Sompa hosted a two day research seminar on policy instruments guiding towards sustainable use of peatlands in agriculture between Nordic and Baltic projects focused on sustainable use of peatlands in agriculture. During Sept 24th and 25th researchers and stakeholders from Sompa, MYR –project and LIFEBaltOrg discussed how to advance research that supports policy measures incentivising effective measures and farm management for mitigating greenhouse gas emissions from peatlands.

Seminar slides are available publicly and they cover facts about peatlands, their cultivation and importance for agriculture, as well as existing policy measures for reducing GHG emissions from peatlands in the three represented countries; and facts about the participating projects, their work on GHG mitigation measures on peatlands and related policies. Climate smart management practices on Norwegian organic soils – MYR is carried out in NIBIO, Norway. Demonstration of climate change mitigation potential of nutrient-rich organic soils in Baltic States and Finland – LIFE OrgBalt is coordinated by Silava, Latvia.

As part of the seminar a public event was held consisting of lecture on economic incentives for climate smart agriculture on peatlands in the EU by Sabine Wichmann from University of Greifswald (Greifswald Mire Centre, Germany), short introduction to the Norwegian prohibition of land clearing on peatlands by Teresa Gómez de la Bárcena (Norwegian Institute of Bioeconomy Research (Nibio), Norway), and stakeholder comments followed by discussion. Public event presentation recording and slides are available.

Public event programme: 

13.00 Welcome words: Raisa Mäkipää, Luke, Finland

13.05 Presentation by Sabine Wichmann, Greifswald Mire Centre, Germany

13.50 Questions from the audience

14.00 Presentation by Teresa Gómez de la Bárcena, NIBIO, Norway

14.10 Questions from the audience

14.15 Prepared comments by selected stakeholders

    • Tuula Larmola, Finnish Peatland Society (Suoseura)
    • Liisa Pietola, The Central Union of Agricultural Producers and Forest Owners (MTK)
    • Tapani Veistola, The Finnish Association for Nature Conservation (SLL)

14.30 Discussion

 

Avoin luento: Maatalouden kestävään turvemaiden käyttöön ohjaavat politiikkainstrumentit Euroopassa, Sabine Wichmann (Greifswald Mire Centre, Saksa)

Luennon jälkeen on reilusti aikaa yleisökysymyksille, kutsutuille sidosryhmien kommenttipuheenvuoroille ja avoimelle keskustelulle.

Tapahtuma on kokonaan englanninkielinen. 

Aika: 24.9.2019, klo 13-15

Paikka: Walter-sali, Viikin kampus (EE -talo), Agnes Sjöbergin katu 2, toinen kerros