Latest News

The IUCN UK Peatland Programme advocates the multiple benefits of peatlands through partnerships, strong science, sound policy and effective practice.

Desmids of peatlands © Emma Goodyer

Latest News

New edition of Conserving Bogs: The Management Handbook

May 31, 2019
A new edition of Conserving Bogs: The Management Handbook is now available. Conserving Bogs: The Management Handbook is a practical manual: a cookbook of methods and techniques to help people effectively manage and conserve bogs. This new edition has been updated to reflect advances and evolution in both understanding and techniques.

Managing the Uplands for Public Benefit House of Commons Reception

May 7, 2019
Over 48 representatives from across the peatland community in the UK as well as MPs and Peers attended a parliamentary reception in Westminster celebrating the importance celebrate of upland peatland catchments - recognising their intrinsic value and the public benefits they provide.

Ugie Peatland Partnership welcomes restoration of local bog

May 5, 2019
Bog restoration works are expected to benefit local water quality and nature, as well as contribute to meeting our climate change targets. Members of the Ugie Peatland Partnership (UPP), who aim to restore 1,500 hectares of peatland within the River Ugie catchment, were delighted to see the recent completion of peat bog restoration works on Moss of Kinmundy.

Inclusion of peatlands in the UK's GHG emissions inventory published

May 5, 2019
The long-awaited report on inclusion of peatlands in the UK’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions inventory has now been published by the Department of Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS). The work, which was led by the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology and the James Hutton Institute, has produced revised estimates of peat extent and condition, and new UK-specific emission factors for a range of management and land-use activities on peat.

Record breaking Spring temperatures exacerbate wildfire outbreaks across the UK

May 5, 2019
The summer heatwave of 2018 was accompanied by wildfires across the UK with a major incident declared at Saddleworth Moor in the Peak District where homes in nearby villages had to be evacuated. The wildfire problem has hit the headlines again with record breaking Spring temperatures accompanied by several serious outbreaks including peatland at the National Trust’s Marsden Moor.

Peatland biodiversity - butterflies & moths

May 5, 2019
At Butterfly Conservation we understand the great value of healthy functioning peatlands for biodiversity. While much of the focus is on the specialised plants found on peat bogs, there are a number of butterflies and moths which are associated with bogs too

New initiative to combine data across studies and sites to better inform peatland policy and practice

April 23, 2019
Researchers, practitioners and policy-makers from across Europe, whose goal is to understand better how peatlands respond to climate change, land use and restoration took part in a workshop in Newcastle in March. Their aim was to begin the process of finding a way to standardise the collection of environmental data so it can be combined from multiple studies and sites to better inform policy and practice.

Person smiling and pointing at a sign saying '#BeMoreMoss'. Credit Vicky Akerman
Announcing Peat-Fest South-West 2025 – a celebration of our peatland connectionsThe Art and Energy Collective has been awarded a grant by The National Lottery Heritage Fund to…
Windfarm on peatland site
National Policy Statements public consultationOpportunity to contribute to public consultation on National Policy Statements to support Clean…
Line of fire being set by a vehicle with people on the back as part of swaling. Credit Heather Lowther (Creative Commons)
Public consultation on heather and grass burning regulations in EnglandThe IUCN UK Peatland Programme has responded to Defra’s proposal to protect a greater extent of…
Cross section of bare peat
New Peat Map for EnglandThis week Natural England published the much anticipated England Peat Map which highlights the…
IUCN World Conservation Congress logo
Peatland motion headed to World Conservation Congress for considerationThe IUCN UK Peatland Programme-led motion to develop a unified definition of peatlands has…
Area of burnt vegetation on national park in Northumberland
A collection of three Natural England reports marks a step change for English peatlandsWe summarise three new reports from Natural England which have important implications for English…
Neolithic trackway on Hatfield Moors. Credit: Henry Chapman Uni of Birmingham
New publication: Tracks and roads on peatlandsThe IUCN UK Peatland Programme are pleased to publish our latest brief focusing on the impacts of…
Peatland landscape showing flux tower and solar panel with a blue sky and hills in the background. Image credit Hollie Cooper, UKCEH
Funding announced for greenhouse gas reduction solutions on peatlandsThe UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology is seeking proposals for projects up to £75,000 to advance…
Hare's tail cottongrass on Humberhead levels
Committee on Climate Change (CCC) 7th Carbon Budget Report - a response from IUCN UK Peatland ProgrammeThe IUCN UK Peatland Programme welcomes this week the publication of the Committee on Climate…
Water vole sitting with blackberries
New species showcase - Water voleContinuing the spotlight on peatland biodiversity, our first Species Showcase of 2025 is the Water…
Digger being used to carry out peat bog restoration. Photo: Montgomeryshire Wildlife Trust
Adoption of University of Cumbria PhD student’s carbon calculator brings national and international significanceThis week University of Cumbria and Barker and Bland Ltd.’s innovative carbon calculator has been…
Image advertising launch of the CivTech Round 10 Challenge
CiVTech innovators leading drive for advances within Peatland and Woodland Carbon CodesBringing efficiences to the Peatland Code and Woodland Carbon Code is the focus for three…