The IUCN UK Peatland Programme and the Environment Agency are delighted to announce a series of workshops for 2025 aimed at highlighting the importance of the water environment within the peatland sector, and to bring together researchers, practitioners and the water industry. Peatland systems offer significant value to the climate, environment and society. In the water environment, healthy, functioning peatlands play a key role in enhancing water quality and securing drinking water supplies. They also support flood protection, drought risk amelioration and biodiversity. Throughout the first half of 2025 we are organising a series of four, two-hour online seminars with four speakers allocated 20 minutes each followed by a discussion session where participants can ask the presenters questions on their research or case studies.
Our first call for the workshop in January titled ‘Peatlands and Water Quality’ is detailed below, and we will send out a call for presentation proposals for each of the subsequent workshops in the coming weeks.
The following dates and times have been scheduled for the seminars to add to your calendars and share*:
30th Januray 2025 10:00-12:00 (Peatlands and water quality) - Booking link and further information
26th March 2025 10:00-12:00 (The importance of peatland hydrological function)
28th May 2025 10:00-12:00 (Nature Based Solutions and Innovation)
23rd July 2025 10:00-12:00 (Restoration and ongoing management impacts)
*titles above are provided for reference and may change slightly. The call currently open is highlighted in grey. This event page will be updated with details of how to secure your place once bookings open.
Our first seminar will consider the importance of peatlands for delivering water quality outcomes. We are looking for research or case studies that can be applied or demonstrate applicability in or to the industry or regulatory context. This could include research that considers Water Framework Directive outcomes or water treatment issues such as DOC and water colour. We are looking to include research and case studies from peatlands in both lowland and upland contexts.
Subject areas that are of particular interest include:
- How can we build in water quality monitoring within peatland catchments?
- Cost effective monitoring solutions using both technology and environmental indicators.
- Is there an optimal combination of elements that will give the best picture of waterbody health in the peatland context?
N.B. we welcome presentations which propose innovative or new approaches to water quality monitoring and solutions, however, selection to present does not equate to an endorsement from either the Environment Agency or IUCN.
The deadline for proposals for the first seminar is 4th December 2024. Please send to info@iucn.org.uk cc’d to Jessica.Fior-Berry@iucn.org.uk and mary.berry@environment-agency.gov.uk. Include ‘Water Quality Speaker Proposal’ in your email subject. We will contact speakers to confirm if you have been selected by 16th December 2024. If you have any further questions, we would be happy to answer them, emailing Jess Fìor-Berry at the above email.
