About the event

The plenary sessions will introduce the work of the IUCN UK Peatland Programme, Northern Ireland’s progress towards a national Peatland Strategy and the cultural history of Northern Ireland’s peatlands. The day will also feature a water research panel discussion.

Programme:

11am – 12pm          Conference welcome and introduction 

11am                        Poetry reading: Angeline King

11.10am                    IUCN UK Peatland Programme welcome: Jane Akerman, Programme Manager, IUCN UK Peatland Programme

11.25am                   Welcome address: Julie Thompson, Head of Environment, Marine and Fisheries Group, DAERA  

11.40am                   Northern Ireland’s Peatland Strategy and current initiatives: Mark Preston, Head of Peatland Policy Team, DAERA                                    

12pm – 1pm             Break

1pm – 2.30pm          Peatlands Without Borders: Why Global Action Matters 

The UK peatland community is part of a growing number of nations calling for greater understanding, protection and restoration of peatland ecosystems. This session will showcase the IUCN UK Peatland Programme’s role on the international stage, including the development of a Red List for peatland ecosystems and the forthcoming IUCN World Conservation Congress, where we are calling for the adoption of a motion to develop a unified global definition of peat and peatlands. Hear from our partners at the UN Environment Programme-led Global Peatlands Initiative about the outcomes from Ramsar COP15, and join our Virtual Peatlands Pavilion world tour to explore peatlands around the globe.

Speakers 

Emma Hinchliffe, Director, IUCN UK Peatland Programme

Richard Lindsay, Peatland Consultant, Richard Lindsay Environment Arts and Letters

Juan Carlos Vasquez, Head of the Biodiversity, People, and Landscape Unit, United Nations Environment Programme

Marko Kohv, Research Fellow, University of Tartu

Māra Pakalne, LIFE PeatCarbon Project Manager, University of Latvia

2.30pm                      Break

3pm – 4.30pm          Water Connections: Bridging Science, Policy and Practice for a Resilient Future 

This plenary session will spotlight the critical role of peatlands in the UK water environment, bringing together leading scientists with water industry and statutory representatives to explore how evidence-based research can inform and transform policy. Through rapid-fire lightning talks, experts will present headline findings - such as how well-managed peatlands can reduce flood peaks and improve water quality - followed by a chaired panel discussion delving into the policy implications. The session aims to drive forward conversations around water security, peatland conservation, and the commitments needed from all four UK nations. It will also explore opportunities for innovation, highlight knowledge gaps, and consider how current policy frameworks support or hinder integrated water and peatland outcomes.

Speakers

David Smith, Natural Resources Manager, South West Water

Philip Jordan, Professor of Catchment Science, University of Ulster

Raymond Flynn, Reader in the School of Natural and Built Environment, Queen’s University Belfast

Florence Renou-Wilson, Senior Lecturer and Principal Investigator, University College Dublin

Additional panel members

Jake White, Team Leader, National Peatland Action Programme, Natural Resources Wales

Katharine Birdsall, Senior Peatland Advisor, Environment Agency

Find out more about the event and book your tickets here.