPS Commission V.

Wagenfeld, Germany, 25 August 2011www.dgmtev.de

Swedish National Committee and Commission I: Road-map to sustainable peat use; Strategies and need for knowledge Sweden, 31 August 2011 www.torvforsk.se

Polish National Committee: Necessity of Peatland Protection Tlen, Bory Tucholskie, Poland, 1 - 2 September 2011 www.tiny.cc/cyl4r

Finnish National Committee: Autumn Excursion to the Mires of Kainuu RegionOulu, Finland, 12 - 13 September 2011 www.suoseura.fi

Latvian, Lithuanian and Estonian National Committees: Baltic Peat Forum Riga, Latvia, 14-16 September 2011 www.peat.lv

German National Committee: Annual Assembly Meppen, Germany, 14 - 17 September 2011www.dgmtev.de/veranstalt_jt_2011.html

German National Committee: Seminar and Excursion on peatlands and peat Zeven, Germany,

23 - 24 September 2011www.dgmtev.de

Commission IV, German National Committee: Peat and Humic Substances: Current Research in Chemical, Physical and Biological Characterization of Peat Zittau, Thuringia, Germany, 28 - 30 September 2011 www.http://www.hszg.de/forschung/forschungsinstitute/itn.html

German National Committee in cooperation with the state office for environment, nature protection and geology Mecklenburg-VorpommernPeatland conservation in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern – an interim resultSalem, 6 - 7 October 2011www.dgmtev.de

IPS and ISHS International Symposium on Growing Media, Composting and Substrate Analysis Castelldefels, Barcelona, Spain, 16 - 22 October 2011 www.ishs.org

Association of Finnish Peat Industries: Finnish Peat Day Helsinki, Finland, 18 October 2011 www.turveteollisuusliitto.fi

Irish National Committee:Annual General Meeting Tullamore, Ireland, 18 - 19 October 2011


German Industrieverband Garten:Peat and Humus Day Bad Zwischenahn, Germany, 27 October 2011 www.ivg.org

Finnish National Committee: Annual autumn meeting Helsinki, 22 November 2011 www.suoseura.fi

Estonian National Committee:150 Years of Estonian Peat Industry Pärnu, Estonia, 8 December 2011 www.turbaliit.ee The staff of the IPS Secretariat participated, among others, in the Québec symposium on Responsible Peatland Management and Growing Media Production, the Baltic Peat Forum in Riga, the German Peat and Humus Day, the Anniversary of Estonian peat production and the Finnish Peat Day.

In addition to that, the members of the Executive Board, Scientific Advisory Board and National Committee officials represented IPS at a broad range of other national and international events.

Events of related organisations

IPS members participated also in a number of congresses, conferences

and workshops of related organisations:

World Wetlands Day2 February 2011www.ramsar.org

LIFE Active blanket bog in Wales Project ConferenceLake Vyrnwy, Wales, UK, 8 - 9 March 2011www.blanketbogswales.org

Integration of ecosystem services in the economies of the CISMoscow, Russia, 28 - 29 March 2011www.peatlands.ru/files/1296635317.doc

European Geosciences Union General AssemblyVienna, Austria, 3 - 8 April 2011http://meetingorganizer.copernicus.org/EGU2011/sessionprogramme/BG

International Symposium on Organic Matter Management and Compost Use in HorticultureAdelaide, Australia, 4 - 7 April 2011compost-for-horticulture.com

International Conference: Mires and WildernessTartu, Estonia, 18 - 20 April 2011www.tiny.cc/b9to7

Pellets for Bioenergy: The market takes offCologne, Germany, 5 May 2011www.aebiom.org

6th International Congress of the European Society for Soil Conservation: Innovative Strategies and Policies for Soil ConservationThessaloniki, Greece, 9-14 Maywww.esscthessalonikicongress.gr

19th European Biomass Conference and ExhibitionBerlin, Germany, 6 - 10 June 2011www.conference-biomass.com

Investing in Peatlands - Delivering Multiple Benefits’Stirling, Scotland, UK, 20 - 22 June 2011www.iucn-uk-peatlandprogramme.org

West Siberian Peatlands and Carbon Cycle: Past and PresentKhanty-Mansiysk, Russia, 27 June - 5 July 2011http://en.ugrasu.ru/international/WSPCC_2011

AEBIOM European Bioenergy Conference & RENEXPO® Bioenergy EuropeBrussels, 29 - 30 June 2011www.renexpo-bioenergy.eu

Meeting of the Society of Wetland Scientists, Wetpol and Wetlands BiogeochemistryPrague, Czech Republic 3 - 8 July 2011www.sws2011.com

Nordic Bioenergy ConferenceJyväskylä, Finland 5 - 9 Septemberwww.nordicbioenergy.finbioenergy.fi

British Ecological Society Annual Meeting: Peatland EcosystemsSheffield, United Kingdom 12 - 14 September 2011www.tiny.cc/yvs4m

During the field trips in Québec, the participants visited, among others, several restored peat production sites.

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Society of Wetland Scientists Asian Wetland Convention and WorkshopKuching, Sarawak, Malaysia, 13 - 15 September 2011www.sws2011.org

World Canals Conference 2011Groningen, the Netherlands, 19 - 24 September 2011www.worldcanalsconference2011.nl

3rd International Workshop on “Wild Fire and Carbon Management in Peat-Forest in Indonesia” Palangka Raya, Central Kalimantan, Indonesia 22 - 24 September 2011

Sustainable management of wetlands in transboundary contextMinsk, Belarus, 11 - 13 October 2011

Innovative Aspects of Production, Processing and Use of PeatTomsk, 18 - 20 October 2011www.peatlands.ru

IFES-GCOE Field Short CourseManagement Strategy of Tropical Peatland: Development and Conservation Bogor, Palangkaraya, Pelalawan, Indonesia, 8 - 19 November http://gcoe.ees.hokudai.ac.jp/orse/?p=275

Biolief 2011 2nd World Conference on Biological Invasions and Ecosystem FunctioningMar del Plata,

Argentina, 21 - 24 November 2011www.grieta.org.ar/biolief

Commissions

In 2011, numerous activities were planned and carried out by the nine IPS Commissions. Their reports can be found in the appendices. All Commission Chairs are members of the IPS Scientific Advisory Board. New Commission Chairs will be elected at the International Peat Congress in Stockholm 2012.

Other activities

Strategy for Responsible Peatland Management

In 2011, the IPS Secretariat and members continued to promote the Strategy for Responsible Peatland Management. The Strategy document was printed and distributed to all IPS members together with Peatlands International and in single copies to all stakeholders involved in

the process. Further copies are available for free from the IPS Secretariat.

In February 2011, information on the Strategy was released to the press via Mynewsdesk. A second press release was published in September 2011 via Business Wire in 18 languages to all major news agencies and online media around the world.

Many National Committees translated the Strategy into their own language and much work was done in writing and implementing similar national strategies for peatland management, such as in Finland, Canada and Ireland. The Strategy will next be reviewed and follow-up measures decided at the International Peat Congress in June 2012.

Gerald Schmilewski and Jack Rieley, Chairs of IPS Commissions II and IX, participated on behalf of IPS in a project on “Enhancing the Sustainability of the Peat Supply Chain for Dutch Horticulture”.

This work is financed by the Dutch Government and may lead to a European certification system for peatland management. In Canada, many peat producers are certified by Veriflora, an agricultural sustainability certification and eco-labelling program. IPS is retaining its neutral position towards different certification schemes.

Public discussion

Climate change, carbon fluxes, sustainability and fire management continued to be the most important issues with respect to peatland management in the public view. 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 Scholar alerts on peat, mire and peatland topics.

Dr. Line Rochefort (left) was proud to present the Canadian way of restoring peatlands.Photo: Edgar Karofeld


Publications and Internet

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.

In 2011, Volumes 7-9 of Mires and Peat were published, Volume 7 dealing with “A Review of Protocols in Peat Palaeoenvironmental Studies (2010/2011)” and Volume 9 on “The Hula Peatland: Past, Present and Future (2011/2012)”. The Journal can be accessed free of charge at www.mires-and-peat.net.

A report of the Editor is attached to this Annual Report. 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.

Peatlands International

Peatlands International is the half-yearly magazine for members of the IPS. Secretary General Jaakko Silpola is editor-in-chief, supported by Communications Manager Susann Warnecke.

Peatlands International 1/2011 was published and distributed to all IPS members in August 2011, together with the Annual Report 2010. Peatlands International 2/2011 was published in January 2012. Peatlands International is supported by an Editorial Board, the members of which are:

Paul Short, CanadaJuhani Päivänen, FinlandMichael Trepel, GermanyCatherine Farrell, IrelandLech Szajdak, PolandAnne Jelle Schilstra, the NetherlandsMarie-Kofod Hansen, SwedenAllan Robertson, United KingdomTom Malterer, USA

We are glad to report that the overall quality of articles has

improved over the previous years, many articles are submitted language-checked and authors are easy to contact for further information. In addition advertisement income has slightly increased thanks to your active members.

However, rising mailings costs are a serious challenge for future issues. Previous issues of Peatlands International were partly moved from the old IPS website to the new IPS online database, more will be added in future. Further information on the magazine and a media kit are available at the IPS website or can be ordered from the IPS Secretariat.

All members of the IPS receive Peatlands International for free, either directly from the IPS Secretariat or their National Committee. Deadlines for the submission of articles is 28 February / 30 September each year.

Peat News

Peat News, the electronic newsletter of the IPS, is sent out monthly by email to all members of the Society. The latest issue as well as a list of topics covered during 2002-2011 can also be read at the IPS website. In 2011, 12 issues were distributed, each to approximately 1,300 members. Orders for Peat News can be directed to [email protected].

All IPS members are authorised to receive Peat News by email. Since 2005, the newsletter has been distributed in PDF format and all advertisers in Peatlands International have been mentioned as official supporters of Peat News. Since 2011, Peat News is part of the online database for members at the IPS website.

For her devoted work for peatland science and industy, Line Rochefort received the IPS Award of Excellence 2011, handed over by President Donal Clarke (right) and Secretary General Jaakko Silpola (left)

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Proceedings and other books

The book “Peatlands and Climate Change” continued to be the most significant product of the IPS. By December 2011, 450 copies of the book were sold, most of them via the IPS online shop.

In addition, the books “Finland-Fenland”, “Wise Use of Mires and Peatlands” and proceedings of the Growing Media symposia were very popular.

IPS Website

IPS has launched its new website in November 2011, consisting of many useful tools for our members. These 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. Work on the pages is ongoing and suggestions for improvements are very welcome.

Online shop

The IPS online shop, opened in 2005 and renewed in 2011, remains a very popular tool for scientists, students, developers, booksellers and other persons ordering books from the IPS. Buyers can browse all publications online, fill their shopping basked and pay immediately by credit card or later on by bank transfer. This has made orders much quicker and easier to handle for the IPS Secretariat. Due to high service fees we accept cheque payments only in exceptional cases for payments over € 500 and to be agreed beforehand with the IPS staff.

Social Media

IPS has regularly shared information on own and related activities, press releases and conference announcements at its new Facebook and LinkedIn pages Currently about 120 persons are following IPS information on these networks, most of which are not yet members of the Society.

The conference dinner brought hundreds of delegates to an old church in the the centre of Québec City.

