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World Peatlands Day: how to restore nature’s greatest superpower
We’re working with a range of corporate partners in the fight against the nature and climate crisis.
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Peatlands are nature’s greatest superpower when it comes to tackling the nature and climate crisis, storing more carbon than rainforests. In this explainer, you’ll find out what peatlands are, why they matter, and how we’re working with partners to restore them.
What are peatlands?
From the blanket bogs of Forsinard Flows to the expansive fens of East Anglia, peatlands are hero habitats. Formed in areas of high rainfall or groundwater, the unusual species that live here – from carnivorous plants to skulking wading birds – are highly adapted to live in wet conditions.
Meet the sphagnum mosses. They aren’t just at home in these habitats – they're ecosystem engineers. Holding over 25 times their own weight in water, layers and layers of this vegetation builds up over the course of thousands of years to create peatlands.
Why are peatlands important?
This waterlogged sphagnum doesn’t break down or rot. Remaining perfectly preserved, the plant matter holds onto carbon, making it one of nature’s greatest superpowers. In fact, the soil in peatland holds 25 times more carbon than the soil in rainforests. Keeping this carbon locked up in peat is critical to tackling climate change. If the peat is allowed to dry out, the carbon is released into the atmosphere, further contributing to global warming.
These super sponges also slow the flow of rainwater run-off on our fells, reducing the risk of flooding downhill. Acting as natural filters, 70% of our drinking water comes from upland peatland.
The rich invertebrate life in these habitats means they’re vital breeding grounds for some of our most threatened species, too. At the RSPB, protecting and restoring peatlands is a priority for Red and Amber-listed birds, like the Common Scoter, Curlew and Whimbrel. Large Heath butterflies – designated as Endangered at a European level – are also one of our Priority Species here.
Why do we need to restore them?
Throughout the past few centuries, we’ve lost a significant amount of our peatland. Extensive drainage of wetlands has made room for agriculture and development, while the extraction of peat itself met the growing demand for garden compost. Now, peatland covers only around 10% of the UK.
Forming at just 1mm per year, protecting what remains of our peatlands is vital. However, the majority of remaining peatland is in a damaged or degraded state. A degraded peatland isn’t just a missed opportunity to (store) carbon; these leaky bogs actually begin to emit the thousands of years’ worth of gases they’d previously stored.
Protecting the UK's peatlands is not something any one organisation can do alone. The Government has made a 30 by 30 commitment to restoring 30% of land, freshwater and seas so that they are effectively protected and managed for the benefit of wildlife. To meet these targets, we need to see policy in place to provide funding and legal frameworks.
Partnership powers peatland
We know that policy change takes time. As we continue to campaign for much-needed action, many businesses are already rising to meet the challenge. Right now, we're working directly with those who share our vision for healthy peatlands:
Whisky makers
On the Isle of Islay, one of Scotland's most celebrated whisky landscapes, three major producers, Suntory Global Spirits, Diageo, and Glenmorangie, have come together in an unprecedented partnership. Peat gives some Scotch whiskies their distinctive smoky character and has helped build a culturally and economically important craft for rural communities. Together, we’re restoring approximately 1,000 hectares of peat at our Oa reserve, backed by over £1.6 million in funding.
Omaze
In 2024, nature lovers like you entered the Omaze Cornwall House Draw, raising £4.9 million to help protect and restore our precious UK peatlands at scale. Its success proved that businesses of all shapes and sizes can play a meaningful role in bringing these extraordinary habitats back to life. The Omaze team visited the epic peatlands at RSPB Forsinard Flows to see the impact for themselves and you can watch their video below.
You helped protect UK peatlands - here’s how | Omaze x RSPB
The Co-op
In 2023, we joined forces with the Co-op in a strategic partnership to protect UK peatland. Through a voluntary contribution from the carrier bag levy, Co-op has funded a three-year, multi-million-pound programme, restoring 500 hectares of peatland across Wales, the Flow Country, Shetland, and Orkney. The Co-op also led on consumer goods, being the first UK supermarket to stop selling peat-based gardening products.
Water companies
Meanwhile, water companies are some of our longest-standing partners on peatland restoration. At Garron Plateau in Northern Ireland, we’ve worked with NI Water on a large-scale bog restoration project. In Wales, at RSPB Lake Vyrnwy, a partnership with Hafren Dyfrdwy is restoring 850 hectares of peat bog. And at RSPB Dove Stone in the Peak District, we've helped United Utilities plant over 1.1 million moss plugs on land they manage, continuing a programme of catchment restoration now in its third decade.
Protecting peatlands together
Together, with businesses of all different types, we’re proving that protecting these hero habitats is possible. But, to meet the urgency of the joint nature and climate crisis, we need as many people on board as we can get. Protecting our special places and species is something we can all get behind.
World Peatlands Day invites us all to celebrate this hero habitat and take action where we can – from choosing only peat-free compost or partnering with us to restore these precious places.
Interested? Find out how businesses can invest in peatland restoration
