Peatland Carbon
The UK’s peatlands account for the majority of our carbon stores. Healthy peatlands capture CO2 and protect our climate. Find out why it’s so important to restore and preserve them.
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The UK’s peatlands account for the majority of our carbon stores. Healthy peatlands capture CO2 and protect our climate. Find out why it’s so important to restore and preserve them.
Peatlands make up 12% of the UK’s land area. They store more than double the amount of carbon than forests: that’s over 1.2 billion tonnes in Scotland alone. When they are healthy, peatlands absorb high levels of CO2 from the atmosphere through photosynthesis, making them essential in the fight against climate change.
Historically our peatlands have been damaged by drainage, weather and herbivore grazing. In their damaged states, peatlands emit rather than capture greenhouse gasses. Drained peatlands in the UK account for between 10 – 20 million tonnes of CO2 emissions annually: roughly 4% of our total greenhouse gas emissions.
Slowly, our rural communities are waking up to the importance of preserving our peatlands. Environmental initiatives to restore peatlands are taking place within the public and private sectors. Companies within high carbon footprint industries like energy and aviation are investing in peatland restoration projects to offset their emissions, making it a lucrative prospect for landowners.