Counting of IPS Membership 31.12.2011 22.02.2012 SW

Individualmembers

IndustrialCorporateMembers

ResearchInstitutes,

UniversitiesGovernmenta

l InstitutesHonoraryMembers Students TOTAL

Canada 16 40 1 2 2 3 64Czech Republic 15 1 0 0 0 0 16Estonia 0 29 1 2 0 0 32Finland 368 3 0 2 12 0 385Germany 276 56 4 3 11 35 385Hungary 16 1 1 1 2 0 21Indonesia 102 0 0 0 0 0 102Ireland 35 3 0 1 3 0 42Latvia 2 24 0 0 4 0 30Lithuania 1 21 0 0 0 0 22Malaysia 40 4 0 0 0 0 44The Netherlands 57 13 2 2 3 0 77Norway 3 5 1 0 0 0 9Poland 0 3 26 0 1 0 30Sweden 23 25 0 0 1 0 49United Kingdom 25 1 1 2 1 1 31USA 24 4 1 1 3 0 3331 December 2011 1003 233 38 16 43 39 137231 December 2010 1000 276 44 16 45 32 141331 December 2009 998 254 43 15 45 29 138431 December 2008 832 269 50 12 45 30 123831 December 2007 857 259 52 16 43 28 125531 December 2006 829 264 45 11 40 32 122131 December 2005 883 257 46 11 36 0 1234

IndividualMembers

CorporateMembers Students TOTAL

Australia 2 0 0 2Bangladesh 1 0 0 1Belarus 1 1 0 2Belgium 2 2 0 4Burundi 0 1 0 1Chile 0 1 0 1Denmark 2 1 0 3France 0 5 0 5India 1 0 0 1Italy 4 0 0 4Japan 9 1 0 10Pakistan 1 0 0 1Romania 1 0 0 1Serbia 1 0 0 1Singapore 0 0 1 1Slovenia 1 0 0 1South Korea 0 1 0 1Spain 4 0 0 4Taiwan ROC 1 0 0 1Ukraine 0 1 0 131 December 2011 31 14 1 4631 December 2010 29 7 1 3731 December 2009 23 5 0 2831 December 2008 28 6 0 3431 December 2007 26 4 0 3031 December 2006 34 6 3 4331 December 2005 40 4 0 44

December2011

December2010 December 2009

December2008

December2007

December2006

December2005

Balance

NC members 1372 1413 1384 1238 1255 1221 1234 -41NoNC members 46 37 28 34 30 43 44 9

1418 1450 1412 1272 1285 1264 1278 -32

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

Members of the IPS

Table 1: Members of IPS National Committees.

Table 2: IPS members in countries without National Committees.

Table 3: Development of the IPS membership from 2005 to 2011.

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Canada

Dr. Jean-Yves DaigleCanadian Society for Peat and Peatlands196 15 ième Rue Shippagan, NB E8S 1E8 Phone: +1 506 336 6600Fax: +1 506 336 6601E-mail: [email protected]

Secretary:Paul ShortCanadian Sphagnum Peat Moss Association13 Mission Avenue Suite 2208St. Albert, AB T8N 1H6Phone: +1 780 460 8280Fax: +1 780 459 0939E-mail: [email protected]: www.peatmoss.com

Czech Republic

Ing. Karel BrezinaResearch Institute for Soil and Water ConservationZabovreská 250156 27 Praha 5 - ZbraslavPhone: +420 2 5792 1947Fax: +420 2 5792 1246E-mail: [email protected]

Estonia

SecretaryErki NiitlaanEstonian Peat Association Männiku tee 104EE-11216 TallinnPhone: +372 668 1016Fax: +372 668 1018Mobile: +372 552 7327 E-mail: [email protected]: www.turbaliit.ee

IPS National CommitteesIn 2011, the International Peat Society had National Committees in the following countries:

Finland

M.Sc. Riitta KorhonenTilanhoitajankaari 22 C 5500790 HelsinkiMobile: +358 40 524 2486Email: [email protected]: www.suoseura.fi

SecretaryDr. Leila KorpelaFinnish Forest Research InstituteVantaa Research CenterP.O. Box 1801301 VantaaPhone: +358 10 211 2629Fax: +358 10 211 2202E-mail: [email protected]: www.metla.fi

Germany

Dr. Gerfried CaspersDeutsche Gesellschaft für Moor- und Torfkunde e.V.Landesamt für Bergbau, Energie und GeologieStilleweg 2D-30655 HannoverPhone: +49 511 643 3612Fax: +49 511 643 3667 E-mail: [email protected]: www.dgmtev.org

Hungary

Prof. Dr. István SzabóUniversity of Pannonia Festetics Gy. Út. 7H-8360 KeszthelyPhone: +368 354 5242E-mail: [email protected]

Secretary:Dr. Julianna BalázsJegenye u. 35H-8360 KeszthelyHUNGARYEmail: [email protected]

Indonesia

Dr. Bambang SetiadiNational Standardization Agency, IndonesiaManggala, Wanabakti Building, Blok IV, 4 fl.Jl.Jendral Gatot Subroto, SenayanJakarta 10270Phone: +62 21 574 7041Fax: +62 21 574 7045Mobile: +62 816 188 5152E-mail: [email protected]: www.bsn.or.id

Ireland

Dr. Catherine O’ConnellIrish Peat SocietyIrish Peatland Conservation CouncilBog of Allen Nature CentreLullymore, RathanganCo. KildareE-mail: [email protected]

SecretaryMr. Pat FitzgeraldBord na Móna p.l.c.Main StreetNewbridge, Co. KildareE-mail: [email protected]: www.bnm.ie

Latvia

Mr. Valerijs KozlovsLatvian Peat Producers’ AssociationBauskas str. 20LV-1004 RigaTel.: +371 6 760 5096Fax: +371 6 762 7810E-mail: [email protected]: www.peat.lv

SecretaryMrs. Ilze OzolaLatvian Peat Producers AssociationBauskas 20Riga, LV 1004Phone: +371 6760 5096Fax: +371 762 7810E-mail: [email protected]


Lithuania

Mr. Giedrius Kavaliauskas IPS Lithuanian National CommitteeKauno g. 17LT-53387 Ezerelis, Kauno rajonasPhone: +370 375 34260Fax: +370 375 34292E-mail: giedrius.kavaliauskas@ ezerelio-durpes.lt

Secretary Mr. Juozas DaukantasIPS Lithuanian National CommitteeSecretariatM. Marcinkeviciaus Str. 5 - 40LT-08412 VilniusE-mail: [email protected]: www.asocdurpes.lt

Malaysia

Peter Sawal (since January 2012)Natural Resources &Environment Board Sarawak18-20th Floor Menara Pelita93050 Kuching, SarawakPhone +60 82 319 502E-mail: [email protected]

SecretaryDr. Lulie MellingTropical Peat Research LaboratoryChief Minister’s DepartmentJalan Badruddin93400 Kuching, SarawakE-mail: [email protected]

The Netherlands

Drs. A.H.P. van BerckelIntervema BV Burg. J.G. Legroweg 86 9761 TD Eelde Phone: +31 50 309 5950Email: [email protected]

SecretaryDr. A.J. SchilstraNederlands VeengenootschapHoofdstraat 1529355 TE MidwoldePhone: +31 594 513701Fax: +31 50 363 7168 E-mail: [email protected]: www.veengenootschap.nl

Norway

Magnus Valen-SendstadNorske Torv- og Jordprodusenters BransjeforbundHerremyr GårdN-2150 ÅrnesPhone: +4763909505Fax: +4763902495Mobile: +4792235606E-mail: [email protected]

SecretaryTrond HaraldsenBioforsk jord og miljöFredrik A. Dahls vei 20N-1432 ÅsEmail: [email protected]

Poland

Prof. Dr. Lech Wojciech Szajdak Doctor Honoris CausaPolish Academy of SciencesInstitute for Agricultural and Forest Environmentul. Bukowska 19PL-60-809 PoznanTel.: +48 61 847 5601Fax: +48 61 847 3668Email: [email protected], [email protected]

SecretaryDr. Katarzyna StylaPolish Academy of SciencesInstitute for Agricultural and Forest Environmentul. Bukowska 19PL-60-809 Poznan

Sweden

Mr. Stefan ÖstlundNeova ABBox 1143824 13 HudiksvallE-mail: [email protected]: +46 650 547 417, +46 70 665 98 80

SecretariatMr. Claes Rülcker TorvforskTorsgatan 12S-111 23 StockholmPhone: +46 8441 7073Fax: +46 8441 7089E-mail: [email protected]: www.torvforsk.se

United Kingdom

Mr. R.A. RobertsonHelensburgh

SecretaryProf. Jack RieleyThe Pingle1 Closes Side LaneEast BridgfordNottingham NG13 8NAPhone: +44 1949 20920E-mail: [email protected]

USA

Mr. Donald N. Grubich10105 White City RoadBritt, MN 55710Phone: +1 218 741 2813Fax: +1 218 741 2813E-mail: [email protected]

SecretaryDr. Thomas J. Malterer2201 Vermilion RoadDuluth MN 55803E-mail: [email protected]

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Standing Committee on Peatlands and Climate Change

Prof. Mats NilssonSwedish University of Agricultural SciencesSkogsmarksgränd901 83 Umeå, SwedenE-mail: [email protected]

Commission I - Stratigraphy, inventory and conservation of peatlands

Dr. Lars LundinDepartment of Soil and EnvironmentSwedish University of Agricultural SciencesP.O. Box 7014S-750 07 Uppsala, SwedenTel. +46 18 671070E-mail: [email protected]

Vice Chair:Ass. Professor Maria Strack Department of GeographyUniversity of Calgary, CanadaE-mail: [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 SchmilewskiKlasmann-Deilmann GmbHMoorgutsweg 2D-26683 Saterland-Sedelsberg, GermanyTel.: +49 4492 8275E-mail: [email protected]

Secretary:Pat FitzgeraldBord na Móna Main Street Newbridge, Co. Kildare, Ireland Mobile: +353 86 256 5825E-mail: [email protected]

Working Groups: Energy Peat, Horticultural Peat (HOPE WG)

Commission III - Agricultural use of peatlands and peat

Prof. Dr. Lech Wojciech Szajdak Polish Academy of SciencesInstitute for Agricultural and Forest Environmentul. Bukowska 19PL-60-809 Poznan, PolandTel.: +48 61 847 5601Email: szajlech@man. poznan.pl, [email protected]

Commission IV - Chemical, physical and biological characteristics of peat

Prof. Jürgen Schoenherr Institut für Technologie-entwicklung, Torf- und Naturstoff-ForschungZittau/Görlitz University of Applied SciencesTheodor-Körner-Allee 16D-02763 Zittau, GermanyPhone: +49 3583 61 2304E-mail: [email protected]: www.hs-zigr.de/itn

Commission V - Restoration, rehabilitation and after-use of peatlands

Dr. Catherine Farrell Bord na Móna Energy LimitedBoora, LeabegTullamore, Co. Offaly, Irelandoffice: +358 506 45900mobile: +358 87 242 5471e-mail: [email protected]

IPS Commissions and Working GroupsIn 2011, the International Peat Society had the following Commissions and Working Groups:

Working Groups: Forest Plantation on Cutover Peatlands, Cloudberry production in peatlands

Commission VI - Peat balneology, medicine and therapeutics

Riitta KorhonenTilanhoitajankaari 22 C 5500790 Helsinki, FinlandEmail: [email protected]

Commission VII - Ecology and management of forested peatlands

Dr. Hannu HökkäFinnish Forest Research InstituteRovaniemi Research UnitP.O. Box 16FI-96301 Rovaniemi, FinlandMobile: +358 10 211 4528E-mail: [email protected]

Vice Chair:Dr. Florence Renou-WilsonLetterkenny, Co. Donegal, IrelandE-mail: [email protected]

Commission VIII - Cultural aspects of peat and peatlands

Dr. Michiel GerdingParkstraat49401 LJ Assen, the NetherlandsTel: +33 592 315435Fax: +33 592 331079 E-mail: [email protected]

Commission IX - Tropical peatlands

Prof. Jack RieleyThe Pingle1 Closes Side LaneEast BridgfordNottingham NG13 8NAUnited KingdomPhone: +44 1949 20920E-mail: [email protected]


Commission I: Stratigraphy, Inventory and ConservationChair: 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. Each of these subjects could constitute a working group. A perspective is to achieve 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 been members from 13 countries; Belarus, Canada, Estonia, Finland, Greece, Hungary, the Netherlands, Norway, Ireland, Russia, Sweden,

Reports of Commissions

U.K. and U.S. An invitation was sent out from the IPS Secretariat for all IPS members to sign up to Commissions. Replies showed for Commission I 69 names from 17 countries having interest. There has also been a start of Working groups (WG); Geology, Ecology and Hydrology. However, activities in the groups have been small during 2011.

