Who’s voice counts? Managing conservation and sustainable valorisation of peatlands

Abstract

Globally, the benefits of wetland-associated ecosystems, particularly peatlands, are recognised, especially in implementing restoration works to eliminate biodiversity losses and restore degraded ecosystems. Eastern European countries, such as Romania, are significantly affected. The article aimed to analyse the perceptions of different stakeholder categories (scientists, local communities, local authorities) regarding the conservation and sustainable use of peatland ecosystems in Romania, emphasising their role as nature-based solutions for climate change mitigation. The study employs qualitative analysis involving 18 semi-structured interviews and thematic analysis in the form of a PESTLE analysis. The results highlight different perceptions between stakeholder categories regarding the benefits of ecosystem services provided by peatlands, the degree of differentiated assumption and involvement in conservation actions, and implications for ecosystem management in climate change mitigation.