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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

World-leading moorland partnership receives €16 million support

January 7, 2016
Largest award ever given by EU LIFE Programme to a UK conservation project The Moors for the Future Partnership, which works to protect priority international habitats in the Peak District and South Pennines, has received 16 million euros to deliver the MoorLIFE 2020 project. This includes €12 million from the EU’s LIFE fund - which supports environmental, nature conservation and climate action projects throughout Europe - the largest award ever given to a UK-based project.

Knowledge gaps identified by Flow Country Research Conference III

January 5, 2016
Caithness and Sutherland's 'Peatland Week' saw the third Flow Country Research Conference take place in late October 2015, with a focus on research. Two workshops were held as part of the conference: the first an exercise to draw the Flow Country boundaries on a map - no easy feat; whilst the second workshop got participants discussing priorities for research, and this is what they came up with:

Peatland ACTION sees the continued restoration of Sutherland peatlands

January 5, 2016
North Highland Forest District was recently awarded £985,000 from the Peatland ACTION fund to support restoration work at Dalchork Plantations near Lairg in Sutherland, Scotland. The work will include woodland removal, restoration of an area previously felled, as well as mire restoration on degraded, but previously unplanted land.

A new era for our peatland natural capital

December 17, 2015
Clifton Bain, Direction of the IUCN UK Peatland Programme has been asked to write a blog for the Scottish Forum on Natural Captial, which we've shared here:

Restoration of rare habitat to help tackle climate change

December 6, 2015
Another 3,000 hectares of Scotland’s peatlands will begin the road to recovery this winter, Environment Minister Aileen McLeod has announced. The country’s blanket bogs are one of the world’s rarest habitats and a unique habitat for wildlife. Intact peatlands can also help to mitigate climate change by locking in carbon from the atmosphere.

The latest on peatlands in the Falklands

December 1, 2015
Background

Looking back and moving forwards

November 30, 2015
We have come a long way as a partnership since the IUCN UK Peatland Programme was launched in Edinburgh and London six years ago. Looking back it is incredible to see how peatland work has grown from the various disparate strands, often frustrated by confusion and lack of information, to a huge network of projects with a common sense of purpose.

Dryhope 2017
Major milestone in peatland restoration as first blended finance project is verifiedThis month marks a very important milestone for the IUCN UK Peatland Programme’s Peatland Code, as…
People grouped together, standing and sitting on a baled crop.
Opportunity to contribute to the understanding of the constraints and opportunities for agricultural lowland peat Views are being sought from a range of stakeholders who have experience of, or are interested in,…
Exterior view of Virtual Peatlands Pavilion showing four large domes in a peat swamp forest
The Virtual Peatlands Pavilion Word Tour continues at Ramsar COP15The next stop for the immersive digital library of peatland resources is Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe,…
Person smiling and pointing at a sign saying '#BeMoreMoss'. Credit Vicky Akerman
Announcing Peat-Fest South-West 2025 – a celebration of our peatland connectionsThe Art and Energy Collective has been awarded a grant by The National Lottery Heritage Fund to…
Windfarm on peatland site
National Policy Statements public consultationOpportunity to contribute to public consultation on National Policy Statements to support Clean…
Line of fire being set by a vehicle with people on the back as part of swaling. Credit Heather Lowther (Creative Commons)
Public consultation on heather and grass burning regulations in EnglandThe IUCN UK Peatland Programme has responded to Defra’s proposal to protect a greater extent of…
Cross section of bare peat
New Peat Map for EnglandThis week Natural England published the much anticipated England Peat Map which highlights the…
IUCN World Conservation Congress logo
Peatland motion headed to World Conservation Congress for considerationThe IUCN UK Peatland Programme-led motion to develop a unified definition of peatlands has…
Area of burnt vegetation on national park in Northumberland
A collection of three Natural England reports marks a step change for English peatlandsWe summarise three new reports from Natural England which have important implications for English…
Neolithic trackway on Hatfield Moors. Credit: Henry Chapman Uni of Birmingham
New publication: Tracks and roads on peatlandsThe IUCN UK Peatland Programme are pleased to publish our latest brief focusing on the impacts of…
Peatland landscape showing flux tower and solar panel with a blue sky and hills in the background. Image credit Hollie Cooper, UKCEH
Funding announced for greenhouse gas reduction solutions on peatlandsThe UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology is seeking proposals for projects up to £75,000 to advance…
Hare's tail cottongrass on Humberhead levels
Committee on Climate Change (CCC) 7th Carbon Budget Report - a response from IUCN UK Peatland ProgrammeThe IUCN UK Peatland Programme welcomes this week the publication of the Committee on Climate…