Worldwide scientists should work together to set up an effective management system for the protection and reclamation of peatland, environmental scientists say.  

Over 100 officials and wetland scientists from nine countries --including China, Russia, Britain and Holland -- attended an international symposium on the protection of peatland last week in Lanzhou city, capital of the northwestern Gansu Province.

The experts agreed that to protect the valuable peatland resources is not a regional issue, but demands full participation by the entire world. "It's essential to map out plans and policies at national level and eventually build up an effective management system for the protection of global peatlands," said Faizal Parish, a scientist with the Global Environmental Center.

Peatland -- a unique wetland resource that boasts biodiversity but takes 10 years to form a layer just one centimeter thick -- covers about 5-8 percent of the earth's surface, or 500 million hectares. About 5 million hectares are used as sources of fuel and gardening materials while 30 million hectares serve the forestry and agriculture sectors.

A major habitat for many endangered animal and plant species, peatland stores 20 percent of the world's fresh water and 30 percent of its carbon, and it plays a vital role in regulating global climate.

Experts say the world's peatland was secure until the 20th century. But excessive exploitation and increasing demands for land from energy and agriculture sectors have caused peat bogs around the globe to shrink and degenerate rapidly.

Western Europe, for example, has reportedly lost more than 90 percent of its peatland.

Drainage of swamps remains a major threat for worldwide peatland. Experts say that once peatland is exhausted of water, its carbon reserve would be lost in the form of carbon dioxide, damaging its effectiveness in regulating global climate. Environmentalists say that this would escalate the greenhouse effect and, in the worse cases, cause fire.

Experts say that enhanced cooperation among the international community would contribute to the preservation and rational exploitation of the shrinking peatland resources.

The conference ended with a joint declaration calling on the international community to take emergency measures to protect this special land resource.

The declaration comprised more than 20 proposals for peatland resources to be carried out in individual countries, regions and the international community.

Proposals included assessments of peatland resources in various countries, the control over exploration of peatland resources, fundraising and lawmaking, and regional and international cooperation in peatland protection.