Fédération des conservatoires
d'espaces naturels and the French Mire Resource Centre have organised,
in collaboration with Université de Franche-Comté,
Groupe d'étude des tourbières, the International
Peat Society and its French section 'Comité Français
des Tourbières et de la Tourbe', and the International
Mire Conservation Group, an International Conference named "
Peat and Peatlands 2007 - Peat in horticulture and the rehabilitation
of mires after peat extraction : which issues for tomorrow?".
It will address the following subjects
:
"Peat in horticulture"
- Definitions, technical characteristics and usefulness of peat
and growing media;
- Current situation and possible evolution of the market for growing
media, peat-based or otherwise;
- Alternatives to peat use;
- Prospects for the future of growing media, in relation to 'Wise
Use of Mires and Peatlands'.
-> Discussions, grouped in 3 workshops, will consider 3 groups
of users: hobby gardeners, professional horticulturists, and communities
using peat; they will follow an introduction formed by specific
communications.
"Rehabilitation of mires
after peat extraction"
- Present situation of mires subject or formerly subjected to
peat extraction, in France and other parts of Europe;
- Experiences of rehabilitation already carried out in different
countries around the world and the lessons that they can bring;
- Current rehabilitation experiments and the issues surrounding
them;
- Scientific and technical knowledge to be used for restoration
of mires after peat-cutting.
A synthesis of each part and a general conclusion of the conference
will be presented.
The Conference (for which about
150 participants are expected) will take place in the Regional
Natural Park of the Upper-Jura (France) on the 8-11th
October, 2007. Participants will be hosted in the holiday
village of Lamoura. This resort is located 55 km from Geneva (Switzerland)
in a beautiful, scenic setting.
