Opportunities and Conflicts of Commercial Uses of Peatland in Europe

1. 12th International Peat Congress, Tampere, Finland, 6 - 11 June 2004 Opportunities and Conflicts of Commercial Uses of Peatland in Europe Socio-Economic Comparison of Case Studies from Finland, France and Switzerland RECIPE Project Gerald Schwarz, Harri Vasander, Anni Takko, Viviane Froidevaux, Vincent Pheulpin, Walter Rosselli, Philippe Grosvenier, Daniel Gilbert, Carine Maitre, Andreas Gattinger, Matthias Droesler and Kenn Nwokoro Contact: Email: g.schwarz@macaulay.ac.uk Tel: +44 (0) 1224 498200 ext. 2270

2. 12th International Peat Congress, Tampere, Finland, 6 - 11 June 2004 Outline • Introduction • Objectives • Economic data on peatland in Finland, France and Switzerland • Peat production and trade • Alternative peatland uses • Conclusions • Future project tasks

3. 12th International Peat Congress, Tampere, Finland, 6 - 11 June 2004 Introduction • Peatland ecosystems posses a unique biodiversity. • Across Europe there are many abandoned areas of peatland that have been cut-over. • On the other hand, peatland is in may areas of central and northern Europe a valuable raw commodity and income source for rural communities. • But the extent of peatland and the use of peatland vary between different European countries, e.g.: • Finland is the sixth richest country in peatland with peatland providing significant contribution to the forestry and energy sectors. • In France peatland represents only a relatively small area with minor economic importance • In Switzerland peatland is protected and peat exploitation is prohibited.

4. 12th International Peat Congress, Tampere, Finland, 6 - 11 June 2004 Objectives • Differences between European countries point out the need to evaluate the conflicts of peatland utilisation and conservation in a national context and to compare different opportunities. • To identify opportunities and conflicts of commercial uses of peatland in different European countries. • To summarise different European country case studies and compare the socio-economic importance of peat exploitation and alternative peatland uses. Main objectives are: • The paper is part of an on-going wider socio-economic study, part of the RECIPE project, and more country cases will be added.

5. 12th International Peat Congress, Tampere, Finland, 6 - 11 June 2004 Economic data on peatland in Finland, France and Switzerland Regional distribution of peatland • Finland1: • Total peatland area of 8.9m ha (30% of total land area). • Forestry is the main type of peatland use (5.7m ha), followed by pristine and protected peatland (2.7m and 1m ha) and agriculture (0.4m – 1m ha). • 56,000 ha are used for peat production. • France2: • Decline of peatland from 120,000 ha to 60,000 ha in the last 50 years. • 15 peatland sites are still exploited but most extraction authorizations will terminate in 2010. • Switzerland3: • Total peatland area of 87,334 ha, but peat exploitation is prohibited. • Protected bogs have a size of 1500 ha distributed over 500 sites, but legal protection covers also surrounding areas. Sources: 1) Ohtonen & Kotanen (2003), 2) Maitre (2003), 3) BUWAL (2002)

6. 12th International Peat Congress, Tampere, Finland, 6 - 11 June 2004 Economic data on peatland in Finland, France and Switzerland Peat production and trade in Finland • Peat production for the Finnish energy sector increased from 9.2m m3 to 23.3m m3 from 1980 to 2002.1 • Peat production for horticulture increased from 1.6m m3 to 2.2m m3 from over the same period adding up to a total amount of 25.5m m3 in 2002.1 • Peat consumption increased from 6.2m m3 to 22m m3 in the same period.1 • Energy peat production and transportation contributed a net-income of €110m in 2002 and additionally power plants that use peat as fuel paid about €13m taxes to the state.1 • Peat production is an important employer in rural areas, in particular in the north of Finland, with a total employment of 7766 person-years.2 • Finland is a net-exporter of peat mainly exporting to Sweden, Netherlands and Spain. Sources: 1) Association of Finnish peat industry (2003), 2) Leiviskae & Kiukaanniemi (2000)

7. 12th International Peat Congress, Tampere, Finland, 6 - 11 June 2004 Economic data on peatland in Finland, France and Switzerland Peat production and trade in Finland Sources: Statistics of the Customs (2003)

8. 12th International Peat Congress, Tampere, Finland, 6 - 11 June 2004 Economic data on peatland in Finland, France and Switzerland Peat production and trade in Finland Sources: Statistics of the Customs (2003)

