The importance of peatland to the survival of people.
- Lloyd Edwards
- Nov 14, 2019
- 1 min read
It may look like soggy wet ground with some low level tufty plants, but its so much more than that. A bit like an iceberg there is lots that you don't see and just like an iceberg it could disappear.
Peatland provides vital services from which nature and people benefit: regulating water flows; minimising the risk of flooding and drought and preventing seawater intrusion. In many parts of the world peatland also sustains local economies, by supplying plants which are used for food and fibre.
Globally peatland contains more than 550 gigatonnes of sequestered carbon. This exceeds the carbon stored in all other vegetation types, including the world’s forests. Peatland vegetation sequesters 0.37 gigatonnes of CO2 per year.
The map below shows the World distribution of peatland. Globally there are 3 million km2 of near-natural peatland remaining, but it is all at risk.
The UK benefits from having extensive peatland, but this vital resource has and continues to be used for commercial gain at the expense of the environment and people.
We were so inspired by the value of peatland that we wanted to be directly involved in its restoration and preservation. We hope to inspire others to take action. There is no shortage of ways to get involved........
..........to learn more and be inspired look at these organisations.
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