Bringing to light 60,000 hectares of peatland restoration

Peatland restoration is essential to decarbonisation. In good condition, peatlands capture carbon and are home to a wide variety of plant and animal species. However, in the UK, 80% of peatlands are in poor condition and emitting 20 million tonnes – or 4% of the UK’s total emissions – of greenhouse gases.

The UK Government’s Net Zero Strategy has a target to restore 32,000 hectares per year (around half of the number recommended by the Climate Change Committee). In 2022-2023, the Climate Change Committee reported that only 12,700 hectares had been restored. The figures come from the Nature for Climate Fund in England, and the Scottish and Welsh governments. However, the lack of transparency around which peatland data is included, and the lack of data from Northern Ireland, makes it hard to tell how well we’re really doing.

In a collaboration between the Agile Initiative and the Wildlife Trusts, research has revealed more details on the peatland restoration happening across the Trusts, and what contribution this could already have made to climate change mitigation. A key concern is that UK Government data only reliably captures peatland restoration funded by the Nature for Climate Fund in England, discounting restoration happening as a result of other funding sources. The Wildlife Trusts have shown that in practice, a diverse range of funds are supporting peatland restoration.

This research was carried out by the Sprint “How can we manage uncertainties in habitat greenhouse gas emissions?” in close collaboration with The Wildlife Trusts.

To learn more, read the news story written by the Wildlife Trusts.