The human impact on global climate and the role of peatlands in this process has been widely studied and debated in media, but also within a scientific audience and peatland experts during recent years.
It seems that there is lack of fundamental cooperation on an international level to coordinate research efforts. There is a need to find solutions for the management of peatlands in the best way from a climate, but at the same, from a human needs point of view.
The International Peat Society IPS established a joint IPS Working Group on Peatlands and Climate Change in the end of the year 2005. The Working Group's task was to compile information into a summary of available knowledge to help the IPS and other actors to understand the role of peatlands and peat within the current context of global climate change.
The work took two years and the book "Peatlands and Climate Change" was launched in the IPS International Peat Congress 2008 in Tullamore, Ireland.
Once better informed, actors can promote further actions into the topic of peatlands in relation to global climate change. The IPS hopes the book "Peatlands and Climate Change" is one step ahead in the road of wise use of peatlands and peat.