Briefing: The importance of carbon in the conservation of peatlands

Natural ecosystems provide benefits on which mankind is dependent for sustainable development. Collectively, these benefits are referred to as ecosystem services. Functioning ecosystems are important for sustainable development and the balancing of environmental, social and economic interests. Carbon dioxide is an important greenhouse-enhancing gas and soils in the UK, especially peatlands, represent significant carbon stores and the potential to absorb carbon emissions. The fragile peatland ecosystems have been severely damaged by erosion, caused by a variety of factors such as grazing, burning and drainage. This has adverse impacts on a range of ecosystem services, including the loss of stored carbon. At a landscape scale in the Peak District of England a partnership programme is underway to restore eroded peatlands through revegetation and re-wetting the moorlands to conserve biodiversity, protect the carbon store and re-start peat formation. The experience of large-scale restoration techniques gained in the Peak District can be adapted and applied elsewhere. While there remain many uncertainties about this work, in addition to conserving biodiversity, the majority of peatland restoration work could be deemed a cost-effective means of carbon mitigation.