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

Life-sustaining habitat in Yorkshire Dales given a boost

June 13, 2016
Vast swathes of life-sustaining habitat in the Yorkshire Dales has been restored thanks to the efforts of Yorkshire Peat Partnership. The programme, led by Yorkshire Wildlife Trust, has been busy working with landowners in the Dales to restore damaged peatlands, which have been emitting carbon into the atmosphere contributing to climate change and turning water in the streams and rivers brown – no good for drinking or aquatic wildlife to live in.

Plight of peatlands highlighted by Government report into soil health

June 7, 2016
Despite the life-sustaining role of soil, and in particular peat soil, a new report has emphasised its rapid decline and the need for urgent action.

Latest newsletter: Exmoor Mires Partnership

June 7, 2016
The latest newsletter from the Exmoor Mires Partnership is now available to download from below. To join their mailing list email exmoormires@btconnect.com. 

The East Africa Sisal Company Ltd.

June 6, 2016
Sisal is a highly sustainable fibre crop grown in the tropics. With the ability to survive sustained periods of drought and be harvested at any time of the year, sisal provides a sustainable source of income to small-scale farmers and helps them to cope with the effects of climate change. Historically, sisal was manufactured and used for making ropes and sacks. However, the development of cheaper polypropylene meant that the 1960s proved to be a turning point for sisal production, with East African production now at 10% of its former peak.

Minister officially launches €16 million moorland project

May 25, 2016
A €16 million project that will help protect and transform moorlands across the South Pennines and the Peak District National Park has been officially launched. Environment Minister Rory Stewart was joined by Acting Chair of the Environment Agency, Emma Howard Boyd, Natural England Chairman 

The Social Value of the Humberhead Peatlands - Thorne and Hatfield Moors

May 19, 2016
Healthy peatlands are known to provide a number of important biodiversity and environmental benefits but can also deliver significant social benefits. However, many peatlands have been severely degraded and can only recover through large-scale restoration projects.

Yorkshire Peat Partnership use Solumoss to re-vegetate

May 15, 2016
This year, Yorkshire Peat Partnership has been trialling Solumoss on one of its sites at Ramsgill in Nidderdale.

Exterior view of Virtual Peatland Pavilion showing four large domes in an urban landscape
New Virtual Peatland Pavilion launched for COP29To raise awareness of the global importance of peatlands during COP29, the latest pavilion has been…
Cover image for 'The most important plant in the world' showing the film's title in yellow text over a background of Sphagnum moss
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…
Cumbrian tarn - large body of water with emergent vegetation and hills in the distance. Image credit Steve Hewert.
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…
Flat peatland landscape on fire with large plumes of smoke. Image credit Paul Turner
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…
Painting of a river in spate: Peter Graham 1866, 'A spate in the highlands'
Call for proposals for Water Research Seminar SeriesThe IUCN UK Peatland Programme and the Environment Agency are delighted to announce a series of…
'Work in progress' sign with a digger on it next to two photographs of children drawing on large sheets of paper
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…
SWPP award
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…
Exterior view of Virtual Peatland Pavilion showing four large domes in a desert landscape
Seeking content for the COP29 Virtual Peatland PavilionThe IUCN UK Peatland Programme and Global Peatlands Initiative are seeking new content for an…
UK Peatland Strategy
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…
Peatland at Inshriach, Allt a’ Mharcaidh
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…
Landscape of mountains and forest
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 in white writing with blue background and outlines of scales, lightbulb and book
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…