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Local Authorities and Sustainable Peatland Management
Executive Summary Peat is a soil that many of us know only as a ‘good compost’ or fuel for the fire. We might also have some idea of its historic significance as areas of very deep peat form over thousands of years. However, few people understand the multiple benefits of peatlands to local communities. Peat soil is carbon rich and peatlands provide an important carbon store. In some circumstances peat can also be a useful tool in carbon sequestration. Peatlands are also wetlands and in a ‘good condition state’ they can help to mitigate against the effects of climate change such as, increased flooding and wildfires. In addition, peatlands form the foundation for many ecosystems often supporting some of our rarest species, such as the Marsh Fritillary butterfly. We can also enjoy peatlands through recreational opportunities for walking in nature reserves in lowland areas and in experiencing the wilderness of hiking in the uplands. Peatlands, especially in the uplands of Wales, also provide a familiar landscape that is important to our cultural wellbeing.
The Ecosystem Benefits Provided by Peatlands
Many of the peatlands in Wales have been damaged by human activities. Maximising the ecosystem benefits of peatlands depends on their future sustainable management, including peatland restoration. Together these activities are referred to as sustainable peatland management (SPM) in this report. Effective governance for SPM will rely on recognition of the multiple benefits of peatlands and their relevance to Wales’s well-being goals and policies on climate change and nature recovery.
Welsh Government set out is policy ambition for peatlands in a Decision Report, in 2019, as follows: • ensuring all peatlands with semi-natural vegetation are subject to favourable management/restoration (a minimum estimated area of 30,000 ha); and, • restoring a minimum of 25% (~c. 5,000 ha) of the most modified areas of peatland.
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