Wetlands International was actively engaged at the UNFCCC-SBSTTA meeting in Bonn to present its findings and proposals regarding peatland degradation and the resulting CO2 emissions. During two side events Wetlands International demanded to put the problems of peatland loss on the agenda.

For all interested parties that missed our side-event presentations please find them to be downloaded at:
 http://www.wetlands.org/event.aspx?ID=3c…

It concerns the presentations of:
1) TUESDAY 8 MAY 2007: UNFCCC SBSTA SIDE EVENT ‘PEATLAND DEGRADATION FUELS CLIMATE CHANGE
-Marcel J. Silvius (Wetlands International, The Netherlands); PEAT-CO2, a burning issue in relation to biodiversity, poverty and climate change.

-Faizal Parish (Global Environment Centre, Malaysia): Peatland forests: avoiding emissions from deforestation and biofuel productions.

-Pieter van Eijk (Wetlands International, The Netherlands): Alternative financing mechanism for dealing with peat and climate issues.

2) SATURDAY 12 MAY: CBD SIDE EVENT ‘CLIMATE CHANGE AND BIODIVERSITY: ‘ACTIVITIES OF THE CONVENTION ON BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY.’

- Pieter van Eijk (Wetlands International, The Netherlands); ‘Wetlands and climate change, Their functioning and threats in a warming world’

The figures presented during the side events in Bonn are based on the publication PEAT-CO2: ‘Assesment of CO2 emissions from drained peatlands in South-east Asia’, which was released at the UNFCCC In November 2006. This study of Delft Hydraulics in cooperation with Wetlands International and Alterra presents the latest and shocking figures on CO2 emissions from drained peatland areas in South-east Asia. These areas were once swamp forests. Due to extensive drainage for logging, palm oil plantations and pulp wood, the peat oxidates into huge amounts of carbon dioxide (CO2).

Please find the summary of the publication and the link to download this publication for free on:
 http://www.wetlands.org/publication.aspx…

For more information please contact Wetlands International, we welcome all your reactions or questions.
Please contact:
Alex Kaat
Communication Manager Wetlands International Headquarters
Mobile: +31 (0)6 50601917 E-mail:  alex.kaat at wetlands.org

From: Tol, Susanna <Susanna.Tol@Wetlands.org>