Moor Dialogue Forum 2025: Collective Efforts Essential for Wetlands Preservation

On April 12, 2025, the Moor Dialogue Forum brought together key stakeholders to address the urgent need for the preservation of wetlands, particularly peatlands, in Austria and beyond. With only about 3% of the world's land covered by intact peatlands, and an estimated 30,000 hectares in Austria, the significance of these ecosystems cannot be overstated. They play a vital role in carbon storage, holding twice as much carbon as all the world's forests combined, and are crucial for biodiversity and water management.

The forum, hosted by Federal Minister Norbert Totschnig and the non-profit foundation COMÚN, aimed to foster collaboration among various actors in science, practice, and politics. It emphasized that the responsibility for protecting wetlands extends beyond landowners to society as a whole. Participants engaged in discussions about how municipalities, civil society, and the general public can contribute to this cause.

Minister Totschnig highlighted the importance of collective action in safeguarding these unique ecosystems. He noted that wetlands serve as invaluable carbon and water reservoirs, making their preservation essential for climate protection and biodiversity. The forum provided a platform for experts, including the Climate Director of Vienna, Andreas Januskovecz, and the head of the Austrian Nature Conservation Association, Birgit Mair-Markhart, to share best practices and innovative solutions.

The event also marked the conclusion of the pilot project titled 'Ramsar Wetland Communication Hub,' aimed at enhancing awareness of the functions and benefits of wetlands. The initiative, managed by Common Affairs GmbH under the auspices of COMÚN, has engaged various stakeholders through workshops and educational programs targeting school students, educators, and forest owners in regions including Carinthia, Styria, and Lower Austria. A comprehensive guide is being developed as part of the project, which will be available for free on the project's website.

Project leader Sebastian Bohrn Mena emphasized the need for a cooperative approach to preserve nature for future generations. He stated that the project aims to raise awareness about the importance of wetlands and hopes to disseminate its findings widely. The guide, created with input from numerous experts, is set to be released by the end of May 2025 and will be accessible online, along with documentation of the forum's activities.

The Ramsar Wetland Communication Hub project is funded by the Rural Development Program of the Federal Ministry for Agriculture, Forestry, Climate Action, and Water Management, with support from the federal government, states, and the European Union. This collaborative effort underscores the critical need for unified action in the face of environmental challenges.