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.
In recent days the Environmental Audit Committee highlighted soil as one of three natural components essential to human life, with peat soils singled out for its contribution to climate regulation by providing a significant carbon store. Yet, with soil erosion at a rate of 2.2 million tonnes each year in the UK, neglecting this important natural resource could result in a decline in public health, with impacts as far ranging as climate change, agricultural production, urban development and flood risk management.
Peat soils have long been under-appreciated, with a failure to recognise its importance in issues including biodiversity, water and air quality. This lack of engagement has resulted in insufficient statutory protection, policy interest and public attention, which can partly be attributed to the demise in soil health. For peatlands alone, the IUCN UK Peatland Programme provide a conservative estimate of 80% damaged.
Clifton Bain, Director of IUCN UK Peatland Programme said:
“It is encouraging to see soils recognised by this report for the important resource they are. For too long soils have been undervalued, working hard but not appreciated – the Cinderella of the natural world.
“This in-depth report into soil health concurs with many of the findings of the IUCN-UK led Commission of Inquiry on Peatlands, which found large-scale damage of peatlands across the UK with severe consequences for the many services they provide. It is clear that there is a serious and current need to prevent further degradation and to restore back to health those previously damaged. The IUCN UK Peatland Programme is working closely with Government, NGOs and the land-owning community to address this decline in peatlands, but believe to achieve a difference in the long term their value to society must be reflected in some way so that it is in the interest of landowners to protect this precious resource.”
To try provide a mechanism to do just that, the IUCN UK Peatland Programme recently launched the Peatland Code. The Code provides reassurance as to the carbon savings a peatland restoration project can realistically achieve, with the aim of attracting private investment in recognition of the benefits this important habitat provides.
Innovative schemes such as the Peatland Code, which values the services provided by soil, coupled with UK Government commitment to improving the state of peatlands, provides some hope that together we might prevent further damage to this precious resource in the future and begin to restore that which has been damaged.
