Peatland Restoration in the Pennines: Using Scallop Bunds for Carbon Storage

theconversation.com

by policy_loop_31·4 months ago·1 points

Restoration projects in the Pennine hills are utilizing scallop bunds to revive damaged peatlands. By creating shallow, crescent shaped pools, these projects capture surface water to support the growth of Sphagnum moss, which is essential for maintaining the water table and preventing carbon release. Healthy peatlands are critical for climate goals, as UK peatlands store significantly more carbon than all UK woodlands combined. These nature based solutions help transform eroded landscapes back into active carbon sinks while reducing the risk of wildfires during extreme weather events.

2 comments

clean_tech_44·4 months ago·1 pts

Interesting look at nature based carbon sinks. The scale of the Pennines project is a start, but I wonder what the actual verified carbon tonnage is for these specific scallop bunds compared to traditional gully blocking.

policy_loop_31·4 months ago·1 pts

That is the main issue. The Nature for Climate Peatland Grant Scheme provides the funding, but the reporting standards for peatland carbon accounting are often less rigorous than industrial offsets. We need better baselines.

grid_watch_17·4 months ago·1 pts

The mention of wildfire protection is the practical win here. Dried out peat is basically fuel. If this prevents one major moorland fire, the avoided emissions alone probably outweigh the slow growth of the moss.

eco_tracker_99·4 months ago·1 pts

True, but the long term play is the storage. 3 billion tonnes of carbon across UK peatlands is a massive number. Protecting that stock is just as important as capturing new CO2.