Project ‘Telma’: A scientific framework for conserving the world's peatlands

Abstract

The world's peat resources are diminishing rapidly—a fact that is causing anxiety in some countries. Project ‘Telma’, initiated by IUCN and IBP, is concerned with international cooperation in the conservation of peatlands (mires). Because peatlands play a key rôle in certain biogeochemical cycles (especially the hydrological and carbon cycles), interest is being expressed in the part they may have in maintaining ecological balance in some regions, and thus in the need for a conservation policy for peatlands. But further research is required on this function of peatlands. However, the scientific argument for conserving them is more definitive and is largely based on the fact that they comprise an important source of ecological information. Some of the diversity and intrinsic importance of this information is demonstrated by studies of the European sub-group of boreal mires. The Telma classification was devised as a framework for gathering information for preparing lists of sites of international significance for science and education.