Image courtesy of Nicolò Miana.

On June 2nd, 2022, World Peatland Day, The Venice Agreement was ceremoniously signed and presented to the public in Venice alongside the famous biennial. It emphasizes the importance of local initiatives and communities for global peatland protection. To develop the agreement, 40 peatland lovers with diverse backgrounds from all over the world met for two days in Venice. The idea emerged from the transdisciplinary work of Ensayos, an international-transdisciplinary art collective together with the Wildlife Conservation Society Chile (WCS) and the Michael Succow Foundation, partner in the Greifswald Mire Centre. 

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The Venice Agreement represents a declaration of commitment by peatland custodians, scientists and artists together with representatives of indigenous communities, climate policy, nature conservation and economy from around the world to focus on and protect the ecological and cultural significance of these special ecosystems. It takes a bottom-up approach that recognises local initiatives as important actors in the international process of peatland conservation. The Venice Agreement recognises that the well-being of people and peatlands are intimately linked and that thoughtful, responsible and accountable action can protect and restore this unique relationship for generations to come. Two years later, on June 2nd, 2024, the signees are planning another multi-locational meeting. Stay tuned for more information!