Valuing our peatlands
The benefits that peatland restoration can bring for nature, people and the climate are well known, but it also makes economic sense, as a study in Northern Ireland clearly shows.
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Assessing the economic value of peatland restoration
In Northern Ireland, the RSPB worked with NI Water and the NI Environment Agency to assess the economic value of peatland restoration at two sites: the Garron Plateau and Montiagh’s Moss, both in Antrim. Through blocking drains and reducing grazing pressure we aimed to improve raw water quality and restore the sites to a more favourable state for wildlife.
In this short film, former RSPB staff member Phil Carson and NI Water’s Rebecca Allen explore the benefits of restoring the blanket bog at these sites for nature, people and the climate, as well as the economy.
Investing in peatland restoration makes economic sense
The study concludes that restoring peatland provides huge economic value, with the benefits of investing in restoration far outweighing the costs. These benefits include reduced carbon emissions, improvements in water quality, an increase in biodiversity and reduced flood risk.
Restoring peatland is a low cost-high gain practice that has a key role to play in meeting the UK and Northern Ireland’s climate and nature recovery targets. However, as in other parts of the UK, the majority of blanket bog in Northern Ireland is in a poor state as a result of pressures such as overgrazing, drainage and afforestation, undermining its ability to deliver vital ecosystem services.
If we are to tackle the nature and climate emergency, we urgently need the government to introduce policies that enable peatland restoration to happen at pace and scale.