Share

Sundew and a pink bog cranberry flower

Peatland vegetation including sundew and bog cranberry. Credit Steven Barlow

Peatland Code Executive Board

Peatland Code logo

The Executive Board

The Executive Board makes all management decisions regarding the Peatland Code and is responsible for strategic development of the Peatland Code in line with the objectives of the IUCN UK National Committee Peatland Programme.  

The Executive Board is made up of members with relevant expertise from the wider steering group and has a close working relationship with the Woodland Carbon Code. The board meets two times a year (as a minimum) and then as frequently as required.  

Members: 

  • Stuart Brooks, IUCN UK National Committee - Chair 

  • Rob Stoneman, Royal Society of Wildlife Trusts - Steering Group 

  • Vicky West, UK Woodland Carbon Code Manager 

  • Renée Kerkvliet Hermans, IUCN UK Peatland Programme - Peatland Code Co-ordinator 

  • Mark Reed, Scotland's Rural College / IUCN UK Peatland Programme - Steering Group 

  • Emma Hinchliffe, IUCN UK Peatland Programme - Director 

Actions and Agreements from Executive Board meetings

September 2024

  • Update meeting. EB agreed to the new grievance process. 

June 2024 

  • Fens: agreed to lower min Fen peat depth. The EB accepted the TAB recommendation of 30 years. 

  • Reversal rates: In the Field Protocol, 75% of Assessment Units must have moved to the next category to be a success. In most risk buffers, 5% is stated as a reversal.  The EB decided to switch to a 95/5 reversal.  

  • Risk Buffer: Increasing from 15-20%. EB agreed with TAB recommendation of 20% 

  • Peat Depth Survey: EB agreed that it should be extended to 5 years, but for heavily eroded sites they are strongly recommended to re-survey. 

March 2024

  • Executive Board gave approval for Version 2.1 to proceed to consultation. 

December 2023

  • Risk buffer: TAB has been overridden; variable risk buffer suggestion not accepted. Renée will go back to the consultant to draft our own tools. The risk buffer will increase to 20% but the framework will need to be simpler. 

  • Shallow Peat Ruling: We are keen to work with scientific community for better data around shallower peat, until then the shallow peat ruling stays. Also include in the clarification: We will take a cautionary approach around deciding what is too shallow.