Living Peatlands Gathering in Thunder Bay, Ontario, October 3 to 5, 2026 brings delegates from the South Pacific, Aotearoa, Canada, Finland, Alaska, the UK, California and other geographies to gather and discuss the urgency of protection and restoration of peatlands as a part of the Snowchange Climate Breakthrough Initiative.
We’ll learn about important methods and approaches to peatland and wetland conservation and restoration from across the Living Peatlands Initiative network. We hope to not only learn from each other, but also to identify ways to deepen coordination to support healthy peatlands and wetlands across the circumpolar region and worldwide.
In 2024, Snowchange Cooperative received a Climate Breakthrough Initiative Award to expand on its successful peatland restoration work in Finland through a circumpolar and circumboreal network.
This network connects local efforts and action to conserve and restore peatlands by supporting the work of hubs in Canada, northern MN, northern Europe, and the Pacific. By linking these hubs, Snowchange aims to foster knowledge sharing, strengthen Indigenous and local governance, and protect and restore peatlands to preserve or renew their healthy ecosystem function.
In 2025, the first Living Peatland hubs in northern MN (Sax Zim Bog) and northern Canada (Gwich’in settlement area) were announced and an exchange visit was held in Finland, where representatives from North America learned about Snowchange’s approach to peatland restoration.
In 2026, we have been broadening connections, developing a website and communication campaign, and deepening discussions in anticipation of the gathering in Thunder Bay.
We will report the results from the gathering in October and look forwards to all delegations to Thunder Bay!
