The British Government has said its investing over £50 million in peat restoration, building on its pledge to restore 35,000 hectares of peatland in England to help tackle climate change and recover biodiversity.
According to the statement by the Department for Environment Food & Rural Affairs on Saturday, stating that thousands of hectares of peatlands from the Great North Bog to the Norfolk Broads are set to be restored with twelve new projects awarded funding.
It is said that this investment will leave the environment in a better state for future generations as peatlands are an iconic feature of England’s landscape – often referred to as ‘our national rainforest’.
They contain over half of the country’s terrestrial carbon stores and provide a haven for wildlife, as well as supporting better water quality and natural flood management.
However, 87% of England’s peatlands, including lowland peatlands are degraded, damaged and dried out, emitting tonnes of carbon dioxide each year.
It stated further that this funding from government will help restore these environments, in turn helping protect wildlife and restore their critical ability to manage water quality and reduce the risk of flooding.
Adding that the projects being awarded funding stretch from Somerset to County Durham and will see iconic peatland habitat, such as the Great North Bog, Dorset Heaths and the Lincolnshire Fens restored.
Reacting to this development, Environment Minister, Rebecca Pow said, “Our peatlands hold over half of our terrestrial store of carbon, but with just 1% in a near natural state and soils drying out we must take urgent action to prevent further carbon from being emitted into the atmosphere.
“Backed by over £16 million of government funding these new landscape-scale projects will drive collaboration and supercharge peatland restoration across the country to tackle climate change and fight biodiversity loss”, she added.
Meanwhile, in June, Government announced a package of measures and investment to reduce carbon emissions across lowland peat and a commitment to take forward action on the 14 recommendations for sustainable peatland management as put forward by Robert Caudwell, Chair of the Lowland Agricultural Peat Task Force.
While the measures British Government is taking will also improve resilience to drought and safeguard productive farming on some of most valuable agricultural land, supporting the country’s rural economy and food producers.