Bogs are fascinating landscapes for ecologists, climatologists, archaeologists, environmental historians and water managers. But many bogs have been damaged, and legislative protection - as 29 case studies demonstrate - is not enough to conserve the rest.

Contributions to the symposium "Peatlands in perspective", organised by WWF, Staatsbosbeheer, Natuurmonumenten and the Dutch Foundation for Conservation of Irish Bogs

Peatlands are a unique and fast-disappearing landscape. More and more countries are recognizing this situation and putting protective legislation into place. It is therefore important to understand all the processes and influences that are involved in sustaining the remaining examples of this fragile ecosystem. Addressing two key questions, why should peatlands be conserved and how should this conservation be achieved, this book brings together the leading workers in the area, whose contributions have been developed from the Peatlands Convention in Edinburgh. The book summarizes the current situation regarding peatlands and bogs and sets the agenda for their future survival. This work is important reading for all environmental scientists and practitioners working with peatlands and bogs. The book is also relevant to all government policy makers and voluntary bodies involved in sustaining biodiversity.

Despite our growing awareness of the vital role they play in the global environment, wetlands remain among the most endangered ecosystems on Earth and are still being destroyed and degraded at an alarming rate. This much-needed publication, which includes contributions from leading researchers and practitioners, presents a holistic perspective on the restoration of wetland ecosystems such as shallow lakes, streams, floodplains and bogs. Through the use of carefully chosen case studies, the authors examine European wetland restoration projects from Scandinavia to Bulgaria and from Ireland to Belarus, focusing on the lessons they can teach to a new generation of conservationists. As well as reviewing the sum of current knowledge on the subject, the text is a store of practical know-how, covering a wide range of conservation approaches and techniques. It analyzes the major problems in the field and identifies key principles for achieving sustainability in wetland restoration. The topics covered include: • the role of wetlands in landscape functioning • human interference with natural processes such as water and matter cycles and energy dissipation • the impact of land use on global problems such as climate change, floods and droughts • the role played by diversity in wetland functioning The work shows that without sustainable land use over the totality of their catchment areas, and without cohesive inter-agency cooperation, individual restoration projects will have a short life span. The balance between scientific background and practical restoration makes this book a valuable resource for scientists as well as wetland managers, decision makers and land use planners, as well as students of ecology, nature conservation and environmental protection.