Why peatlands matter by the IUCN UK Peatland Programme
Did you know that peatlands store twice as much carbon as forests globally? Or that they are home to unique species such as carnivorous sundew plants? They also help slow the flow of rainfall, preventing flooding, and help to improve the quality of our drinking water. One of the most important groups of peat-forming organisms are the amazing Sphagnum mosses which help lock up carbon in peat soils.
Nearly 12% of the UK land area is covered by peatlands. Sadly, despite their importance in reducing the impacts of climate change and protecting biodiversity, around 80% of these habitats in the UK are degraded in some way due to human activity. Wildlife in these areas has declined and around 10 million tonnes of carbon dioxide are being released into the atmosphere every year from UK peatlands – contributing to the climate change crisis.
The IUCN UK Peatland Programme was set up in 2009 to promote restoration and conservation of peatlands across the UK. With our partners, we work to improve knowledge and understanding of peatlands to better protect them. Our ‘Peatland Pavilions’ are amazing virtual worlds where you can explore peatlands across the globe, and our ‘Eyes on the Bog’ initiative engages local communities in monitoring the health of their local peatlands. We inform decision makers by sharing knowledge about how to move away from damaging practices and we created a carbon finance standard called the Peatland Code to help generate much-needed funding for peatland restoration.
The challenge of restoring and conserving peatlands is too big for just one organisation and there is no ‘one solution fits all’. Each peatland area has its own challenges and priorities, and needs different measures to protect multiple environmental, cultural and economic benefits. Our partners cannot work in isolation - and that’s where the Peatland Programme comes in. We bring together environmental organisations, governments and national agencies, researchers and regional peatland partnerships to Bury the Giant together, providing a collective voice for peatlands that is much greater than the sum of our parts.
Things are improving for peatlands in the UK. Large areas have been restored, there is growing public awareness of their importance, and industries are starting to make changes – such as reducing the amount of peat used in horticulture. There is still a long way to go to ensure that all our peatlands are restored and conserved, but together we will get there.
To find out more about peatlands and the work that we do, visit our website at www.iucn-uk-peatlandprogramme.org
