## 3 Literature Review
#### 3.1.2. Peatland Management and Restoration Strategies  
Peatland management can be realised in different ways, including reducing GHG emissions by maintaining wet conditions in peatlands, including paludiculture [36] and restoring degraded peatlands [36]. Several policy instruments can be applied to regulate European peatland management. For example, the Peatland Code [31; 115] includes standards to evaluate GHG emissions from peatlands. Carbon labelling and certification, used successfully in France, can be mentioned among other policy instruments in peatland management. Regulations of peatlands [3; 8] provide binding provisions and initiatives to engage landowners in peatland restoration and management. Restoration programmes for deteriorated peatlands include rewetting and revegetation in large areas [117]. Among several member states in the European Union, national strategies were developed for more effective peatland management in sectors [53]. Even though the specific aims defined in the national peatland strategies differ for each country, the main strategies are related to protection through sustainable management and the use of peatlands [31]. Peatland national strategies can significantly affect the increase in the sustainable use of peatland [31]. On the other hand, a shortage of peatland policies at the national level can hinder local climate change mitigation solutions [53]. Although the structure of national peatland strategy depends on country specifics, strategies should include insight into issues regarding peatland conservation and restoration, also including specific measures for sustainable peatland use [31]. National peatland strategies have already been developed and adapted, for example, in England, Finland, Ireland Austria, Germany, and Scotland [31]. In the context of drained peatlands, European countries like Finland, Germany, and Poland are the most significant CO\({}_{2}\) emitters. In the time period of 2011-2015, Ireland, Scotland, and Finland developed their national strategies, but strategies regarding peatland were implemented only in the years 2020 and 2021 [31]. In these places in Europe, the role of sustainable peatland management has increased in recent years [31]. England's action plan regarding peatland conservation and restoration was issued in 2021 and aimed to move towards zero-emissions targets related to peatland restoration. According to the plan, the aim is to achieve appropriate peatland conditions for peatlands in the territory and move towards more sustainable peatland management by 2040 [31]. In 2021, Northern Ireland issued its national peatland strategy defining targets for 2040. The strategy focuses more on semi-natural peatland conservation measures, aiming to reach good conditions in 2040 for all semi-natural peatlands in Northern Ireland [31]. Austria and Germany developed their national peatland strategies in 2022. Austria's strategy focuses on the conservation of peatlands, the achievement of a more sustainable use of peat, and less use of peat in horticulture. According to the strategy, support for carbon emission reduction development programmes is included in the national peatland strategy of Austria [31]. Germany's national peatland strategy focuses on returning and conserving natural conditions in peatlands using a rewetting approach. Also, the strategy focuses on peatland use in paludiculture and the more sustainable further use of peat. The strategy aims to reduce 5 million tons of CO\({}_{2}\) from peatlands in Germany by 2030. One of the greatest steps defined for CO\({}_{2}\) emission reduction from peatland is to terminate the extraction of peat in Germany by 2040. Regarding strategy in the time period of 2027-2031, peat use in horticulture will also be gradually discontinued [31]. Various strategies and approaches are known to reduce GHG emissions, including the reduction of the intensity of agriculture, peatland afforestation and reforestation [73], and peatland rewetting [117; 118].