Sustainable Management

Applying land uses that are compatible with healthy peatlands.


Image © Clifton Bain

Sustainable Management

Conserving and rehabilitating peatlands, so that they function fully does not mean that these areas become off-limits to economic activity. Various options for site-adapted land use on wet and rewetted peatlands have been developed and tested, including farming, sporting and other recreation. This includes minimal intervention where no action is required to maintain peatland habitat.

Sustainable management across UK peatlands can be achieved through:

  • Demonstrating and communicating the benefits of healthy peatland landscapes and peatland restoration, and highlight the win-wins for wider society and specific land use activities
  • Involving local communities at an early stage and support communities in overcoming any dependencies on unsustainable peatland use
  • Developing economically viable systems for supporting peatland management:
    • Providing support for land managers who manage peatland sustainably, ensuring the right level of public funding to overcome any market failures 
    • Avoiding public money being directed into fiscal regimes that can result in peatland damage.

The above objectives aim to achieve the following outcomes:

  • Sustainable management practices adopted on 80% of UK peatlands
  • Healthy peatlands are delivering benefits for land managers and rural economies. Land managers are recognised for the wider services the healthy peatlands they manage deliver for society
  • Local communities are engaged at the earliest stage. Support is provided to help them to overcome their opportunity costs and dependence on unsustainable peatland use.

Milestones to monitor progress against these outcomes are:

2020 - Peatland carbon is incorporated into UK Greenhouse Gases inventory reporting and peatland management forms part of mitigation plans.
2030 - All peatlands under sustainable management, as indicted by the Committee on Climate Change.
 

Peat compost B&Q
The Wildlife Trusts unveil Peat-free Gardening Guide The Wildlife Trusts have unveiled a new handbook to help people go peat-free in their gardens and…
Restoration Risley Moss. Photo credit: Paul Thomas
Natural England launches peatland ‘toolbox talk’ on recognising archaeology during restorationNatural England worked with Wessex Archaeology to create a historic environment peatland ‘toolbox…
Ugie Peatland Partnership and Beam Suntory Landowner event
Ugie Peatland Partnership and Beam Suntory Landowner eventIn February 2023, RSPB as part of the Ugie Peatland Partnership, hosted an event, co-organised and…
Buchan Bog Buddies
Buchan Bog Buddies The RSPB and Aberdeenshire Rangers have been working with P6/P7 classes at New Pitsligo and…
Global Peatlands Initiative
Global Peatlands Initiative project: State of the Worlds Peatlands On the 17th of November 2022, at the UNFCCC COP27 in Sharm El-Sheik, Egypt, the Global Peatlands…
Area of Dartmoor undergoing restoration methods, January 2023
South West Peatland Partnership: Counting sheep to help restore peat across the UK's South WestPeatland restoration isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach. It takes a range of innovative techniques…
Birchinlee (c) Moors for the Future Partnership
Moors for the Future Partnership releases series of scientific and monitoring reports from MoorLIFE 2020 projectIn September 2022, MoorLIFE 2020, the landmark project which had been the focus of much of the work…
Sphagnum moss regrowth rewards the peatland restoration action undertaken by NPAP at Tywi Forest
Wales Peatland Action By mid-2022 National Peatland Action Programme (NPAP) could reflect on a successful initial two…
Cuilcagh Mountain after restoration work
Ulster Wildlife webinar: Lessons learned: 20+ years on from blanket bog restoration at Cuilcagh MountainJoin Ulster Wildlife, RPS Ireland and the Cuilcagh Lakelands UNESCO Global Geopark to discuss what…
Peatland code version 2.0
Launch of the Peatland Code Version 2.0The IUCN UK Peatland Programme has today launched a new and highly anticipated update to the…
Molinia, Peatlands and Climate Transition Workshop
Save the Date: Molinia, Peatlands and Climate Transition Workshop’Hosted by National Trust Marsden Moor, the ‘Molinia, Peatlands and Climate Transition Workshop’…
Demonstrating Success cover art
Peat-free Horticulture Addendum: Further case studies released This addendum to the IUCN UK Peatland Programme's 'Demonstrating Success - Peat-free Horticulture'…