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
Latest News
Sphagnum is a key ingredient of natural flood management
July 1, 2019
In 2008 iCASP published research that showed how water running over Sphagnum on blanket peatlands moved much more slowly (often ten times slower) than water running through sedges or bare peat. This spawned a new body of research which has shown how revegetation of peat, particularly if we can get a dense Sphagnum cover, can slow the flow of water during storm events to reduce the flood peak downstream.
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.
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.
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.
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 Virtual Peatland Pavilion launched for COP29To raise awareness of the global importance of peatlands during COP29, the latest pavilion has been…
Specially commissioned film celebrates 'The most important plant in the world'The IUCN UK Peatland Programme has commissioned the first in a series of short films, celebrating…
Launch of the Peatland Code Version 2.1The IUCN UK Peatland Programme has launched a new update to the Peatland Code, which helps to boost…
New brief highlights the importance of peatland rewetting for wildfire resilienceThe IUCN UK Peatland Programme's latest publication explores recent evidence from the UK and North…
Call for proposals for Water Research Seminar SeriesThe IUCN UK Peatland Programme and the Environment Agency are delighted to announce a series of…
The Power of the Peat Bogs! How pupils turned their environmental education into a song Primary school pupils who have engaged with a project to restore ancient peatland and traditional…
South West Peatland Partnership awarded gold by Global Good AwardsThe South West Peatland Partnership won a Gold award at the Global Good Awards for their work…
Seeking content for the COP29 Virtual Peatland PavilionThe IUCN UK Peatland Programme and Global Peatlands Initiative are seeking new content for an…
New report celebrates UK peatland restoration – but climate and nature targets still at riskAnalysis reveals 250,000 hectares of peatland restoration activity over 30 years – way short of the…
Largest ever gathering of UK peatland experts to celebrate ‘Peatlands, People and Nature’ in the Cairngorms National ParkAviemore in the Cairngorms National Park is to play host to the UK’s largest gathering of peatland…
View the full programme for #PeatConf24 and book your tickets now!The full programme for the IUCN UK Peatland Programme 2024 conference ‘Peatlands, People and Nature…
CivTech challenge invites ideas for Peatland Code and Woodland Carbon CodeProposals are being invited for the Scottish Government's CivTech Challenge 10.6 to use technology…