Natural England has re-entered the debate about carbon in England's soils with a new review of its peatlands which highlights continuing carbon losses in lowland peatland soils.
England's Peatlands - Carbon Storage and Greenhouse Gases maps the peatlands and says three-quarters of them are damaged are degraded.
It says their annual carbon losses are equivalent to the carbon emissions of around 350,000 homes.
The report found that the 580mt reservoir of carbon stored in England's peat is slowly leaking into the atmosphere at a rate of 3mt/y.
"This report is a wake-up call - England's peatlands are a crucial buffer against climate change but have been extensively damaged by centuries of inappropriate management," said NE chief executive Helen Phillips.
"We have to stop the rot and ensure that peatlands are properly looked after as one of our most precious environmental resources."
Around 40% of lowland peat now suffers cultivation and 22% is drained for livestock.
Meanwhile 30% of upland blanket peat is rotationally burned for grouse production and 20% is dried by moorland drainage.
The report says rewetting dried out bogs and minimizing damaging practices could substantially reduce losses and help carbon targets.
"We can no longer approach peatlands as limitless resources that we can exploit without consequence," said Ms Phillips.
"Their condition has major implications for our response to climate change, the alleviation of flooding, the quality of our water supplies and the future of many rare and important species. Our report has shown the value of peatland restoration in the battle against climate change and we should do all we can to give peatlands a more sustainable future."
