Natural Capital and Ecosystem Services of Peatlands in the UK. Paul Leadbitter, Programme Manager

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1 Natural Capital and Ecosystem Services of Peatlands in the UK Paul Leadbitter, Programme Manager

2 Natural Capital vs Ecosystem Services Natural capital is the world's stocks of natural assets which include geology, soil, air, water and all living things. It is from this natural capital that we derive a wide range of services, called ecosystem services. We are overdrawn at the Natural Capital Bank

3 What is Peat? A soil that contains a high proportion of dead organic matter, that has accumulated over thousands of years in oxygen poor, cold*, wet conditions. Peat forms at about 1 mm per year. Peat is an important Natural Capital asset.

4 Why are Peatlands Important? Biodiversity Flooding The UK Peatland Code What is From Peat? Concept to Contract Carbon Store Carbon Sink Water Colour Water Supply Sediment Loading Historical Record Economy

5 Where is the UK s Peat?? 26,000 km 2 of peat The UK Peatland Code What is From Peat? Concept to Contract 11% of the land base of the UK Blanket Bog, raised bog and fen Mostly privately owned Heavily managed Drained Grazed Burned Wind farms Roads

6 AONB ~ 2000 km km2 peat The UK Peatland Code Concept to Contract What isfrom Peat? 10,000 km of drains 6000 ha of bare peat and damaged peat

7 The UK Peatland Code Concept to Contract What isfrom Peat? Significant Ecosystem Services damage

8 The Natural Capital Asset is being degraded 1. Carbon loss ~ 10 million tonnes/a 2. Increase in sedimentation 3. Increased run off and erosion 4. Water colour increase 5. Biodiversity loss 6. Historic environment loss

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16 The UK Peatland Code Concept to Contract What isfrom Peat?

17 Pennine PeatLIFE LIFE16 NAT/UK/ Paul Leadbitter, Programme Manager

18 Pennine PeatLIFE LIFE16 NAT/UK/ PROJECT LOCATION: Northern England BUDGET INFO: Total amount: 6,502, % EC Co-funding: 3,849,735 DURATION: Start: 15/07/17 - End: 31/12/21 PROJECT S IMPLEMENTORS: Coordinating Beneficiary: Durham County Council via North Pennines AONB Partnership Associated Beneficiaries: Yorkshire Wildlife Trust, Lancashire County Council

19 Pennine PeatLIFE LIFE16 NAT/UK/ The aim of the Pennine PeatLIFE project is to demonstrate and evaluate Blanket Bog restoration techniques suited to northern England and the development and showcasing of a financial payment for ecosystem services (PES) mechanism in the UK Peatland Code. Pennine PeatLIFE will determine the most cost-effective PES restoration approach by: 1. Demonstrating financially viable region-specific and sustainable Sphagnum based restoration techniques for re-activating 1353 ha of blanket bog in northern England. 2. Demonstrating through Concept to Contract trials, the UK Peatland Code, as a viable payment for ecosystem services for upland peatlands. 3. Demonstrating new approaches using Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) to assess vegetation change as a proxy measure for monitoring change in ecosystem services benefits of blanket bog undergoing restoration and as a validation tool for the UK Peatland Code. 4. Disseminating the demonstration activities to policy makers, landowners and managers, government agencies, NGOs, and other key stakeholders in the UK and across the EU.

20 Expected Results ha of blanket bog (*7130) restored; 2. 26,000 tonnes of CO 2 reduction; 3. Wider stakeholder awareness as to the importance of peatlands; 4. A better methodology for the use of UAVs in restoration monitoring; 5. Detailed assessment of a PES mechanism - UK Peatland Code; 6. A UK and EU wide increase in the awareness of the UK Peatland Code; 7. Development of a legally binding contract for PES; 8. New agri-environment agreements will include peatland restoration.

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25 POLICY IMPLICATIONS Pennine PeatLIFE will contribute to: 1. The Habitats Directive 2. The Floods Directive 3. The Water Framework Directive 4. The EU Biodiversity Strategy 5. The Birds Directive 6. The 7 th Environmental Action Programme 7. The EU Strategy on Adaptation to Climate Change

26 1. Pennine PeatLIFE will work with Eurosite as part of this LIFE project to promote What a better is understanding Peat? of UK peatland restoration work and the Concept to Contract trials of the Peatland Code. 2. Site visits to the UK are planned as well as events across the EU to maximise synergies with peatland conservation and ecosystem service payment discussions.

27 Thank you