Keynote Speakers

Christian Fritz

Dr. Christian Fritz is a trained peatland scientist with extensive experience in paludiculture and wetland restoration, which he has focused on since 2005. His research spans carbon, nutrient, and water cycles in European peatlands, complemented by research stays in New Zealand, South America, and Siberia. Since 2023, Christian has chaired the Eco-Hydrology and Peatland Science Group at Radboud University Nijmegen, Netherlands. The group collaborates across disciplines to advance socially inclusive research and quantify processes essential for climate neutrality and ecosystem services in rewetted peatlands and paludiculture systems.

In his keynote speech, Christian Fritz will guide you on a journey across European peatlands managed for the production and use of paludiculture biomass. He will highlight success stories where paludiculture has improved ecosystem services and contributed to climate mitigation, supported by quantitative insights. Christian Fritz will also discuss how best-practice management can overcome barriers and build broader acceptance. As you navigate the challenges and innovations of piloting paludiculture, this journey will explore its limitations, opportunities, and the necessity to scale up paludiculture to achieve a climate-neutral Europe.

Dr. Kate Flood

Kate Flood is a peatland researcher at the University of Galway, Ireland working at the intersection of social science, ecology, and arts and humanities disciplines to explore the relationships between people and peatlands. Her research interests include the cultural and social dimensions of peatland conservation and the role of communities (geographical and communities of interest) in contributing to the restoration and resilience of peatlands.  Recent research encompasses diverse peatland-related themes, including work on Peat Hub Ireland, WaterLANDS, and the Tóchar Community Stories project.

This presentation explores the theory and practice of Just Transition in Ireland, focusing on recent research, restoration, and lived experience of communities in the Irish midlands. These communities are transitioning from extractive industries that once provided employment and socio-economic benefits to regenerative models that foreground restoration, conservation, recreation and socio-cultural transition. Such transitions are crucial for driving the societal transformation needed to address the ongoing climate and biodiversity crises and to achieve sustainable development goals. However, significant knowledge gaps, barriers, and challenges remain, particularly regarding the socio-economic, political, and equity dimensions of implementing peatland conservation and restoration initiatives. Drawing on insights from research, practice, and grassroots efforts, this presentation highlights the dual ecological and social nature of peatland restoration and the need for integrated, interdisciplinary research and practice to deliver interconnected ecological, economic and social benefits.