Peatlands are a unique habitat which, when healthy, help tackle both the biodiversity and climate crises. But they are under threat:over 94% of the UK’s raised bogs have been lost in the last 200 years. Funding is urgently needed to protect and restore our precious peatlands for wildlife and people.
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Peatlands are a unique habitat. As well as being home to many rare and threatened species, healthy peatlands are the planet’s largest natural carbon store. They reduce flood risk, prevent wildfires and help filter our water. But when damaged they cannot protect us from flooding, the water they provide is polluted and they release thousands of tonnes of C02 back into the atmosphere. It is estimated that over 80% of Scotland’s peatlands are now degraded - funding is needed to secure their future.
The Trust - together with our fantastic volunteers - manages a range of peatlands across Scotland; from small urban peat bogs to vast expanses in the Highlands. Our reserves include 12 lowland raised peat bogs, which are among the most threatened habitats in the country - and indeed Europe. To keep these peatlands healthy we need to dam drainage ditches and remove - either by hand or using conservation grazing by livestock - the invasive trees and plants which can dry and destroy peatlands.