Activities and Plans

The priorities of the Commission I remain with Inventory, Stratigraphy and Conservation of mires and peatlands with special relation to the working groups.

Two Scientific Advisory Board (SAB) meetings have been held;1. Stockholm on March 7-8, 2011 in conjunction with EB meetings March 8-9, 2011. At this meeting the programme and venue for IPC 2012 was discussed and studied.2. Quebec, Canada June 13 in conjunction with IPS and ISHS International Symposium on Responsible Peatland Management and Growing Media Production

and also with the IPS Annual Assembly. Combined with the event were the Canadian workshop; Towards Responsible Peatland Management in Canada and a workshop on Sphagnum farming. The IPS meetings were followed by a multilateral meeting between IPS, CSPMA, IPS EB, SAB and Commission II to discuss in detail several very important peat and peatland issues.

Issues addressed at the meetings were IPS Strategy on Responsible Peatland Management, the new formed Cross Cutting Commission on Climate Change, web site, Journal Mires and Peat, Best Practice Guidelines for After use of Cutaway Peatlands and IPC 2012 and 2016. Also included were Questionnaire on the uses of peatlands and peat and a presentation on ecosystem services of peatlands. Commission I invited to a Commission meeting on June 14 but simultaneous meetings and an excursion hampered the participation.

The Commission chair participated in a Swedish peat conference on “Road-map to sustainable peat use (In Swedish: “Vägar till ett hållbart torvbruk”); Strategies and need for knowledge” arranged on August 31, 2011 by the Royal Swedish Academy of Agriculture and Forestry in cooperation with the Swedish Peat Research Foundation and IPC 2012.

As current activities, the Commission I participates in the initiative on Wise After-Use of Peatlands; Rehabilitation and Restoration. In connection to this, the Commission follows current issues in relation to increasing need of biofuel and consequences of peat use for climate change with reporting to IPCC and preservation of

There were presentations for every interest at the Québec symposium.

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biodiversity with connections to IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature). There are connections also to IMCG. In relation to hydrology, intentions are on ongoing initiatives for reference sites in an international network.

The Commission I is also active in the planning of IPC 2012 as organiser and in the scientific commission. There are presently no specific plans for further activities beyond IPC 2012. This should be discussed at the Commission meeting at IPC 2012 in June.

Commission II: Utilisation of Peat and Peatlands for Horticulture, Energy and Other Economic Purposes, Chair: Gerald Schmilewski Peat production and peat use for horticultural and energy purposes comprise the main subjects of activity of Commission II. Discussions at and between Commission II meetings on peat production, environmental issues, supporting the development of a European Certification for responsibly produced peat, and activities in the Scientific Committee of the IPC 2012 have been some the main topics for our Commission in 2011. The work conducted by the Commission and other achievements made during 2011 are summarized below.

International Symposium on Responsible Peatland Management and Growing Media Production, Quebec, 15-17 June, 2011

This was a joint event of IPS Commissions II and V and supported by the International Society for Horticultural Science (ISHS).

Session 9 “Future regulations and Certification of growing media based on peat and other materials” was chaired by the chair of Commission II. A number of IPS Commission II delegates were able to attend. After the symposium a Sphagnum workshop was organized in Shippagan, New Brunswick. Thanks Canada for a great symposium!

Commission II meeting in a multilateral Session

A joint meeting of the IPS EB, IPS SAB, IPS Commission II and the CSPMA was held during the Quebec symposium (chaired by Paul Short). The purpose was to discuss mutual topics of interest peat production certification systems, LCAs, climate change, horticultural peat and alternatives, energy peat, emerging issues, etc. All delegates at the meeting are gratefully thanked for their engagement and contributions.

Spain revisited – International Symposium on Growing Media,

Composting and Substrate Analysis in Barcelona; 17-21 October 2011

A crowd of 120 followed the invitation of the International Society for Horticultural Science/Commission Plant Substrates and IPS Commission II to discuss scientific and practical issues. Next to physical, chemical and biological topics – from European Standards to peat alternatives – also ‘Sustainability’ was a keyword during the symposium. These ISHS symposia have been organized biannually in different countries since the 1950s and for the fourth time last year as joint ISHS/IPS symposia. Commission II representation

Dutch Peat Supply Chain

The chairs of Commissions II and IX were invited to join an ad hoc WG on ‘Enhancing the Sustainability of the Peat Supply Chain for Dutch Horticulture’. Meetings resulted in a Report on the ‘Sustainable Peat Supply Chain’ (June 2011). Following this work, financed by the Dutch Government, an Executive Committee was set up to develop Principles and Criteria for

Discussions continued during the breaks, here Magnus Brandel from Sweden, Kari Mutka from Finland, Gerald Schmilewski from Germany and Pat Fitzgerald from Ireland (left to right).


responsibly produced peat. The final objective of this work is to develop a European certification system for responsibly produced peat which will be based on the IPS Strategy for responsible Peatland Management and the EPAGMA Code of Practice.

Peat phase out objective in England

In its White Paper of June 2011 the UK Government announced that the use of peat in all areas of horticultural should be (voluntarily) phased out by 2030. Commission II Chair participated in a UK Consultation process and was later invited to give a talk entitled ‘Can we sustain Horticulture without Peat?’. Commission II will be further engaged in the UK developments.

Commission II supporting EPAGMA efforts

The European Peat and Growing Media Association (EPAGMA), is strongly engaged in pushing forward an EU regulation on growing media. This tedious work that will hopefully tear down trade barriers within the EU is strongly supported by Commission II. This engagement and that of other stakeholders is now leading to the revision of Fertilisers

Regulation 2003/2003 in which growing media (most growing media are peat-based) and soil improvers will be covered. The chair of Commission II and a representative of Bord na Mona will attend WG meetings on this issue for the coming years.

Commission III: Agricultural use of peatlands and peatChair: Lech Szajdak

Peatland protection conference in Tlen

Commission III of IPS together with the Polish National Committee of IPS, the Committee on Land Reclamation and Agricultural Environment Engineering, Polish Academy of Sciences and Institute for Agricultural and Forest Environment, Polish Academy of Sciences, Poznan, Poland organized a International Conference on “Necessity of Peatlands Protection” in Tlen, Bory Tucholskie, Central Poland. The main topics of the conference were: (1) peatlands and forest areas, (2) protection of peatlands in agricultural and forestry landscape, (3) multifunction of peatlands.

During three sessions, distinguished leading scientists, young researchers and students presented 44 papers including, 13 oral lectures, and 31 posters. The conference was addressed to young scientists who have been involved in this problem recently. 50 Polish, Estonian, Russian, Belarusian, Ukrainian and Rumanian scientists attended the conference.

The organizing committee of this conference decided to publish monograph on “Necessity of Peatlants Protection” in 2012. This compendium will be published before 14th International Peat Congress in 2012. In addition, the monograph will be dedicated to Prof. Tomasz Brandyk, very famous person of our international peat family.

The participants pointed out that long-term cultivation and agricultural use of peatlands and their exploitation has revealed a number of effects including lowering of the water table, increasing of aeration, changes in plant communities, and the release of carbon gases. These processes show the disturbance of the thermodynamic balance in peat. In addition, the decline in peat soil moisture content resulting from drainage leads to shrinkage of the peat is observed.

Volume change due to shrinkage is the result of several forces acting at micro-scale, and its mechanism and magnitude differ from those in mineral (clay) soils. Drainage in particular results in a sharp change of biotic and abiotic conversions and consequent degradation of peat organic matter. As results of drainage and due to a number of factors including oscillation of ground water level, changes of aerobic conditions, different plant communities, root exudates and products of degradation of plant

Also the open air picknick at Université Laval was a great opportunity to chat with old friends and new colleagues.

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remains, peat-muck soils may undergo a process of secondary transformation.

The conference took place in Tlen, located in the Bory Tucholskie National Park - in the heart of Poland from 1st to 2nd of September 2011. The location of the conference in the Bory Tucholskie National Park was chosen due to many long-term studies being held there. The aim of the studies conducted in Bory Tucholskie was to learn about biotic and abiotic processes and mechanisms, which proceed in organic soils. Heterogenic properties of humus in organic soils contain chemical compounds characterized by unknown and well-known structures that have an impact on the chemical, biochemical, physical and biological processes in this raw material.

The Park forms the core of the Tuchola Forest Biosphere Reserve, designated by UNESCO in 2010. It covers the area of 250 thousand ha. including the forests, peatlands, lakes, and meadows. The Bory Tucholskie Forest shows one the biggest forest complexes in Poland. It covers the entire area and is thickly forested (mainly pine, oak, and birch), rich in unpolluted rivers and lakes. This area represents a natural habitat for a variety of plant and animal species.

Publishing activity

In 2011 several members of Commission III of IPS were involved in the publishing of two chapters: i) Peatlands: Environmental Functions (Tadeusz J. Chmielewski and Danuta Urban) and ii) Peats and

Peatlands, Physical Properties (Lech Wojciech Szajdak, Jan Szatyłowicz and Raimo Kõlli) in Encyclopedia of Agrophysics by Springer, Dordrecht, The Netherlands. These two chapters promote peat knowledge and are addressed to researchers, students, journalists and policymakers. The Encyclopaedia of Agrophysics contains 1070 pages, 450 illustrations, 50 in colour.

Furthermore, the Encyclopaedia of Agrophysics encloses 261 excellent articles and 400 glossary terms that are arranged in alphabetical order. Each article includes “cross-references” that direct the reader to one or more other articles that may shed more light on the topic. The Encyclopaedia of Agrophysics can serve as a reference document for researchers, students of various levels, librarians, policy- and decision-makers, and interested societies working and studying in a range of disciplines related to agrophysics. The Encyclopaedia of Agrophysics deals with the problem of physical properties and mechanisms affecting the quality of the environment and plant production.

In 2011 new book on Research Methods in Plant Sciences Vol. 1, Soil Allelochemicals by Studiun Press LLC, Houston, Texas, USA

was published. Allelopathy is a newly emerging multidisciplinary field of agricultural research which greatly contributed to the advancement of various fields of agriculture and plant sciences. The inventor of this line of research Prof. S.S. Narwal from International Allelopathy Foundation has invited as the co-editors Prof. L.W. Szajdak (Poland - chairmen of the commission III of IPS) and Prof. D.S. Sampietro (Argentina) and over twenty authors from several countries as contributors to the eighteen chapters in three sections covering all aspects concerning allelopathy phenomenon in soil and plant sciences.

The book includes the methods for the determination of organic compounds of well-known structure in soils. Therefore, it shows suitable compendium of analytical methods. Certainly, this book will be greatly welcomed by plant physiologists and agricultural specialists including plant protection and soil sciences. This compendium contains highly useful and interesting information on soil allelochemicals which play highly important role in securing high yields and plant health based on resistance to abiotic factors and to plant pathogenic microorganisms.

