New investment funds and action to improve lowland peat and reduce atomic number 6 emissions have been set out by the government today ( Thursday , June 29 ) .
Peat soil contain over half the country ’s terrestrial atomic number 6 stores and answer as a virile nature - based root against climate change . However , as a outcome of centuries of drainage to create land desirable for farming , our peat soils are drying out , cause the constitutive matter they moderate to decompose and release carbon into the ambience . Today , just 1 % of England ’s lowland peatlands remain in a near - raw state .
By rewetting lowland peat soils , we can deliver carbon emission simplification , meliorate food for thought security , boost wetland biodiversity , and well protect community from flooding .
To support the preservation and sustainable direction of lowland peatlands , the government has announced that it will take forward natural process on all the passport made by Robert Caudwell , independent Chair of the Lowland Agricultural Peat Task Force , whose account is release today .
Environment Minister Trudy Harrison said : " Our peatlands are priceless allies in our battle against mood change , housing over half of our telluric carbon copy store and leave resiliency for next land . "
These newfangled measures , which include funding for innovative newfangled water management schemes , pad our efforts to protect and improve peat land – enhancing carbon warehousing , preserving vital ecosystems , and paving the agency for a more sustainable time to come . This comes aboard over £ 7.5 million of new funding to kickstart melioration in how we manage water supply resources to rewet and preserve peat soil . This funding will drive advancements in our apprehension of the lowland peat water challenge to transform the room we use water in England ’s lowland peat and will also pay for the installation of infrastructure and monitoring engineering to enable more ascendence of water system horizontal surface in these part .
The measurement the government is take will also improve resilience to drought and safeguard productive farming on some of our most worthful agricultural demesne , supporting our rural economy and those whose livelihoods are as such tied to the land .
In 2020 , the governing established the Lowland Agricultural Peat Task Force to explore how to improve the condition of England ’s lowland farmed peat while ensuring the continuation of rich agriculture for years to come . The Chair of the job effect has put forward fourteen recommendation to the government and the across-the-board sphere to see that lowland peat soils can be managed more sustainably .
These recommendations let in :
Robert Caudwell , Chair of the Lowland Agricultural Peat Task Force , said : " I give thanks all the members of the Lowland Agricultural Peat Task Force for their fourth dimension and consignment to finding ways of manage lowland agricultural peat that are sustainable and substantially reduce C emissions . "
All the evidence demonstrates that thin out carbon emissions from lowland peat is vital as part of the United Kingdom government ’s plan to tackle climate change .
The report and the U.K. regime ’s response are important first footfall in a journey that will require a partnership between all stakeholders , and I am surefooted that the employment that is already afoot will give Fannie Merritt Farmer opportunities to develop their businesses and conduce to the challenge of net zero .
The Lowland Agricultural Peat Water Discovery Pilot ( £ 2.2 m ) , to be deliver by the Environment Agency , will allow local and water peatland partnership to collaborate to develop be water level management plan for lowland peat areas in England .
Alan Lovell , Chair of the Environment Agency , said : The Environment Agency welcome the publication of the Caudwell report card . draw on the report ’s recommendations , we recognize that the sustainable management of the water environs through raise the water table within peat soils holds a polar role in protect the atomic number 6 it store .
The report finding , unite with further inquiry and ontogenesis , provide useful support and incentives to James Leonard Farmer look to transition to more climate - friendly land of peat ground . This is set out in our National Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management Strategy for England and Roadmap .
Twelve labor across England are also set to have musical accompaniment through the £ 5 million Paludiculture Exploration Fund allow scheme - administered by Natural England - to help translate and overcome barriers to developing paludiculture as a commercially viable farming practice on lowland peat soils .
Tony Juniper , Chair of Natural England , said : Lowland peatlands play an important office in combating climate variety by keeping atomic number 6 in the land and out of the air . work with nation managers and others , it is imperative we find ways to support bread and butter and bring about what society needs while at the same prison term halting the abjection of peat soil .
This is why I am so beguiled that the £ 5 million Paludiculture Exploration Fund grant scheme will support twelve task target at overcoming obstacles to developing economically workable land on smashed peat soil . This promising material body of wetland agriculture holds tremendous potential difference for both revitalizing peatlands and supporting profitable and sustainable rural businesses .
Today ’s announcements are part of the government ’s commitments to drive outside ambitiousness on action to tackle climate change and work towards nature - based solution and demonstrate our ambition to deliver on our net zero pathway .
The evidence bring forth by the task will enable Defra to save on our lowland peat commitments within the administration ’s England Peat Action Plan , Net Zero Strategy , Environmental Improvement Plan , and Plan for Water . On lowland peat , Defra has already funded a new update to the Peatland Code , announced a £ 6.6 m peatland research and growing political program , and is grow new land schemes to patronage rewetting , restitution , and new farming methods in the Lowlands of Scotland . It will also be bring out the new England Peat Map next class .
In recognition of the environmental benefits and the key role lowland peat soils play in food for thought yield , the authorities will retain to work with the Chair of the task force as well as farmer , landowners , and the extensive industry to take forward action on all the account ’s recommendations for more sustainable forms of peatland management .
author : gov.uk
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