Peatland Strategies in Focus: New Peatland Policy Brief

Peatlands are vital for climate action, biodiversity, water retention, and nutrient management. Despite covering only 3–4% of Earth's land surface, they store a third of the world's soil carbon, making them natural carbon sinks. However, drainage and unsustainable land use threaten these crucial ecosystems, putting their ecological functions at risk.

Recognizing their importance, several European countries have developed national peatland strategies. Yet, pan-European exchange beyond scientific and civil society organizations is still underdeveloped. To address this gap, the EUKI project Building the European Peatlands Initiative: A Strong Alliance for Peatland Climate Protection in Europe seeks to foster collaboration and align policy strategies across borders.
 

“To ensure peatlands continue delivering vital ecosystem services and contributing to climate targets, they must be prioritised, conserved, restored, and sustainably managed, placing them prominently on the global political agenda. The Global Peatlands Initiative has supported the establishment of the European Peatlands Initiative to foster collaboration, accelerate investment, and align policy strategies across borders.”
(United Nations Environment Programme - Global Peatlands Initiative)

The published policy brief highlights that a major barrier to large-scale peatland restoration is funding. While public financing plays a crucial role, private investments are increasingly necessary. Some first countries show the potential of market-based approaches. However, slow uptake due to concerns over land use changes and financial risks highlights the need for long-term incentives and regulatory clarity to scale up restoration efforts. 

Further, effective peatland restoration requires enhanced dialogue and knowledge exchange among European countries. A European Peatland Strategy, based on transnational cooperation, could improve policy coherence, create an enabling investment environment, and facilitate restoration. Given the diversity of peatland ecosystems, a tailored approach is needed. While peatlands are integrated into key EU policies, inconsistencies within these create trade-offs, complicating adequate peatland management. A coordinated European approach is essential to align strategies, secure long-term funding, and improve restoration outcomes. 

By fostering collaboration, integrating peatland conservation into broader policies, and mobilizing financial resources, Europe has the opportunity to set a global example in peatland protection and sustainable land use.

The project is implemented in partnership between Eurosite, Michael Succow Foundation / Greifswald Mire Centre, CEEweb and ELO, funded within the European Climate Initiative (EUKI). EUKI is a project-financing instrument by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK). The EUKI competition for project ideas is implemented by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH. It is the overarching goal of the EUKI to foster climate cooperation within the European Union (EU) in order to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions.