Data and Knowledge Needs for Improving Science and Policy for Peatlands in Canada in a Changing World: Insights from Global Peatlands Initiative Workshop, June 2023

Authors
Kara Webster
Maria Strack
Nicole Balliston
Marissa Davies
Kathryn Hettinga
Miranda Hunter
Kimberly Kleinke
Megan Schmidt
Carlos Barreto
Melanie Bird
Kristen Blann
Kelly Bona
Allison Cassidy
John Connolly
Scott Davidson
Lee Fedorchuk
Michelle Garneau
Lorna Harris
Hongxing He
Sarah Howie
Adam Kirkwood
Nicholas Pontone
Karen Richardson
Nicole Sanderson
Gilles Seutin
Bin Xu
Xiangbo Yin
Contacts
Resource Date:
2025

Knowledge and data on the current function, future threats, and benefits of peatlands in Canada are required to support evidence-based decision-making to ensure they continue to provide critical ecosystem services. This is particularly relevant for Canada, given the large expanse of relatively intact peatland area. There is a need, not only to standardize protocols, but also to prioritize types of information and knowledge that can best meet conservation and management goals. This was the challenge posed to the participants of the Global Peatlands Initiative workshop in June 2023 in Quebec City, Quebec, Canada. Participants were composed of researchers using primarily Western science approaches that use peatland data for carbon accounting, policy or sustainable land use, reclamation/restoration, conservation, wildlife, and water resources applications. For seven peatland data categories (hydrometeorological and environmental sensing; peat coring and depth; greenhouse gas monitoring; biodiversity; vegetation, woody debris, and litter; Traditional Knowledge; water quality), three priority measurements were identified and recommendations for their collection were discussed. The key recommendations from the workshop were to (1) create standardized, yet flexible protocols; (2) coordinate field data collection where possible; (3) weave more Traditional Knowledge into understanding of peatlands; (4) create an atlas of existing peatland information; (5) scope opportunities to create a network of peatland “super sites”.