Later on, Dr Jean Caron took the opportunity to show the experiment greenhouses of the university to the international guests.


This year many members of the Commission III carried out researches, which results were published in the following scientific journals: Archives of Agronomy and Soil Science, Agronomy Research, Agrophysics International, Biology and Fertility of Soils, Geoderma, Plant and Soil, Soil Biology and Biochemistry and others.

Conclusion

Prof. Lech Wojciech Szajdak the chairman of the Commission III would like to express his gratitude towards the members who participated in the meetings and the people who have worked voluntary for the Commission III.

Commission V: Restoration, rehabilitation and after-use of peatlandsChair: Catherine Farrell

March 2011 IPS EB and SAB meetings in Stockholm, Sweden

The focus of these meetings was to carry out regular SAB business but also to meet and interact with the local organising

committee for IPC 2012. Amongst the matters discussed at the SAB were: the need to promote the Strategy on Responsible Peatland Management; to update the Global Inventory on Peatlands and to collate information and provide guidance on the Best Practice for After-Use of Peatlands (more later).

June 2011 Responsible Peatland Management and Growing Media Production, Québec, Canada

This joint IPS symposium between Commission V (After-use) and Commission II (Horticulture) and our Canadian colleagues was hugely successful with representative from a number of countries. The meeting addressed a number of topics including an insightful update on the 10 year Bois de Bel project in Quebec, a session on Sphagnum farming and overview of restoration practices across Europe with excellent excursions. The inclusion of a strong contribution from members of the carbon and GHG community enhanced the event greatly. http://www.peatlands2011.ulaval.ca/11218.html

Best Practice Guidelines for Restoration of Peatlands

The Commission V Chair outlined at the Stockholm meeting the thought process behind this concept, which had surfaced at a number of meetings since Belfast 2009. There is a ‘perceived need’ for guidance to managers (and also by peat customers) on (a) selecting the best after-use and restoration measures for peatland sites, and (b) being assured that the site you are buying peat from will be managed in the best possible fashion post-production (certification related possibly?).

While the matter was discussed at the Stockholm and Quebec meetings there has been no development other than including a chapter on restoration in the Practical Application of Wise Use Guidelines document being developed by Jack Rieley and Donal Clarke (circulated to all IPS members for comment).

It is hoped that in the near future there will be a web interface whereby managers and consumers can access data on restoration projects and how to select best practice measures based on site conditions. It was noted that the work by the IMCG on the Peatland Restoration Manual was a move towards this and there will be some query as to the status of that work. See: http://www.imcg.net/media/download_gallery/books/gprm_01.pdf

Global Inventory of Peatlands

It was also agreed at the SAB meetings that there is a need to update the global data on peatlands. Options were considered as to how to best achieve that and it was agreed that an online excel sheet posted by

During the excursions, also impressive Canadian peat vacuum harvesters could be seen and investigated.

25

IPS would allow visitors to update peatland data. This was circulated to IPS member in 2011 but there has been a very poor response. This could dovetail with the work already started by the IMCG in 2004. See: http://www.imcg.net/pages/publications/imcg-materials.php

October 2011 Developing a National Peatland Strategy: a study tour and conference workshop; Irish Peat Society.

Speakers in attendance from Ireland, Germany and Finland discussed the development of a national peatland strategy for Ireland in light of the huge pressure to stop turf cutting on Irish Raised Bogs. The Irish Peat Society is now on Facebook – sign up to see photos from our recent workshops.

Review of Bord na Móna Biodiversity Action Plan 2010-2015

The plan was reviewed by consultees and a followed fieldtrip to a bog restoration project in County Roscommon. Attendees included members of EPA, NPWS, community groups and a range of wildlife interest groups. www.bordnamona.ie/our-company/biodiversity/

Future Events

At this point in time, there are a number of events for your diaries and these will be added to over the coming year. The main events are:

3-8 June: Peatlands in Balance, International Peat Congress, Stockholm www.ipc2012.se

26-28 June: Joint BES IUCN Symposium 2012; Investing in Peatlands – Demonstrating Success; Bangor University, UK www.tiny.cc/r5l51

9-14 Sept: the 8th European Conference on Ecological Restoration, Czech Republic http://www.ecer2012.eu/

Commission VI: Peat Balneology, Medicine and Therapeutics Chair: Riitta Korhonen

Commission VI has not had any special activities in 2011. Riitta Korhonen has been a member of the Scientific Committee of the 14th International Peat Congress. In Finland, a Symposium on “Multiple use of Peat and Mires” was held on 8th February 2011 with 100 participants, organized by the Finnish Peatland Society.

There were three presentations on Peat Balneology: Riitta Korhonen: 20 Year´s Research on Peat Balneology at the Geological Survey of Finland, Leena Larva: A pilot study into the influence of the Finnish peat sauna on the climacteric symptoms of women, and Annikki Hagros-Koski: Peat treatments for scalp problems.

Commission VII: Ecology and Management of Forested PeatlandsChair: Hannu Hökkä

During 2011, the commission members received two information letters from the chairperson by email.

Several commission VII members from Finland have been involved in the COST action FP601 ‘Forest management and the water cycle’, which ended in May 2011.

In the Finnish Forest Research Institute the research program ‘Production forestry in drained peatlands’ was completed in late 2011. In a follow-up evaluation, the program’s contribution to the practical forestry was considered valuable through dissemination of new knowledge on e.g., methods of water protection, methods of timber production and harvesting, and methods of regeneration of peatland forests.

Commission VII members are involved in the arrangements of meeting ‘Nordic water 2012’, which will be held in Oulu, Finland, on August 13 - 15 2012.

An English written book on peatland forest management

Several interesting presentations on Canadian companies were given during the final excursion of the conference.


by Juhani Päivänen and Björn Hånell has been under efficient preparation in 2011 and will be published in early 2012.

A new report giving practical guidance on the plantation of trees on cutaway peatlands has been published by GRET in Canada (French only) and is available at: www.gret-perg.ulaval.ca

Hugron S., Bussières B. & Rochefort L. 2011. Plantation d’essences forestières dans le contexte de la restauration écologique des tourbières: un guide pratique. Groupe de Recherche en Ecologie des Tourbières, Université Laval, Québec, 88p.

Commission VIII: Cultural Aspects of Peat and PeatlandsChair: Michiel Gerding

On an international level so far there has not been much activity within the Commission. An article by the Chair on the relationship between peat extraction and the construction of waterways was published in Peatlands International.

Much effort had been put by the Chair in the organisation of the World Canals Conference 2011 which took place in the city of Groningen in the Netherlands in September. More than 200 participants from 14 countries got together to discuss the developments regarding inland waterways and their navigability.

In the North of the Netherlands and the adjoining German areas there are canal systems which are closely linked to the peat extraction in the past. They were build from the 17th century onwards to dehydrate the bogs and to transport the peat.The last 60 years these canals lost their function as a means of transport. Part of the canal system has been filled in and bridges and locks have been removed.

In the last decade the remaining waterways are being revitalised for touristic and economic purposes. Derelict stretches of canals are under reconstruction to create an interlinked canal network again. Large investments are being made. The field excursions clearly showed how much this area of the country bears the mark of this peat related past. A presentation by a 17 year old high school pupil met with a lot of admiration when he showed his audience the ongoing reconstruction in a

geographic information system of all the waterways which have been in operation in the peat area of Groningen and Drenthe. It is estimated that more than 8.000 km waterways have been in operation in the course of 400 years.

Naturpark Moor. A German-Dutch initiative

The Dutch nature reserve Bargerveen and the adjoining peat areas in the German Emsland will be linked together and, once the German peat extraction activities are over, be transformed into one large crossing border reservation. Large scale rewetting will be one of the main features. Touristic and recreational goals go hand in hand with this development. “Peat Gates”, information centres, are being created to lure the visitor on to the bogs. Plans for the reconstruction of a peatlands railway between a German and a Dutch museum were abandoned after cost-benefit analyses.The Emsland Moormuseum has plans to make a comprehensive study of the peatland history of Lower-Saxony in cooperation with the university of Oldenburg.

IPC 2012

The call for papers yielded not enough response to justify a separate session in Stockholm. This is partly the result of the difficulty in acquiring sufficient funding for Commission VIII target groups to take part in a congress which lies outside their primary focus.

Commission IX: Tropical PeatlandsChair: Jack Rieley

Members have been pursuing a range of interests during the year in research and information dissemination. Some of these

Conference delegates listening to the presentations at the Annual Assembly of the IPS.

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are highlighted below together with meetings and projects that Commission IX members attended, organised and presented at.

IPS Convention 2011

At the IPS Annual Convention that was held in Quebec in June 2011 there were too few members of Commission IX in attendance to hold a formal meeting.

New Chair of Malaysian Peat Society

Peter Sawal, Controller of the Natural Resources and Environment Board Sarawak is the new Chair of the Malaysian Peat Society. Lulie melling, Director of the Tropical Peat Research Laboratory continues as secretary while former President of the Society Dato James Dawos is now adviser to the Society.

Technical Workshop on Best Management Practices for Sustainable Peatland Management

This workshop was held in Palangka Raya, Central Kalimantan on 15-18 June 2011. The principal organiser was the Global Environment Centre (GEC) together with a local institute for environmental study, education and training. The objective of the event, which was attended by 34 participants from eight ASEAN countries was to build capacity amongst those involved in peatland conservation in order to transfer knowledge and share experiences to implement better practices throughout the region.

Second Asia Carbon Forum

This was held in Bandung, Indonesia on 15-17 February 2012 with the topic ”Tackle

Climate Change Issues Among Asian Countries”. The aim of the forum was to (1) share ideas and experiences on the implementation of low carbon economy, (2) update the on-going initiatives and progress on Asia’s mitigation actions to reduce GHG emissions and (3) develop potential collaborative efforts among Asian countries to tackle climate change issues. The meeting consisted of plenary and keynote presentations and technical sessions on a wide range of topics.

Centre for Tropical Peat Swamp Forest Restoration and Conservation

This is a partnership of stakeholders in tropical peatland based in Pekanbaru, Sumatra. The Executive Director is Haris Gunawan and so far the foundation has 117 members and associates. Its vision is to promote integrated research and action for people and environment. It has several action plans and programmes including:

1. “Restoration of Logged Over Forest Areas for Promotion of Sustainable Local Community Livelihoods and Ecosystem Services of Temiang Village in Bukit Batu Forest Block in The Giam Siak Kecil

Bukit Batu Biosphere Reserve, Riau, East Sumatra”.

2. “Development of Meranti Batu (Shorea uliginosa) for Promotion of Bio Resources Conservation and Biotenol Production by Communities Involvement in the Degraded Peat Swamp Forest Ecosystem in Riau, East Sumatra.

Malaysia National Action Plan for Peatlands

Malaysia has put in place laws and regulations for the sustainable management of peatland that covers prevention of peat fires and loss of biodiversity. Malaysia will continue to contribute to the achievement of the ASEAN Management Initiative (APMI) and the ASEAN Peatland management Strategy (APMS)

14th International Peat Congress Stockholm June 2012

More than 60 papers and posters have been accepted for presentation at IPC14 and a meeting of Commission IX will be held at which officers for the ensuing 4 years will be elected.

National representatives, Secretary General and President working for the future of the Society.


Reports of National Committees

Canada

Governance:

Environment Canada has engaged with the industry in a program to improve the understanding of the amount and rate at which horticultural peatlands will be developed and restored. The project is linked to evaluating emission mitigation and the reporting and accounting of GHG’s.Federal programs related to trade challenges and development opportunities for horticultural peat were investigated.

