36
Local Authorities and Sustainable Peatland Management: Current Opportunities and Future Possibilities for Local Approaches
for the benefit, improvement or development of its area. This means where funding is available it is possible to purchase land to pursue nature recovery activities, such as peatland restoration. This may become more prevalent in the light of new laws and policies focused on addressing the climate and nature crises, such as GHG emissions reporting for local authorities and obligations on developers to provide biodiversity net benefit.
UK Government funding
In the past, a significant source of funding for peatland restoration work has been the EU LIFE fund. Following the UK’s exit from the EU, such funding has been effectively replaced, going forward, by UK funding streams such as the UK Shared Prosperity fund. This fund focuses on three key themes: communities and place; supporting local business; and people and skills. There is some room to consider SPM, including restoration projects, as part of local investment in local green space. Nevertheless, it appears that direct funding from the governments for England and the devolved nations is the focus for future projects.
The LIFEquake project was a 5 year scheme funded by the EU LIFE fund and supported by Welsh Government to restore peatlands in seven areas across Wales. It was delivered in partnership by NRW, Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, Snowdonia National Park and the National Trust.
Welsh Government funding
The NPAP is supported by a budget of £1m per year for 5 years. Grants are available to public sector organisations such as local authorities, either individually or in partnership with others (including third sector and private sector organisations or individuals).
These grants provide all sorts of opportunities to work with other organisations on local scale peat restoration works. Some examples might include:
• Working with a charitable organisation to carry out works in a Local Nature Reserve. • Developing tools or carrying out actions to meet the objectives of PSBs. • Working with a local farmer to provide restoration works that supports a local authority’s flood prevention strategy. Welsh Government also provides funding for farmers to meet nature recovery aims through the agricultural payment support system. This system will soon be changing as a result of the new legislation currently before the Senedd. Local authorities could also have a role in helping farmers to access these funds for SPM and to meet their priorities for flood prevention.
Made with FlippingBook HTML5