The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) NI has said that restoring peatlands must be central in efforts to achieve a green recovery.
Peatland covers approximately 12% of the land area of Northern Ireland, but according to the RSPB, 86% of peatlands have been damaged by pressures including drainage, overgrazing, afforestation, burning and extraction in lowland areas.
As a result, it has said many peatlands are net emitters of greenhouse gases and that only as little as 1% has been restored in the past 30 years.
Emissions cuts
In the past week, prime minister Boris Johnson set out plans for the UK to cut greenhouse gas emissions further and faster than any other major economy in the next decade - setting a target of a 68% reduction in annual carbon emissions.
“Restoring peatlands must be central in efforts to achieve a green recovery, delivering benefits to the economy, nature and climate," according to the society.
“As well as being crucial in mitigating climate change, peatlands also play a vital role in supporting unique plants and rare wildlife, improve our water quality and upland peatlands also help prevent flooding."
Peatland restoration is a devolved issue and RSPB NI is calling on the Northern Ireland Executive to act urgently to set out clear restoration targets and allocate substantial funding for restoration and rewetting of the habitat to halt greenhouse gas emissions, in line with achieving net zero targets.
Read more
Drain blocking among the actions for Bord na Móna bog scheme
Western farmers to be paid to rewet bogs, plant trees
Farmed peatland rewetting scheme to open in 2021
The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) NI has said that restoring peatlands must be central in efforts to achieve a green recovery.
Peatland covers approximately 12% of the land area of Northern Ireland, but according to the RSPB, 86% of peatlands have been damaged by pressures including drainage, overgrazing, afforestation, burning and extraction in lowland areas.
As a result, it has said many peatlands are net emitters of greenhouse gases and that only as little as 1% has been restored in the past 30 years.
Emissions cuts
In the past week, prime minister Boris Johnson set out plans for the UK to cut greenhouse gas emissions further and faster than any other major economy in the next decade - setting a target of a 68% reduction in annual carbon emissions.
“Restoring peatlands must be central in efforts to achieve a green recovery, delivering benefits to the economy, nature and climate," according to the society.
“As well as being crucial in mitigating climate change, peatlands also play a vital role in supporting unique plants and rare wildlife, improve our water quality and upland peatlands also help prevent flooding."
Peatland restoration is a devolved issue and RSPB NI is calling on the Northern Ireland Executive to act urgently to set out clear restoration targets and allocate substantial funding for restoration and rewetting of the habitat to halt greenhouse gas emissions, in line with achieving net zero targets.
Read more
Drain blocking among the actions for Bord na Móna bog scheme
Western farmers to be paid to rewet bogs, plant trees
Farmed peatland rewetting scheme to open in 2021
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