Much of the UK peatlands has been damaged by poor management but they still lock around 3bnt of carbon and supply 70% of UK drinking water and a clear strategy for restoration is needed, the IUCN UK Commission of Inquiry on Peatlands has concluded.
The Commission was launched early last year under the chairmanship of former Natural England director of uplands Martyn Howatt and backed by a range of environmental bodies.
It recommends a strategy for responses from government, public and business, based on three actions:-
- a national framework to protect existing peatlands reflecting climate change, biodiversity, water, heritage, development and access priorities;
- funding for restoring UK peatlands;
- co-ordinating growth of partnerships to secure an effective evidence base with monitoring, progress reporting, knowledge exchange, education and advice.
"The good news is that this inquiry has shown that peatland restoration not only benefits wildlife, but has measureable carbon savings, and can quickly reduce the cost of treating drinking water," said programme director Clifton Bain.
"In identifying a clear strategy for action to bring our peatlands back from the brink, the inquiry points the way forward to avoid the social and environmental costs of further deterioration."
The UK is among the world's top 10 nations in terms of its peatland area, having 9-15% of Europe's blanket bog, one of three types of peatland (with raised bogs and fens).
Blanket and raised bog peatlands cover 9.5% of the UK - 23,000km² - and storing at least 3.2bnt of carbon, so a 5% loss equals total UK anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions.
Restoring peatlands can be cost-effective in relation to the market price of carbon and helps water supply.
It says that, with the right funding mechanisms, a better future could be secured by 2050, with an interim target of having 1m ha of peatlands in good condition or under restoration management by 2020.
"We've always had a strong environmental case for investment in peatlands, but with this landmark publication from the IUCN UK Peatland Programme, we now have a clear and compelling economic case too," said Scottish Wildlife Trust director of conservation Jonathan Hughes.
This would cost between £240m and £690m, a fraction of current agri-environmental schemes.
"The culmination of work by the IUCN UK Peatland Programme and the many partners involved has helped to clarify the positive role that peatland conservation can make to the UK's economy and environment," said John Muir Trust chief executive Stuart Brooks.
"There is now an overwhelming case for investing in the future of our peatlands as a cost effective measure for reducing carbon emissions. It has the added advantage of being great for wildlife too. We really just need to get on with it."
