A report, launched today, ranks a carbon funding proposal for peatlands as the UK’s top business opportunity from the natural environment.
 

The report was commissioned by the Valuing Nature Network for Defra’s Ecosystem Markets Taskforce, who will make recommendations to the Secretaries for State for BIS, Defra and DECC in March 2013.

 
“A Peatland Carbon code will provide the scientific basis for peatland restoration in quantifying the carbon and other benefits, and will give confidence for investors.” says Mark Reed, leader of the Valuing Nature Network peatlands project.

Clifton Bain, Director of the IUCN’s UK Peatland Programme says: “Peatlands are a vast carbon store, and of great wildlife importance. Investing in conserving and restoring them is a key tool to help deliver our climate change obligations. This code will help secure the funding necessary to deliver a pioneering nature-based solution to a global challenge”
 

Leading researchers, business, environmental and governmental organisations are increasingly recognising the need for a UK Peatland Carbon Code. The proposals are being discussed at a conference today, organised by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and the British Ecological Society, held at the University of Bangor in Wales. New evidence for the climate benefits of the restoration of these internationally important habitats and ecosystems is being discussed.

Ian Rotherham, Chair of the Peatland Special Interest Group at the British Ecological Society, and Professor of Environmental Geography at the Sheffield Hallam University, says: “For many years, peatlands and bogs have been regarded as of little economic interest, and merely the domain of ecologists and biodiversity. However, many of us have been arguing that the value of peatlands extends beyond this, to carbon, water management, biodiversity and tourism. This ground-breaking report now confirms the real and potential economic values attached to this wonderful wildlife habitats.”

Available for interview:  
Clifton Bain, IUCN UK Peatland Programme
Mark Reed, Valuing Nature Network Peatland Project

Further information contact:
Elinor Elis-Williams Press Officer, Bangor University,
press@bangor.ac.uk 01248 383298.

Rea Cris Communications Co-ordinator IUCN National Committee UK Peatlands Programme rea.cris@iucn.org.uk 07584-528-537

Conference information: The Joint British Ecological Society and IUCN UK National Committee Peatland Programme Symposium on ‘Investing in Peatlands – Demonstrating Success’ 26-28 June 2012, is a major conference on peatlands being held at Bangor University bringing together world-class experts to highlight the importance of peatlands. Peatlands are important for climate, water regulation and biodiversity conservation.

The symposium aims to foster active knowledge exchange between practitioners and scientists. The symposium will assess the state and trends of peatland biodiversity and ecosystem services provide evidence for good practice and work towards socio-economic and political solutions to managing natural peatland capital.

Organisations involved:

1. The International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) is a global organisation, providing an influential and authoritative voice for nature conservation. The IUCN National Committee UK Peatland Programme promotes peatland restoration in the UK and advocates the multiple benefits of peatlands through partnerships, strong science, sound policy and effective practice.
2. The British Ecological Society is a learned society, a registered charity and a company limited by guarantee. Established in 1913 by academics to promote and foster the study of ecology in its widest sense, the Society has 4,000 members in the UK and abroad.
3. The Valuing Nature Network brings together natural scientists and economists, alongside decision-makers in business and policy, who have an interest in valuing nature and is funded by the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra).