Capturing transitional changes in GHGfluxes following peat restoration

Peatlands are the world’s largest terrestrial carbon store, yet most of England’s peatlands are degraded, with only 13% of deep peat remaining in near‑natural condition. This degradation contributes around 8 MtCO2e emissions annually, making restoration essential to achieving net zero commitments. The commissioned research will refine and validate a model that quantifies CO2 uptake during the transition from degraded to restored peatland, establishing peat restoration as a credible source of net greenhouse gas removal (GGR). The validated model will be integrated into the UK GHG Inventory and the Peatland Code, strengthening Defra’s ability to meet its Carbon Budget obligations.