A Canadian National Workshop was held during the International peat symposium in Quebec City. The June workshop facilitated the exchange of information, statistics and know-how on Canadian peatland management. Provincially there has been a continued growth in the responsible management of peatland resources.

Alberta completed drafting a regional plan which acknowledges the role of commercial horticultural peat harvesting as an existing resource use. Wetland Policy development reached a draft stage and further discussion on wetland mitigation practices are under consideration. Internally the Department of Sustainable Development developed a peat management framework.

Manitoba continued the development of its Peatland Stewardship Strategy.A new ministry was formed called Conservation and Water Stewardship; which will oversee the development of the Peat Strategy and the creation of new legislation and regulations during the 2 year moratorium on new

quarry leases and quarry permit. The moratorium does permit the issuing of environmental permits and licenses for existing quarry leases.

Quebec’s government has continued with the amendments to the legislation which regulates the management and development of the peat industry. The government also announced Plan Nord, a strategic land use and development plan which will impact the peat industry. The Quebec peat producers Association has been engaged in the legislative and planning changes.

Research

The 10 year results at Bois de Bel produced excellent results regarding biodiversity, hydrology and GHG emissions from a restored bog. The Peatland Ecological Research Group (PERG) under the stewardship of the Industrial Research Chair will be releasing the results in the coming year. The Bic Saint-Fabien fen and wet meadow restoration work is continuing.

In June the International Symposium: Responsible Peatland Management and Growing Media Production attracted 263 participants from 15 different countries. Congratulations to the co-chair organizers Dr. Line Rochefort and Dr. Jean Caron.

Industry

Continuous and heavy rainfall conditions throughout Eastern

Canadian peat harvest regions impacted the ability of the industry to harvest. The areas hardest hit were the provinces of New Brunswick and Québec. These areas account for 60 to 70 percent of all of Canada’s peat production. The outcome was that overall the industry faced its poorest peat harvest season. The industry worked with its commercial business partners to minimize the short term impacts for the horticultural and agricultural industries.

Scientific Certification Systems (SCS) of California, the independent agency that has worked with the peat industry, government regulators and the scientific research community issued the final approval of the VeriFlora® - Responsibly Managed Peatland certification (www.veriflora.com). The number of Canadian producers that are or will be achieving certification is currently at a level where the majority of the commercial horticultural peat produced in Canada will be certified.

An Environmental Product Fact Sheet was published that provided

CSPMA President and IPS 2nd Vice President Paul Short at the Québec symposium.

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the quantitative environmental information on the life cycle of Canadian peat in horticulture. Further work is being carried out to upgrade the Environmental LCA as well as conducting a Socio/Economic LCA. The results of the new information should be available in early 2012.

The Quebec Peat Association (APTHQ) and the New Brunswick Peat Producer Association (NBPPA) have continued to provide support to provincial as well as national sustainability, communications and market development interests. Work has begun with the NBPPA and the Canadian Sphagnum Peat Moss Association (CSPMA) on initial biodiversity statements and the development of a Corporate Sustainability Report.

The Canadian Sphagnum Peat Moss Association (CSPMA) endorsed the International Peat Societies publication Strategy for Responsible Peatland Management, as well as producing its own document Sustainability Canadian Horticultural Peat Industry: Position Paper. Both documents were widely distributed among government agencies, academic institutions and the horticultural communities. During the international symposium in Quebec City a bilateral meeting of the IPS Executive Board and the Scientific Advisory Committee was held with the CSPMA Board of Directors.

Paul Short, Canadian Sphagnum Peat Moss Association

Finland

The Finnish Peatland Society - Suoseura was again very active in 2011. The year started with a seminar about the ”Balneological, therapeutic and medical use of

peat as well as other versatile uses of peat and mires”. The seminar was held to celebrate the Chair of the Society, Senior Researcher Riitta Korhonen’s retirement from the Geological Survey of Finland (GTK).

Another whole day seminar was arranged in connection with the annual spring meeting, about the newly published ”Proposal of a national strategy for responsible utilization and conservation of mires and peatlands in Finland”.

“Peatlands in agriculture” was the topic of oral presentations in connection with the regular annual autumn meeting in the end of the year 2011. Traditionally the meetings and seminars were open to anyone interested, without any attending fees. Our yearly autumn excursion was arranged in the middle of September to the southern aapa mires in Northern Ostrobothnia.

Meetings and seminars

1) A seminar on “Balneological, therapeutic and medical use of peat and versatile uses of peatlands and mires” was held at the Geological Survey of Finland (GTK) in Espoo on 8 February 2011 with 100 participants. There were three presentations on peat

balneology: Senior Researcher, Mrs. Riitta Korhonen: 20 Years Research on Peat Balneology at the Geological Survey of Finland, Specialist Doctor, Mrs. Leena Larva: A pilot study into the influence of the Finnish peat sauna on the climacteric symptoms of women, and Hair Specialist (B.Sc.) Mrs. Annikki Hagros-Koski: Peat treatments for scalp problems.

The topics of the other six presentations were about the recreational use of mires and peat (Mr. Reino Haanpää), about the therapeutic use of peat as products (MD. Mr. Heikki Ruha), about peat textiles (peat textile artist, Mrs. Papu Marjatta Pirtola), about the former (1996-2000) development programme ”Livelihood from peatlands” and its results, carried out in Western Finland (M.For.Sc., Mr. Hannu Salo), and how the quite new National Park ”Leivonmäki” with its mires was born in Central Finland (M.Sc., Mrs. Lea-Elina Nikkilä). There will be a special number about these subjects in the first issue of Suo 63(1)/2012 (www.suoseura/suo).

2) In connection with the annual spring meeting at the House of Estates, in Helsinki on 23 March 2011, a seminar about the newly published “Proposal of a national

Finnish peatlands are among the most beautiful in the world, here in spring at Leivonmäki National Park.


strategy for responsible utilization and conservation of mires and peatlands in Finland” was held.

The seminar gathered 53 participants. At this meeting, experts from different fields explained what kind of changes the new strategy will bring to different sectors using peatlands and mires in the future; in mire conservation (Nature Conservation Controller, Mr. Pekka Salminen, Ministry of Environment, Nature Conservation Manager Mr. Eero Kaakinen ELY-Centre of Ostrobothnia), in the regional development and planning sector (Project Manager, Mr. Ismo Karhu, Regional Council of Oulu), in peat research (Ph.D., Mr. Kimmo Virtanen, GTK), for energy peat and the peat industry (M.For.Sc., Mr. Hannu Salo, Association of Finnish Peat Industries), in the forestry sector (Manager in Forestry Mr. Hannu Niemelä, Forestry Development Centre Tapio), in agriculture (Senior Researcher, Mrs. Merja Myllys, MTT Agrifood Research Finland), in mire and peatland restoration (Senior Researcher, Mrs. Kaisu Aapala), in the balance of Carbon emissions and sources (Ph.D.,

Mr. Kari Minkkinen, University of Helsinki), and how the new strategy succeeded in taking all these sectors in consideration (Senior Inspector, Mr. Aimo Aalto, Ministry of Employment and the Economy). At the end of the seminar, also a panel discussion was arranged.

3) In connection with the annual autumn meeting

on 22 November 2011 with 20 participants, two oral presentations were held. The subjects of the presentations were the research of agricultural use of peatlands and its environmental effects by Senior Researcher, Mrs. Merja Myllys (MTT Agrifood Research Finland) and how the new farmland cleared on peatlands in the 2000s is a big challenge for climate and agriculture politics in Finland by Ph. D., Mrs. Kristiina Regina (MTT Agrifood Research Finland).

Excursions

1) A spring excursion to the mires of Belarus was arranged in co-operation with the Finland-Belarus Society (www.svvs.fi ). Suoseura offered the possibility to take part in this excursion to its members during 5 - 10 May 2011. A report with numerous photos by Dr. Pertti Lahermo has been published in Suo 62 (2)/ 2011 and also on the Society’s website: www.suoseura.fi.

2)The traditional autumn excursion was arranged to the southern aapa mires of Ostrobothnia region in Finland.

Thirty members of Suoseura took part in this two-day excursion. The purpose of the excursion was to get acquainted with how the new peatland strategy works in practise and also to get familiar with the new mire programmes of that area and especially to see the beautiful aapa mires. A summary of that excursion (by Dr. Eila Tillman-Sutela) will be published in Suo 63(1) 2012.

Publications

In 2011, Finnish Peatland Society published the 62th volume of the quarterly journal of SUO (Mires and Peat), with altogether 74 pages and 450 copies. More information is available at www.suoseura.fi/Suo.

Activities in the IPS

In every IPS Commission, there is a national representative from the Finnish Peatland Society.Many members of the Finnish Peatland Society attended the IPS meeting in Quebec City, Canada in June. Also many of our members have been actively taking part in the arrangements of the 14th International Peat Congress, to be held in Stockholm, 3-8 June 2012, during the year 2011. More information about the Finnish Peatland Society can be found at www.suoseura.fi.

Riitta Korhonen, Chair Leila Korpela, Secretary

Germany

Activities of the German Peat Society (DGMT - Deutsche Gesellschaft für Moor- und Torfkunde e. V.) can be found at www.dgmtev.de.

Symposia and seminars organized by the DGMT

17.-19.3.2011: „Peatlands and Water – facing a position“, held by DGMT-sections I and V in Plön/Schleswig-Holstein. www.dgmtev.

Information for the public remains an important task also in Finland, here a guide board in Leivonmäki.

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de/downloads/ploen_2011/programm_ploen_2011.pdf

5.-7.4.2011: „Peatlands in climate change – Peatland conservation as a chance for climate, biodiversity and water resources“, held by DGMT-section III in cooperation with the Bavarian state office for environment in Augsburg/Bavaria.

6./7.5.2011 and 23./24.9.2011: „DGMT-Seminar and excursion on peatlands and peat”, held in Zeven/Lower Saxony.This twice a year offered seminar has the character of a training course where laypersons and students got introduced to peat and peatland science.

22./23.6.2011: „Rewetting of raised bogs – why does it not work everywhere?”, held in Schneverdingen/Lower Saxony. A seminar report can be read in TELMA 41, 2011.

30.6./1.7.2011: „Facilities, operation and maintenance of field railways in tourist and museum institutions“, held by DGMT-section VII in Diepenau-Essern/Lower Saxony. A conference report can be read in TELMA 41, 2011.

25.8.2011: „Biodiversity and climate impact – peatlands potentials for nature, economy and society“; in cooperation with the BUND regional association Lower Saxony and the county Diepholz in Wagenfeld.

14.-17.9. 2011: Annual assembly of the German Peat Society (DGMT), held in Meppen/Lower Saxony. An annual assembly report can be read in TELMA 41, 2011. 87 members participated and listened to 17 oral and 7 poster presentations. PDF-files of the presentations can be found at www.dgmtev.de/veranstalt_jt_2011.html

28.-30.9.2011: Workshop on “Peat and Humic Substances”, held by IPS Commission IV and DGMT-section IV in Zittau/Saxony. Organized by the Institute of Process Development, Peat and Natural Products (iTN) of the University of Applied Sciences Zittau/Görlitz in cooperation with the International Graduate School (IHI) Zittau, the workshop was highlighted by new findings in peat and humic substance analysis under the headline ”Current research in chemical, physical and biological characterization of peat”. A workshop report is published in “Peatlands international” 2/2011.

6./7.10.2011: „Peatland conservation in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern – an interim result“, held in Salem/Mecklenburg-Vorpommern in cooperation with the state office for environment, nature protection and geology Mecklenburg-Vorpommern.