9. 12th International Peat Congress, Tampere, Finland, 6 - 11 June 2004 Economic data on peatland in Finland, France and Switzerland Peat production and trade in France • Peat production is much lower than in Finland but also increased from 161,382 t to 400,000 t from 1975 to 1995. • Peat consumption increased sharply from 250,000 to 866,000. • In 2003 1600 jobs have been generated by direct peat exploitation and the processing industries. • France is a net-importer of peat with total peat imports of 466,00 t in 1995. • Peat imports mainly from the Baltic States (10%) and Ireland (10%) provide the main source for processed peat products such as organic amendments and growing media. Sources: Maitre (2003)

10. 12th International Peat Congress, Tampere, Finland, 6 - 11 June 2004 Economic data on peatland in Finland, France and Switzerland Peat production and trade in Switzerland • Since peat production has been banned in 1988 only processed peat products are exported but in relatively small numbers. • Germany is the main importer of processed peat products from Switzerland Sources: General Customs Direction (2004)

11. 12th International Peat Congress, Tampere, Finland, 6 - 11 June 2004 Economic data on peatland in Finland, France and Switzerland Peat production and trade in Switzerland • Switzerland is a net-importer of peat mainly importing raw peat from Germany (more than three quarter of total imports). • Furthermore, Switzerland is importing peat from the Netherlands, Belgium and East European countries. Sources: General Customs Direction (2004)

12. 12th International Peat Congress, Tampere, Finland, 6 - 11 June 2004 Economic data on peatland in Finland, France and Switzerland Alternative peatland uses in the case study countries • Re-use of land after peat exploitation has also significant socio-economic importance for rural areas, in particular in countries like Finland. • Usually there four different options of re-using including forestry, agriculture, restoration to wetlands and the creation of waterfowl habitats. • Growth of forests can be very high and can have local importance in wood production and most cut-away areas in Finland can successfully be used for forestry. • Beside agriculture and restoration, tourism can be an important alternative for peatland uses in Finland and nature tourism is the most rapidly growing branch of the Finnish tourist industry. Sources:

13. 12th International Peat Congress, Tampere, Finland, 6 - 11 June 2004 Economic data on peatland in Finland, France and Switzerland Alternative peatland uses in the case study countries • As peat production does not, or only very limited, take place in France and Switzerland, alternative peatland uses play an important role. • Protected areas in both countries provide opportunities for “eco-tourism” and in surrounding areas for extensive agricultural systems. • In Switzerland, financial support is provided for environmentally friendly agricultural activities as part of wetland management. • Agriculture has a significant role for ecological landscape management in areas with high conservation value which are often not suitable for competitive agricultural production. • Agriculture and nature administration can be important parts of the socio-economic framework of French and Swiss peatland both promoting sustainable tourism and providing income and employment opportunities.

14. 12th International Peat Congress, Tampere, Finland, 6 - 11 June 2004 Economic data on peatland in Finland, France and Switzerland Conclusion • The comparison show that the economic importance of peatland strongly differs between different European countries. • Peat production is only significant in Finland with significant export earnings and locally important employment effects. • In France and Switzerland, where peat production does not play a major role, processing of peat and sustainable re-uses of peatland are economically more important. • Forestry, agriculture and tourism are important alternatives of using peatland in all three countries providing employment and income opportunities as well as contributing to the overall economy.

15. 12th International Peat Congress, Tampere, Finland, 6 - 11 June 2004 Economic data on peatland in Finland, France and Switzerland Conclusion • But intensive use of peatland has often caused environmental damage and the loss of valuable ecosystems with a high biodiversity. • Peat utilisation should be seen in a wider framework integrating environmental and socio-economic interests. • For the first three country case studies the study shows that there are a number of options for sustainable re-use of peatland such as forestry and extensive agricultural systems. • Integrating these activities with or around protected areas and national parks can be suitable options for peatland utilisation also increasing opportunities for tourism.

16. 12th International Peat Congress, Tampere, Finland, 6 - 11 June 2004 Economic data on peatland in Finland, France and Switzerland Future tasks • The paper summarises the early stages and first findings of the socio-economic appraisal of peatland utilisation in Europe. • More country cases such as Scotland and Germany and hence more socio-economic aspects will be added. • Based on the economic review of peatland utilisation further, and more specific, economic assessments and sociological studies will be carried out for the different country cases.