UK’s damaged peatlands win new support to tackle climate change

A national initiative to conserve the UK’s peatlands has won a five year extension in a bid to stem the threats of climate change and flooding and tackle critical water supply issues.

The IUCN (International Union for the Conservation of Nature) UK Peatland Programme, a partnership of Government organisations, environmental charities and scientific institutions, has been awarded £500,000 to tackle the UK’s damaged peatlands.

Evidence from the programme so far has highlighted the huge importance of UK peatlands to wildlife, climate change, drinking water supply and flood management. However, it also shows that more than three quarters of the nation’s peatlands are now in a degraded or deteriorating state and not able to play their part.

Peatlands cover less than 3% of the land surface of the Earth yet they contain twice as much carbon as the world’s forests.In terms of peatland area, the UK is one of the world’s top twelve countries out of 175 nations with peat deposits and is in the top 20 countries with the most damaged peatlands. Scotland holds 60% of the UK’s peatland.

Huge areas of bog have been drained and damaged in the past, and the carbon that was locked in the peat for thousands of years is now rapidly being released to the atmosphere. Damaged peatlands are responsible for at least 10% of the world’s carbon dioxide emissions.

Dr Rob Stoneman, Chair of the IUCN UK Peatland Programme said:

“The new funding is vital because it will help us keep a strong focus on securing our peatlands for future generations amidst what is a time of great political and environmental change.

“Above all, it will help build a lasting legacy where peatlands are looked after and recognised for the benefits they provide.”

The work of the Peatland Programme is overseen by a coalition of partner bodies including Defra, Moors for the Future Partnership, Natural England, Natural Resources Wales, RSPB, Scottish Natural Heritage and Yorkshire Wildlife Trust.

The funding has come from three charitable trusts: The Peter De Haan Charitable Trust, Esmée Fairbairn Foundation and the John Ellerman Foundation and will support the Programme in its work to bring science, practice and policy together and deliver collaborations to achieve the best outcome for UK’s peatlands. Click here to read more.