Publications

The German Peat Society published volume 41 of Telma with 14 scientific articles, a yearly renewed documentation of publications around peat and mires and several reports about symposia.

Furthermore, a supplement volume of Telma (no. 4) was

published. It contains the proceedings of the symposium “Peatland conservation in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern – an interim result” with 14 scientific papers and covers 248 pp.

The German Peat Society is presented on a new flyer that can be ordered or downloaded at www.dgmtev.de.

Support of students

The German Peat Society gave financial support with an amount of € 200 to 3 students for their participation in the Sphagnum workshop in New Brunswick, Canada during June 2011. A financial support with the same amount is available for 7 students to participate in the International Peat Congress in Stockholm. Students have to present their investigations in oral or by poster presentations and have to write a report about the symposium.

Sabine Jordan & Gerfried Caspers German Peat Society

Ireland

Last October the Irish Peat Society (IrPS) returned to the scene of the 2008 Congress when the 6th Annual General Meeting of the Irish Peat Society was held in the Court Hotel, Tullamore in conjunction with the annual

IPS Communications Manager Susann Warnecke attended the IVG Peat and Humus Day in Germany in October.


seminar and field trip.The executive committee met several times to plan the event and decided that as Ireland is currently developing a National Peatland Strategy, the IrPS should use this as the theme for its annual get-together.

The two day event took place on 18th and 19th October and was well attended by a variety of stakeholders including state, industry, private and NGO interests. The workshop theme was “Towards the development of a Peatland Strategy for Ireland”. The structure of the event included a one day field trip focusing on Clara Bog in Co. Offaly which is a designated Special Area of Conservation in Ireland.

The participants in the workshop were briefed on location by Jim Ryan of the National Parks and Wildlife Service about the habitat importance of the site and the challenges that damage to the site in the past now present for current and future management. We also had a very interesting discussion with David Wilson on the Greenhouse Gas Budget for the bog. At lunch time we visited Clara House and were shown a peat balneology treatment and were also taken on a tour of the Clara Bog Visitor Centre which

opened in 2011. From there the group travelled to a Bord na Móna site that is being developed as a relocation option for private turf-cutters no longer permitted to continue on SAC’s such as Clara Bog.

In the evening there was a very enjoyable gala dinner with peated-whiskey tasting in the Tullamore Court Hotel!

On the second day six papers were delivered to participants. We were very fortunate to have two members from other national committees of the International Peat Society speak at our conference. Tarja Vayrynen gave a paper on the Development of the Finnish Peatland Strategy while Gerfried Caspers gave a paper on Peatland Management in Germany. In addition the President of the International Peat Society - Donal Clarke gave a paper on the Strategy for Responsible Peatland Management.

Dr Florence Renou-Wilson gave a paper about the newly published Environmental Protection Agency’s BOGLAND report, Dr Catherine O’Connell of the Irish Peatland Conservation Council gave a talk on the Lessons Learned in Canada and the final paper was delivered by Conor Skehan,

the Chair of the Peatlands Council entitled Developing a Peatland Strategy for Ireland – Take Home Messages.

Earlier in the year members of the Irish Peat Society attended the IPS meeting in Quebec. This very successful meeting showcased a diverse range of peatland projects from all over the world which provided valuable material and ideas that members can use in Ireland.

Dr Catherine O’Connell & Pat Fitzgerald, Irish Peat Society

Latvia

Members of the Latvian Peat Producers’ Association (IPS National Committee of Latvia) met several times during this year whether it was in all members meetings or in open Board Meetings. Some of them were dedicated to a most important topic – the Baltic Peat Producers’ Forum as it was our turn to organize it. At the end of the year, another important issue raised by State Stock Company “Latvia’s State Forests” request to give Association proposal to increase rent for the peat extraction territories. As this question is rather complicated it was decided to create a Work Group consisting of representatives from both sides that will try to find the most appropriate solution for this problem. The Association provided proposals also for laws and regulations.

Before the season, a meeting for peat extractors and representatives of state institutions was organized. Representatives presented the latest changes and updates in legislation that affect or could affect peat extractors in Latvia.

Riga was the venue for this year’s Baltic Peat Producers Forum, organized by the Latvian National Committee and attended also by the staff of the IPS Secretariat.

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In the Annual report of the IPS National Committee of the Netherlands we can read that old-fashioned hands-on knowledge about peat and peat dikes is disappearing. A similar problem is observed in Latvia – specialists in peat production are retiring and their knowledge is disappearing. Therefore the Association in collaboration with Mr. Ansis Snore - Honorary Member of IPS and the LPPA - are preparing a manuscript for the book ‘’Peat production’’. The main themes of the book are as follows: peatlands, peat and peat deposits; drainage, preparation and repair of the peat production area; peat production; designing. The book will be useful for all those dealing with peat extraction as well for students in relevant specialities. The book will be in Latvian.

Data about the extracted peat volume in 2011 has not yet been compiled. Admittedly, last year was not really successful because the second half of the season was spoiled by unfavourable weather conditions - strong and frequent precipitation.

During the summer, two different workshops for artists took place. The resulting peat sculptures were exhibited at the Baltic Peat Producers Forum. As there have been great interest about the sculptures, a similar workshop will be organized also in 2012.

One of the events where peat people and their families can come together is the Association’s Sport Games. This year they could have fun by Lake Usmas in many interesting sports.

As it was mentioned above, the 11th Baltic Peat Producers’ Forum took place in Riga. This time the theme of the Forum was “After-use of cut-over peatlands: measures and methods”. At the first day participants could take part in

an excursion to a small brewery in Bauska or have an interesting excursion to Old Riga. The second day traditionally is dedicated to different presentations and the forum dinner. Ivans Cupruns (Chairman of the Board, Latvian Peat Producers’ Association), Rolands Bebris (Minister of Environmental protection and Regional development) and Jaakko Silpola (IPS Secretary General) opened the Forum. Prof.Laimdota Kalnina and Juris Nusbaums introduced attendees to peatland recultivation problems in Latvia. Prof.Jaanus Paal gave an interesting presentation about progress and problems in sustainable usage and protection of mires in Estonia. Dr. Romas Pakalnis told about possibilities of cut-over peat bog restoration in Lithuania and Dr. Mara Pakalne about her experience with raised bog restoration in Latvia.

Later on, Bernd Hofer spoke about his experience in Germany with different after-uses of cut-over peatlands during the last decades. The last presentation before the discussion had Hein Bonn about the Dutch project „Responsibly produced peat”. After these seven presentations, the attendees had a lot of questions and they could ask in the discussion part that was chaired by Dr. Norbert Siebels.

After the lunch, Giedrius Kavaliauskas had a presentation about the Lithuanian Peat Producers Association, peat extraction and weather conditions and the problems they are dealing with: fires and their prevention and a draft law on the tax on natural resources. Erki Niitlaan form the Estonian Peat Producers Association spoke about weather and production, news and events of 2011.

Prof. M. Klavins afterwards informed about peat usage as sorbent, Oskars Purmalis continued with the presentation „Peat humic acids and their application possibilities”. Colleagues from Belarus D. Sc., Academician I. Lishtvan and Valery Kovalov reported about peat resources and their usage in Belarus. Marie Kofod-Hansen and Gunilla Öberg invited all attendees to the 14th International Peat Congress in 2012. Georgij Sicov informed about radiolocation sounding application possibilities in geological mapping of peatlands. Konstantsin Pachepka introduced with “Vitebskoblgas” a new peat factory, and Marc Peray with Premier Tech Chronos new technologies. Rob van Rijnswou from Slootweg Machinefabriek had a presentation about fire safety in peat factories in combination with machine

The Forum was attended by some 200 participants from the Baltics, Eastern and Central Europe.


equipment. Jazeps Kivlenieks presented Agrovita Technologies.

On the third day of the Forum, a field trip to Amatciems and Sigulda were organized to see how boggy meadows can be transformed into a beautiful holiday village with many ponds and hillocks. The number of participants – little bit more than 200 shows that the interest about the Forum is growing every year (to compare – there were 97 participants in 2008).

Our neighbours and colleagues, the Estonian Peat Association, celebrated the 150 years Anniversary of its Peat Industry this autumn and we would like to thank them for the invitation, for the interesting conference and the wonderful evening afterwards.

The Association has collaborated also with the University of Latvia, Faculty of Geography and Earth Sciences by giving several lectures and excursions to Association member companies. The aim is to show peatlands not only from an environmental but also from an economic point of view.

Lithuania

Summary of the work of the Lithuanian peat companies’ association “Lithuanian Peat” in the year 2011:

• Various questioning actions in the Parliament, Government about the government’s proposal to increase the peat resources fee by 3.2 times.

• Actions with the EU Lithuanian members of parliament about the acknowledgement of peat resources as a slowly renewable natural raw material.

• Articles, speeches on the radio, television and other public media about the problems of the peat industry.

• Discussions in Lithuanian industrialists’ confederation, Parliament about the amendment project of the Law on Earth Depths Rent, which is unfavourable for peat companies.

• Acceptance of new members into the association: these are four Lithuanian peat extraction companies and one foreign – a German geological research company.

• Reporting meeting of the association members.

• Prepared an economic assessment peat business study and presented it to the association members and the Government.

• Association website was renewed.

• Association attributes were produced – association logo metal badges.

• Started preparation of a study about the improvement, amendment of fire protection normative legal acts for peat companies and their adjustment with responsible institutions.

• Contacts with the Greens movement and their financial support.

• Preparation and participation in the forum of Baltic countries in Riga.

• United conference with “Achema” concern group about more intensive use of fuel peat as energy raw material in Lithuania.

• Visit and congratulation of Estonian peat industry on the 150th anniversary of their peat industry.

• Prof. Jurgis Vidmantas’ honour nomination awards for the most worthy employees of Lithuanian peat companies.

• Final 2011 meeting of association members.

• Christmas period, greetings.

Association’s executive director Juozas Daukantas

Malaysia

In the year 2011, the Malaysian Peat Society had put forth an effort and successfully recruited new members mainly from academia, industry and government sectors.

As of 31 December 2011, the Society membership comprised a total of 44 active members, of which 32 are individual ordinary members, seven individual life members, four corporate ordinary members and one corporate life member.

A committee meeting was held on 25 March 2011 to resolve matters pertaining to membership, amendment to rules and constitution, bank account and Annual General Meeting.

Peat art objects on display during the Riga Baltic Peat Producers’ Forum.

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The 1st Annual General Meeting of Malaysian Peat Society was convened on 25 June 2011 to review and discuss the reports of Secretary and Treasurer, appoint auditors for the financial year and officers to deal with immovable property of the Society, and approve the proposed amendments of Rules and Constitution. A new Management Committee was also elected at the AGM for the term 2011-2013. The office-bearers are:

• President: Datu Len Talif Salleh (Peter Sawal since January 2012)

• Vice-President: Philip Ho Kian Sin

• Secretary-General: Frederick Haili Teck

• Assistant Secretary-General: Annie Ting

• Treasurer-General: Dr. Lulie Melling

• Assistant Treasurer-General: Angela Tang Che Ing

• Ordinary Committee Members: Sharon Lau Yu Ling, Sulim Lumong, Jin Kee Mou, Lim Choo Tad

Additionally, a number of future activities and plans were discussed during the meeting: • Society logo and student

sponsorship• To participate in the Annual

Conference of the Malaysian Society of Soil Science

• To participate in the Annual Seminar of Incorporated Society of Planters (ISP) to provide scientific updates in relation to characterization and management of tropical peatland

• Embarking on a 3-year hydrological study of tropical peatland with the University of Technology Malaysia

• Participation in the 14th International Peat Congress 2012 in Stockholm, Sweden

• Participate with the plantation industries on sustainable management of tropical peatland

Prior to the AGM, Dr. Lulie Melling had represented the National Committee at the Annual Assembly of IPS held in Quebec, Canada on 14 June 2011. She also presented a paper, “Soil CO2 fluxes from different ages of oil palm in tropical peatland of Sarawak, Malaysia” at the International Symposium on Responsible Peatland Management and Growing Media Production on 13-17 June 2011.

