COP31 Estonian Programme

Peatlands for Climate, Biodiversity and People: Practical Pathways for Responsible Management and Restoration

Peatlands cover only a small proportion of the Earth's land surface but store approximately one-third of global soil carbon. Their management and restoration therefore play a critical role in climate mitigation, biodiversity conservation, water regulation, and sustainable land use. Across Northern countries, peatlands are managed under diverse land uses, including forestry, agriculture and conservation, and on a smaller scale also for mining, peat extraction and infrastructure development. At the same time, peatland restoration is expanding rapidly, supported by public funding, legal obligations, private investment, voluntary carbon markets, biodiversity finance, and corporate climate commitments. Practical examples from Northern peatlands demonstrate how science, policy, financing mechanisms, and stakeholder cooperation can accelerate restoration and deliver measurable climate and biodiversity benefits. This event will bring together experts from science, government, the private sector, and restoration practice to discuss responsible peatland management, innovative restoration financing, and pathways for scaling up peatland restoration to support climate and nature objectives.