A national initiative to conserve the UK’s peatlands has won a five year extension in a bid to stem the threats of climate change and flooding and tackle critical water supply issues.
The IUCN UK Peatland Programme, a unique partnership of Government organisations, environmental charities and scientific institutions, has been awarded £500,000 to tackle the UK’s damaged peatlands.
Evidence from the programme so far highlights the huge importance of UK peatlands to wildlife, climate change, drinking water supply and flood management – but shows too that more than three quarters of the nation’s peatlands are now in a degraded or deteriorating state and not able to play their part.
Dr Rob Stoneman, Chair of the IUCN UK Peatland Programme said: “The new funding is vital because it will help us keep a strong focus on securing our peatlands for future generations amidst what is a time of great political and environmental change.
“Above all, it will help build a lasting legacy where peatlands are looked after and recognised for the benefits they provide.”
The funding has come from three charitable trusts: The Peter De Haan Charitable Trust, Esmée Fairbairn Foundation and the John Ellerman Foundation and will support the Programme in its work to bring science, practice and policy together and deliver collaborations to achieve the best outcome for UK’s peatlands.
