From Ramsar to Ruovesi: Celebrating World Wetlands Day in Siikaneva peatland

On February 2, 2025, a group of eight researchers gathered in Ruovesi and headed to Siikaneva peatland. This time, we weren’t carrying greenhouse gas measurement devices or peat corers, but a small stove, a pan, and pancake batter. The supplies were dragged across the snowy peatland to the campfire site, where firewood was gathered, and the campfire was lit. But why all this fuss?

Every year on February 2nd, World Wetlands Day is celebrated. On this day in 1971, the Ramsar Convention was signed in the city of Ramsar, Iran, aiming to protect wetlands. Wetlands are ecosystems that lie between aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. The most familiar example of a wetland in Finland is likely a peatland – an ecosystem that forms peat and is characterized by specified peatland vegetation.

The Ramsar Convention is the first and only international treaty specifically focused on the protection and sustainable use of wetlands. The convention recognizes the importance of wetlands in preserving biodiversity. Under its framework, hundreds of millions of hectares of wetlands have been protected by 172 countries, and the signatory nations continue to actively work towards protecting new areas.

Pancake party in the peatland

Our research group has been working in Ruovesi for long, studying, for example, the connections between peatland vegetation and greenhouse gas fluxes in Siikaneva. Successfully conserved Siikaneva peatland is part of ongoing Waterlands project, that aims to restore wetland ecosystems throughout Europe. The project is funded by EU Horizon 2020. In honor of Wetlands Day, we took to the field to exchange ideas with local people about the importance of wetlands, research, local history, and the state of the world. The discussions around the campfire were rewarding, we learned about the importance of peatlands for the locals, as recreation and connection with nature, and we were able to share our work and motivations on site. We hope we succeeded in providing the participants with a pleasant memory of Siikaneva, and perhaps even some new perspectives on the area. We wish to repeat this activity in the future.

Why protect wetlands?

Wetlands, including peatlands, provide an incredible array of ecosystem services – they benefit people in many ways. One of the most well-known examples is the carbon storage they form: peatlands alone store 30% of the land-based carbon while covering only 3% of the Earth’s surface. Thus, they help mitigate climate change. Many species rely on wetlands to exist. They also regulate flood peaks and store fresh water. In Finland, peatlands have historically been seen as dangerous areas where one could sink and that take over the landscape from more hospitable (and more productive) forests, but in reality, wetlands protect us from natural disasters.

Let’s raise awareness for the state of wetlands today

Despite the achievements of the Ramsar Convention, it’s not going well with wetlands worldwide. A Nature article from a couple of years back estimated that around one-fifth of the world’s wetlands have been lost since the 1700s, with the rate accelerating since the late 20th century. The main reason for wetland loss is the growing demand for agricultural land, however, in Northern Europe, the primary cause has been drainage for forestry. The article lists regional destruction hotspots by wetland type, and Northern Europe shares the top with Indonesia and Malaysia as major peatland destroyers.

While the ditching enthusiasm has been declining in Finland during the past decades, there is still pressure to use peatlands. Therefore, the work to protect them must continue. By raising public awareness, continuing conservation efforts and continuing research we can make an effort to protect wetlands and peatlands. This in turn can help mitigate climate change and reduce biodiversity loss. Let’s appreciate the importance of these ecosystems and advocate for a future where they are seen as more than a material resource.

Authors

Olivia Kuuri-Riutta

Doctoral Researcher

School of Forest Sciences, Faculty of Science, Forestry and Technology, University of Eastern Finland

Sanni Rantanen

Project Researcher

School of Forest Sciences, Faculty of Science, Forestry and Technology, University of Eastern Finland

Brunella Palacios Ganoza

Doctoral Researcher

School of Forest Sciences, Faculty of Science, Forestry and Technology, University of Eastern Finland