In late September, an awareness campaign on tropical peatland was successfully conducted in conjunction with Sarawak Chief Minister’s Department’s Innovation and Integrity Day held at the old State Legislative Assembly complex, Kuching, Sarawak, with several hundreds

of secondary students visited the scientific exhibition and demonstration booth of Tropical Peat Research Laboratory Unit. The one-day campaign was indeed fruitful and enlightening that has inspired the students’ interests and enthusiasm in science as well as disseminating scientific information to the public.

Also, several members of MPS have submitted their abstracts for the 14th International Peat Congress. By then, there will be a delegation of members participating at the Congress to deliver their presentations.

The work of organizing the 15th International Peat Congress “Peatland Resources: Agriculture, Industry, Society and Environment – Harmonisation, Integration and Mitigation (PRAISE-HIM)” in Kuching, Malaysia has been started off in cooperation with Sarawak Convention Bureau. We are currently initiating our efforts to establish sponsorship and boosting activities at the forthcoming congress in Stockholm, Sweden.

The Netherlands

That peat causes and solves problems is well known. This year a new type of problem solving was illustrated in the three-days Conference “Natural Cap – Green Rehabilitation Opportunities for Hazardous Waste Sites”, in April. The Volgermeerpolder, a 100 ha peatland just 3.5 km north-east of Amsterdam’s built area, was used in the 1960’s to illegally dump industrial chemical wastes. This major pollution was “discovered” in 1980 causing a huge political scandal. Subsequently it was discovered that peat, old and new, could help to contain the pollution, though at a cost of about hundred million euro’s.

Dr. Lulie Melling talking about Malaysian activities during the IPS meetings in Québec.


In the first Peatlands International of 2012 a comprehensive article explains the details, giving another example of peat’s versatility.Knowledge and peat from the Veengenootschap side contributed to the success, reason why members were invited to the Conference. It was then convenient to let the annual meeting of the Nederlands Veengenootschap to coincide with one day of the Conference, allowing our members a “hands-on” experience of the landscape that replaced the chemical dump. On Google Earth a view of the then not yet finished project can be found on 52º25’ North, 5º00’ East.

Progress has been made to develop the peat course to retain the knowledge about peat in the field, knowledge that cannot be found in books but has to be learned instead from experts. This project was introduced in the Annual Report of last year. The course is expected to start next year.

The Board of the Veengenootschap was invited by the Estonian Peat Association who commemorated the 150th anniversary of the Estonian

Peat Industry with a conference in Tallinn. A contribution was made to the program with a presentation about the history of peat use in Western Europe and its consequences, focusing on the differences with Northern and Central European peat, i.e. the circumstance that many Dutch peatlands are/were just above and under sea level.

Six members of the Veengenootschap participated in the ad hoc working group “Enhancing the Sustainability of the Peat Supply Chain for the Dutch Horticulture”, this year the final report “Sustainable Peat Supply Chain” was published (Wageningen University, Alterra report 2167). Members also contribute to the current project “Principles and Criteria for Responsibly Produced Peat”, with the aim to develop a certifying system for the European peat industry.

The list of members had a few changes, both positive and negative; the net membership did not change very much.

Anne Jelle Schilstra Secretary

Poland

Members of the Polish National Committee of IPS met twice in 2011. Our annual assembly was held on 10 February in Warsaw. All chairpersons of commissions showed the reports on activities during 2011. The discussion after presentations was connected with the plan for 2011.

The second meeting was held on 1 September in Tlen, Bory Tucholskie, Poland during the International Conference on “Necessity of Peatlands Protection”. The Polish National Committee together with Commission III of IPS, the Committee on Land Reclamation and Agricultural Environment Engineering, Polish Academy of Sciences and Institute for Agricultural and Forest Environment, Polish Academy of Sciences, Poznan, Poland organized this event.

The main topics of the conference were: (1) peatlands and forest areas, (2) protection of peatlands in agricultural and forestry landscape, (3) multifunction of peatlands.

During three sessions, distinguished leading scientists, young researchers and students presented 44 papers including 13 oral lectures, and 31 posters. The conference was addressed to young scientists who have been involved in this problem recently. 50 Polish, Estonian, Russian, Belarusian, Ukrainian and Rumanian scientists attended the conference.

During the meeting, a new chairperson - Prof. Dr. Lech Wojciech Szajdak, two vice-chairpersons - Prof. Dr. Andrzej Łachacz, Prof. Dr. Krzysztof Lipka and the secretary - Dr. Katarzyna Styła of Polish National Committee were elected. As the Polish National Committee assembles mainly scientists from 24 universities and research

Guus van Berckel is Chair of the IPS National Committee in the Netherlands, here with Catherine O’Connell from Ireland in Québec.

37

institutes, the activities are focused on different aspects of research. The members reveal the activity in many fields related to peat properties and peatlands utilization and protection. During the last year many important research projects were carried out by the Polish IPS members. Therefore the results obtained were published in many international and local journals and monographs.

The Polish National Committee decided to prepare a book describing activities of the Polish National Committee and its commissions. It will be published in Polish and an English version. The book will cover the entire history of our organization, however, the main point is to show different aspects of our activities performed during the last decade. The Polish National Committee would like to publish this book before the 14th International Peat Congress in Stockholm and to promote it during the event of the International Peat Society.

United Kingdom

UK IPS membership through the UK Peat Society has remained stable during this year. We lost a few members through retirement but gained a some to compensate. We maintained a good mix of individual and corporate members. A positive sign is that several peat extraction and growing media companies are showing an interest in joining.

It is with some sadness that we report that Allan Robertson, Chairman of the UK Peat Society and Honorary President of IPS is now in a care home in Helensburgh, Scotland following deterioration of his health. He is now his 80’s and we wish him well. Until Allan’s situation becomes clear Neil Godsman has agreed to be Acting Chairman of the UKPS.

Again it was not possible to hold a face to face meeting of members this year owing to lack of interest and absence of another meeting onto which we could have grafted ours. We communicated by Email.

It has been a busy year responding to the activities of the DEFRA Task Force on phasing out the use of peat in England. The detail of this was published in Peatlands International Issue 1/2011 in ’An Appraisal of the UK DEFRA Consultation’.

IPS UK jointly sponsored a conference at Stockbridge Technology Centre, near York on 4th October 2011 on the topic ’Can Quality Plants be Grown without Peat? It was attended by almost 100 growers and horticulturists. Jack Rieley, Hein Boon and Gerald Schmilewski gave presentations. A follow up conference was held at the same venue on 16th Febrary 2012 specifically for amateur gareners who are the principal users of peat-based composts and plants in the UK. This was attended by more than 80 participants and Jack Rieley gave a short talk on the impact of peat extraction on biodiversity and greenhouse

gas emissions. A panel discussion revealed that gardeners were not being informed of the true facts about the extraction and use of peat in horticulture.

Peat and peatlands have been in focus again in the UK during the last year with the IUCN Peatland Programme holding a conference in Stirling on 20-22 June 2011. They have scheduled a follow up conference jointly with the British Ecological Socieety in Bangor University, Wales on 26-28 June 2012 on the topic ’Investing in Peatlands – Demonstrating Success’.

Jack RieleySecretary/treasurer UK Peat SocietyUK National Committee of IPS.

More information on the IPS is available at www.peatsociety.org

In Québec, Professor Jack Rieley gave a presentation on the plans to reduce the use of peat in horticulture in England.


The IPS-IMCG Scientific Online Journal Mires and Peat

Extract from Sixth Editor’s Report, 31 December 2011

The 2011 publication rate equalled the 2008 record in terms of number of pages, but fewer articles (16 vs.18) were produced. The new articles are spread over three volumes.

The ‘standard’ (calendar-year) Volume 8 (2011) contains the same number of articles as the previous two calendar-year volumes (Volume 5, 6), but has ore pages. The last seven papers of Special Volume 7 A Review of Protocols in Peat Palaeoenvironmental Studies were completed and published, and Volume 7 was closed simultaneously with Volume 8 at the end of December. A new Special Volume 9 The Hula Peatland: Past, Present and Future opened in November, now contains two articles, and will continue into 2012.

Five book reviews were published.Readership increased again eventually, after a significant ‘dip’ during the summer. The highest-ever number of visits to the journal’s website in a single month (7,461) and a new monthly maximum for page impressions (10,471) were both logged in November. The accumulated number of visits since the journal was launched reached 249,006 on 31 December 2011. The available download statistics (for 19 articles) show that the two most-popular articles were downloaded approximately five times per day during 2011. Where comparisons with 2010 were possible, six articles increased and three declined in popularity. There were some shifts in interest between other articles.

The core editorial team still comprises six people (Editor, Deputy Editor, three Assistant Editors and Web Administrator), and all have contributed regularly

to different aspects of manuscript management and other journal activities throughout the year.

The backlog of unprocessed manuscripts is now so small that new submissions will be needed to maintain the base publication rate (seven articles per year) in 2012.

Articles about recent journal activity have appeared in both Peatlands International and the IMCG Newsletter.

Inclusion of the journal in the Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ) should lead to Mires and Peat content becoming available and searchable on the Europeana Libraries system. The evaluation by Thomson Reuters Web of Science continues, and we should receive some news about their findings during the summer of 2012.

It is suggested that IPS and IMCG should consider establishing an expectation that suitable papers potentially arising from their meetings should be identified, written up and published in Mires and Peat. This can be expected to encourage the submission of manuscripts, and at the same time bring the journal closer to the core activities of the two organisations.

1. Material published

Mires and Peat published 16 articles (205 pages) by authors from 13 countries during 2011.

The final meeting of the IPS Executive Board for 20011 was held at the VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland in Espoo in November.

39

Seven articles were added to Special Volume 7 (2010/11), entitled A Review of Protocols in Peat Palaeoenvironmental Studies. This volume now contains 13 articles (133 pages excluding Foreword) from eight countries and is closed.

Volume 8 (2011) contains seven articles (97 pages) by authors from six countries2, and is now also complete. All contributing authors are from Europe and North America.

Special Volume 9 (2011/12), entitled The Hula Peatland: Past, Present and Future, opened in November. This is the result of a proposal from Assistant Editor Richard Payne, which he has actioned in collaboration with Guest Editor Moshe Gophen. Authors will be mostly Israeli, but there will be one contribution from the UK. Two articles (20 pages) have been published so far, and four or five more are planned. Five book reviews were published.

2. Readership

The perennial favourites (downloaded 3.6–3.8 times per day since publication) are Articles 1.01 (The distribution of peatland in Europe), 3.02 (The role of peat in growing media) and 5.02 (Financial assessment of oil palm cultivation on peatland in Malaysia) (Table 1). Amongst recently published articles, Article 8.02 (Greenhouse gas emissions from managed peat soils) has been especially popular (3.7 downloads day-1). Of the standard (calendar-year) volumes, Volume 3 is possibly the most popular. Overall, there is persistent interest in some individual articles whereas others are being newly noticed well after their publication dates.

The readership data summarised here were provided by Dr Michael Trepel, who continued to maintain the journal’s website impeccably during 2011.

