A burning issue: no blanket approach for blanket bogs
Research by SEI is contributing to heated debates about the best way to manage one of the UK’s most precious upland habitats.
The fate of the UK’s upland peat bogs, which account for nearly ten per cent of the UK land area and are a major UK carbon stock supporting water storage, flood prevention, drinking water provision and biodiversity, is also mired in noisy and passionate debate around climate and management impacts, especially on grouse moors.
In a recent University of York feature, project leader Andreas Heinemeyer highlights the challenges of carrying out long-term research in the upland bogs of northern England. He explains the complex environmental responses to different land management practices and how competing views on how best to do this need to be considered.
Read the full article on the University of York website
The final report for the first five year period (BD5104) "Restoration of heather-dominated blanket bog vegetation on grouse moors for biodiversity, carbon storage, greenhouse gas emissions and water regulation: comparing burning to alternative mowing and uncut management" has been published by DEFRA.
Read the report.