Blue carbon ecosystems and peatlands sequester and store huge amounts of carbon. By conserving, protecting, and restoring blue carbon ecosystems and peatlands globally it is possible to reduce greenhouse gas emissions while also reviving ecosystem services that support adaptation, disaster risk reduction, and water security. 

This is recognized in the Strategic Plan of the Convention on Wetlands, as well as in COP resolutions encouraging contracting parties to include these systems in national policies and strategies for climate-change mitigation as well as adaptation. 

Building on recent insights from science and experiences of Contracting Parties to the convention, the webinar will promote dialogue for effective actions to protect blue carbon ecosystems and peatlands, further strengthening work under the Convention and leveraging it in delivering climate outcomes. 

The webinar is organised by the Secretariat of the Convention on Wetlands to promote dissemination and use of recent outputs prepared by the Scientific and Technical Review Panel (STRP) of the Convention: Policy Brief No.5 on restoring drained peatlands, which is complemented by global guidelines for peatland rewetting and restoration (Technical Report 11) and a Briefing Note (No. 11) providing hands-on methodological guidance for restoring drained peatlands; as well as Briefing Note 12 on the contribution of blue carbon ecosystems to climate change mitigation.