3. Editorial activity

All three Assistant Editors have contributed regularly to manuscript management during 2010. Professor R.S. Clymo was principal editor for three of the articles published in Volume 8, and has provided valuable help and advice on other matters. Dr Richard Payne has assisted with Volume 7 but focused mainly on Special Volume 9. Derrick Lai prepared layouts for possibly the whole of Volume 7 and for some of the other articles published, in addition to managing book reviews. Professor Jack Rieley (Deputy Editor) has continued to provide a range of constructive inputs.

The total number of manuscripts submitted during 2011 was 16 (Manuscripts 103 to 118 inclusive; five of these were intended for Special Volumes)3. By the end of December, seven of them had been published; three were approaching readiness for publication; one had been accepted subject to satisfactory revision by authors; one had been

rejected; and four were at earlier stages of the evaluation process.

The minimum and maximum times from submission to publication for individual 2011 articles were 90 days (Article 8.05) and 496 days (Article 7.11), respectively. For the latter, a delay arose because it was necessary to bring in a new author at the revision stage. The average processing time per manuscript is still in the region of 200 days).

Mires and Peat has now been online for six calendar years. In that time, 118 manuscripts have been submitted and 72 peer-reviewed articles have been published. Thus, on average, we have processed ~20 manuscripts and published 12 each year (i.e. the overall publication rate was one article per month, and 60 % of the submission rate).

Attention has been devoted to finalising positions on ‘stragglers’ from the first 100 manuscripts submitted to the journal. Of these, 65 have now been published and 33 rejected or intimated/assumed withdrawn by authors. Two are close to publication-ready and we are still hoping to receive final author revisions. This narrows the estimate of publication rate for the first 100 manuscripts to 65–67 %.

After the meeting, the Board had the opportunity to meet their colleagues from the Finnish National Committee and GTK, the Geological Survey of Finland.


The annual publication rates show an upward trend if one imagines the data ‘smoothed’ between 2008 (peak due to Special Volume 4) and 2009. However, the number of manuscripts submitted peaked in 2008 and has been declining since. The same is true for the number of publishable manuscripts. The low fraction of publishable material for 2009 arises from abandonment of a Special Volume (on grounds of low quality).

The Editor contributed an article announcing publication of Manuscript 100 and Special Volume 7 to Peatlands International 1/2011. Some attractive advertisements for the journal, arranged by the IPS Secretariat, are also included in that issue. An item about Volume 7 was written for the IMCG newsletter (Issue 2011 2–3, December 2011).

Attention has been devoted to updating Mires and Peat metadata in the Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ, http://www.doaj.org), which is hosted by Lund University (Sweden) and mirrors for open-access journals some of the functions of Digital Object Identifier (DOI) scheme (which we have not joined). DOAJ is

participating in the European Commission (EC) Europeana Libraries project. This means that Mires and Peat content will eventually be searchable online via the Europeana Libraries portal, alongside other material collected from 19 leading European research libraries. This should improve our citation potential by increasing visibility amongst the research community.

Evaluation of the journal for Thomson Reuters Web of Science is ongoing. The volumes that they wished to monitor initially are now complete, and we can expect to hear some news during 2012.

Members of the Editorial Board (EB) and others have continued to provide reviews, and are thanked for all of their inputs. All are asked to continue to publish (and encourage their associates to publish) in Mires and Peat when possible.

The value of citing articles from Mires and Peat in manuscripts that are destined for other peer-reviewed journals is again strongly underlined, because citations form the basis of the Impact Factor (IF) computation.

4. Future plans

Of the 72 peer-reviewed articles published to date, 42 were ‘regular’ submissions. Thus, it seems that the present level of author interest is such that we can hope to publish a standard volume of seven articles each year. There are perhaps four non-dormant candidate articles for the next standard volume in hand at present. The last new manuscript was submitted on 14 October 2011.

The other 30 articles published are the contents of Special Volumes plus five articles in standard volumes that arose from specific conferences. As this represents 40 % of our published articles to date, it seems worth recapping on the sources of these articles: Peat and Peatlands 2007 conference, Lamoura, France; Organic Soils and Carbon Sink session, EGU 2008, Wind Farms on Peatland, IMCG Symposium, Spain 2008; Peatland Archives of Holocene Climate Variability symposium, joint sponsors, Estonia, May 2009; Hula Valley peatland, Israel: follow-up research visit by Assistant Editor Richard Payne in 2010. Obviously, more manuscript-generating ideas like these are needed if the present publication rate is to be maintained or increased.

There are no further Special Volumes in prospect at the present time. Therefore, members of all relevant IPS/IMCG Boards are asked to actively consider the availability of Mires and Peat as a versatile publication medium for high-quality original material arising from any sponsored scientific meetings and other publishing initiatives. Special Volume 4 shows how the journal

Many ideas from the 2011 conferences, such as Riga and Québec, will be used for the International Peat Congress in 2012. See you there!

41

Mires and Peat The journal for your papers.

Jointly published by the International Peat Society and the International Mire Conservation Group.

www.mires-and-peat.net

can be used to publish proceedings from scientific meetings, with fast turn-around of manuscripts and immediate global exposure of each one as soon as it becomes ready for publication.

Special Volume 7 provides an example of how the journal’s format can lend itself to innovative publishing ideas conceived at meetings; and Special Volume 9 showcases a specific and rather unusual peatland.

A calculation of the total number countries represented by the author names appearing on articles (repeat authorships counted) shows ten or more person-contributions from the UK (56), Canada (40), Germany/Spain (17 each) and Sweden (10). Overall, it reflects rather well the affiliations of the EB and other IPS/IMCG committee members who have

been most active in providing and instigating manuscript submissions.

Countries that have little or no representation amongst our authorship so far are asked to consider how they could help raise the profile of the journal (and of mires, peat and peatlands) at home; for example through personal or organisational contacts with individuals, a topical Special Volume, or conference proceedings.

The most obvious sources of material for 2012 are the IPS Congress and the IMCG field symposium. Experience confirms that it is not sufficient for meeting organisers to draw the attention of their speakers to the existence of the journal; a proactive approach is needed. Essentially, it is necessary to establish an expectation that authors

presenting work that is suitable for publication in a dedicated volume of the journal will submit full manuscripts before the meeting.

It is suggested that IPS and IMCG should consider supporting the journal - and bringing it closer to their core activities - by making such a procedure standard within the organisation of their meetings.

Olivia BraggEditor

Please read Mires and Peat, submit your manuscripts to the Editor and promote the journal within your networks.

www.mires-and-peat.net

43

Expenses and revenue of the IPSINTERNATIONAL PEAT SOCIETY

INCOME STATEMENT

ORDINARY OPERATIONS,

PUBLICATIONSIncome 11 436,50 11 000 10 450,00

Expenses Staff expenses 0,00 0 0,00

Other expenses -31 998,27 -20 561,77 -20 600 -9 600 -17 675,62 -7 225,62

CONFERENCEIncome 0,00 0 0,00


Other expenses 0,00 0,00 0 0 -428,65 -428,65

PROJECTSIncome 0,00 0 1 615,00


Other expenses -7 884,45 -7 884,45 -10 000 -10 000 -7 169,66 -5 554,66

OTHER OPERATIONSIncome 1 501,50 2 500 29 806,34

Expenses Staff expenses -40 599,12 -39 770 -38 911,63

Depreciation of equipment -500,00 -500 -500,00

Other Expenses -74 942,07 -114 539,69 -71 800 -109 570 -88 410,77 -98 016,06

SURPLUS / DEFICIT -142 985,91 -129 170 -111 224,99

FUND RAISING Income 140 307,00 144 946 143 195,00

Expenses -22 853,40 117 453,60 -27 000 117 946 -15 024,00 128 171,00

SURPLUS / DEFICIT -25 532,31 -11 224 16 946,01

INVESTMENTS AND FINANCIAL Income 398,90 500 21,73

Expenses -2,96 395,94 0 500 -16,39 5,34

RESULT FOR THE FINANCIAL YEAR -25 136,37 -10 724 16 951,35

OTHER INCOME Income 0,00 0,00 0 0 0,00 0,00

Provisions and reserves 0,00 10 724 0,00

SURPLUS OF THE PERIOD Eur -25 136,37 Eur 0 Eur 16 951,35

Total 1.1.-31.12.2011 Total 1.1.-31.12.2010Budget 2011

22.2.2012D Tuloslaskelma 2011 virall.xls


Notes to the accountsINTERNATIONAL PEAT SOCIETYNOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS

OF THE INTERNATIONAL PEAT SOCIETY Eur EurTOTAL INCOME AND EXPENSES 2011 2010

Total income 154 776,42 185 288,20Total expenses -179 412,79 -167 836,85./. Depreciation -500,00 -500,00

SURPLUS (+) / DEFICIT (-) OF THE PERIOD -25 136,37 16 951,35

STAFF EXPENSES 1 person 1 personSalaries with holiday pay 33 296,28 31 459,51Pension insurance (TyeL) 5 829,77 5 248,87Statutory social insurance contributions 1 473,07 2 203,25and other social security fees 40 599,12 38 911,63

DEPRECIATIONEquipment 1.1. 1 249,79 1 749,79Acquisition 1.1.-31.12. 0,00 0,00Subtotal 1 249,79 1 749,79Depreciation 25% -500,00 -500,00

VALUE OF THE EQUIPMENT 749,79 1 249,79AFTER DEPRECATION

ACCRUED INCOMEHealth; goverment subsidy 198,30 342,50

PROJECTSGlobal Peatland Management Strategy

Income 0,00 1 555,00Expenses -7 884,45 -5 742,66

-7 884,45 -4 187,66RESERVATIONS

Holiday pay reserve and social contributions 4 692,13 4 083,60Tyel 2011 240,02 4,21

4 932,15 4 087,81

45

Balance sheet

INTERNATIONAL PEAT SOCIETY

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.

23/06/2009 013 aa belfast list of accounting books 2008.xls

INTERNATIONAL PEAT SOCIETYBALANCE SHEET, €

ASSETSNON-CURRENT ASSETSTangible assets Machinery and equipment 749,79 1 249,79Other shares and similar rights of ownership Participating interests 84,09 84,09

TOTAL 833,88 1 333,88

CURRENT ASSETSDebtors Trade debtors 10 001,77 7 144,50 Prepayments and accrued income 198,30 342,50 Other debtors 34 867,00 45 067,07 73 731,40 81 218,40Cash in hand and at banks Bank accounts 117 744,78 105 154,57 Cash 0,00 117 744,78 0,00 105 154,57

TOTAL 162 811,85 186 372,97ASSETS TOTAL € 163 645,73 € 187 706,85

LIABILITES

31.12.201031.12.2011

LIABILITESCAPITAL AND RESERVES Retained earnings/loss 168 578,53 151 627,18 Surplus/deficit for the financial year -25 136,37 16 951,35

TOTAL 143 442,16 168 578,53

CREDITORS Advances received 58,50 58,50 Trade creditors 14 347,68 14 455,00 Accruals and deferred income 4 932,15 4 087,81 Other creditors 865,24 527,01

TOTAL 20 203,57 19 128,32LIABILITES TOTAL € 163 645,73 € 187 706,85


Date and signatures

47

Auditor’s statement


Media Description

Peatlands International is the global magazine of the International Peat Society. It is read at companies in the horticultural and energy producing sector, universi-ties, research institutes, scientific or-ganisations and other institutions as well as by private persons interested in peat and peatlands in more than 35 countries of the world.

Publisher

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phone: +358 14 3385 440 fax: +358 14 3385 410 e-mail: [email protected]: www.peatsociety.org

Editor in Chief

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Media Kit 2012

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ips annual report 2011

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