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Clifton Bain Director IUCN UK Peatland Programme. IUCN UK Peatland Programme. The programme’s long term vision is for the multiple benefits and heritage values of peatlands to be widely understood and appreciated and for peatlands to be functioning to their full natural potential.
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Clifton Bain Director IUCN UK Peatland Programme
IUCN UK Peatland Programme The programme’s long term vision is for the multiple benefits and heritage values of peatlands to be widely understood and appreciated and for peatlands to be functioning to their full natural potential. In the short term, the Programme’s aim is for high-level policy to invest now in securing the benefits and heritage values of peatland conservation and avoid the costly consequences of peatland deterioration. The three-year strategy will focus on: providing the advocacy and knowledge to inform policy share knowledge on practical restoration approaches build consensus on the scientific evidence for the ecosystem services that peatlands offer.
Peatland Ecosystem Services:ghg emissions reduction • UK holds over 3 G tonnes carbon in peatland. • Scotland has 80% of UK blanket mire • UK Peatland Emissions – 10 million tonnes CO2 per year • Potential to deliver at least 4.5 million tonnes CO2 savings per year through rewetting by 2015
Peak District Blanket BogThe most degraded upland peat anywhere in Europe following 200 years of atmospheric pollution and fire damage. Black Hill 2005
Moors for the Future – landscape scale restoration starting in 2002………. Black Hill 2008
Scottish Government Action Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009 Sets legal targets for emissions reductions and requires action delivery plan. May 2010 Scottish Gov agrees to include Peatland Restoration in ghg targets Stewart Stevenson MSP, Minister for Climate Change announces intention to include peatland restoration in calculating national greenhouse gas inventory. Strong support across political parties in Scottish Parliament for peatland restoration. Peatland rewetting to be included in strategic climate change action plans and landuse strategy.