Peatland restoration can provide a climate benefit under all timescales: a case study with The Wildlife Trusts

Degraded peatland is a major source of land-related greenhouse gas emissions in the UK, making peatland restoration an essential part of achieving net-zero. By evaluating the anticipated change in emissions of peatland habitats before and after being restored by Wildlife Trusts, we found that restor...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Zhang, X, Lynch, J
Format: Conference item
Language:English
Published: IUCN UK Peatland Programme 2024
Description
Summary:Degraded peatland is a major source of land-related greenhouse gas emissions in the UK, making peatland restoration an essential part of achieving net-zero. By evaluating the anticipated change in emissions of peatland habitats before and after being restored by Wildlife Trusts, we found that restoration has likely already provided large emission reductions. Though some restoration transitions do increase methane emission, there is still a net climate benefit even in the short term; and the restored sites can provide long-term ongoing cooling. This brings positive messages to the undergoing peatland restoration projects.