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

Burning & Peatlands Position Statement

March 31, 2020
The IUCN UK Peatland Programme have updated our position statement on Burning and Peatlands which sets out the precautionary principle and clearly recommends that burning should not occur on peatlands.

Scottish Budget 2020-21

February 7, 2020
The Scottish Government announces £20 million for peatland restoration and a commitment to invest £250 million over the next ten years.

Committee on Climate Change Report on Land Use: Policies for a Net Zero UK

January 23, 2020
The IUCN UK Peatland Programme welcomes strengthened policy and legislative recommendations in the most recent Committee on Climate Change report for increasing the area of UK peatland under restoration and a move to more sustainable management practices.

New resource available: Explaining the impact of peatland drainage.

January 22, 2020
Illustrating the multiple effects of peatland drainage including implications for carbon emissions.

A burning issue: comparison between Australian & UK fire management misses the mark.

January 10, 2020
The news of the ongoing Australian fires is deeply concerning both in terms of the impact on people, wildlife, the environment and the picture it paints of the risks brought about by changing weather patterns and the global climate crisis. The threat to human lives, disruption to travel as well as the huge financial costs in tackling the fires and dealing with the aftermath deserves urgent international attention. Recent media in the UK has drawn inappropriate comparisons between the management of the fires in Australia and the use of fire in moorland management in the UK.   

IUCN Resolution 43 reporting

December 16, 2019
New report on progress under IUCN Resolution 43: Securing the future of global peatlands available with links to known Peatland Strategies from around the world now available.

Working together for the future of Welsh peatlands

November 28, 2019
A major programme of works is underway this season to restore peatlands across Wales. A large proportion of the 90,000 hectares of peat soils found in Wales are in unfavourable condition, so the Welsh Peatlands Sustainable Management Scheme (SMS) project is working with a host of conservation organisations, landowners, schools and stakeholders to tackle these peatlands and enthuse and educate the next generation. Together we have been working on peatlands across the country to deliver positive action on the ground:

Peatland with mountains in the background
New £3 million fund for peatland restoration in Northern IrelandApplications for the new £3million Peatland Challenge Fund to help protect Northern Ireland's…
Sphagnum moss on healthy peatland
Scotland’s Peatland ACTION programme hits record restoration milestoneFor the first time since the Peatland ACTION programme began, more than 10,000 hectares of damaged…
A cottongrass seedhead
New species showcase - cottongrassOur May species showcase looks at the role that cottongrass plays in peatlands, its cultural and…
Jennifer Fulton at an IUCN UK Peatland Programme conference
Remembering Jennifer FultonWe, at the IUCN UK Peatland Programme, are still reeling from the loss of Jennifer Fulton, Chief…
Dotterel (c) Pete Quinn
Conference 2024 tickets now on sale!Tickets for our 2024 conference in Aviemore, 17-19 September, are now on sale - join us to…
Dunlin (c) RSPB
New species showcase - dunlinThe third of our showcases explores the importance of dunlin as an indicator species for peatland…
Landscape view of Red Moss of Balerno
Peatland Code Public Consultation The Peatland Code is committed to continuous improvement and would like to invite you to comment on…
Scientist taking scientific measurements in peatland. Credit Emma Hinchliffe
Please give 10 minutes of your time to help answer the question: Is palaeoecological research utilised in UK peatland restoration projects? Can you complete a short survey on the extent to which palaeoecological research is utilised in UK…
Group of people stood in an open peatland landscape
Muirburn licencing made law in ScotlandScotland’s peatlands will benefit from increased protection due to a new law passed on 21st March…
Molinia Mulching Agglestone Mire, remover higher tussocks to increase the connectivity of the floodplain (c) Sally Wallington
Dorset peatland restorationThe Dorset Peat Partnership completed the first of their sixteen peatland restoration sites in…
Work begins at Duchal Moor. © Giulia Spilotros/Glasgow Green Network Clyde Valley
Council leads the way with major peatland restoration project A three-year project to restore an area of peatland larger than 780 football pitches in Inverclyde…
Eyes on the Bog logo
Funding for Eyes on the Bog users Our Eyes on the Bog Fund aims to support existing Eyes on the Bog users to purchase new equipment,…