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Clifton Bain
Director IUCN UK Peatland Programme
IUCN UK Peatland Programme
The programme’s long term vision is for the multiple benefits and heritage
values of peatlands to be widely understood and appreciated and for
peatlands to be functioning to their full natural potential.
In the short term, the Programme’s aim is for high-level policy to invest now
in securing the benefits and heritage values of peatland conservation
and avoid the costly consequences of peatland deterioration.
The three-year strategy will focus on:
• providing the advocacy and knowledge to inform policy
• share knowledge on practical restoration approaches
• build consensus on the scientific evidence for the ecosystem services
that peatlands offer.
Organic Carbon (%)
No Data
0-1
1-2
2-5
5 - 10
10 - 25
25 - 35
> 35
ORGANIC MATTER
Peatland Ecosystem Services:
ghg emissions reduction
• UK holds over 3 G tonnes carbon in peatland.
• Scotland has 80% of UK blanket mire
• UK Peatland Emissions – 10 million tonnes CO2 per
• Potential to deliver at least 4.5 million tonnes CO2
savings per year through rewetting by 2015
Atlantic Blanket Mire
North York Moors National Park
North Pennines AONB –
blocking drains
RSPB Forsinard Reserve
Blocking Hill Drains
Peak District Blanket Bog
The most degraded upland peat anywhere in Europe following 200 years of
atmospheric pollution and fire damage.
Black Hill 2005
Moors for the Future – landscape scale
restoration starting in 2002……….
Black Hill 2008
Scottish Government Action
Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009
Sets legal targets for emissions reductions and requires action delivery plan.
May 2010 Scottish Gov agrees to include Peatland Restoration in ghg
targets Stewart Stevenson MSP, Minister for Climate Change announces
intention to include peatland restoration in calculating national greenhouse
gas inventory.
Strong support across political parties in Scottish Parliament for peatland
restoration.
Peatland rewetting to be included in strategic climate change action plans and
landuse strategy.
www.iucn-uk-peatlandprogramme.org