The government has today (29
January) announced plans to bring forward legislation to prevent
the burning of heather and other vegetation on protected blanket
bog habitats. The new regulations will prevent the burning of any
specified vegetation on areas of deep peat (over 40cm depth) on a
Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) that is also a Special
Area of Conservation or a Special Protection Area unless a
licence has been granted or the land is steep or rocky.
‘Rotational’ burning is used as a management
tool on moorland and blanket bog. Land managers use controlled
burning on patches of heather during winter months typically on a
8-12 year rotation. There is a consensus that burning of
vegetation on blanket bog is damaging to peatland formation and
habitat condition. It makes it more difficult or impossible to
restore these habitats to their natural state and to restore
their hydrology.
Restoring England’s peatlands is a priority
for the government. It will help achieve net zero carbon
emissions by 2050 as well as protecting our valuable habitats and
the biodiversity those habitats support. Blanket bog, a type of
peatland, is a delicate habitat of international importance, with
the UK having 13% of the world’s blanket bog.
The government recognises that if moorland is
unmanaged, there is a risk of wildfire which is most damaging of
all and that these risks have grown due to climate change.
Therefore, the government intends to work with land owners and
managers to develop local wildfire control plans. There will be
specific circumstances where the ban does not apply, such as on
steep land or where scree makes up half the land area. In
addition, the Secretary of State may also issue licences for the
burning of heather on blanket bog for the purposes of wildfire
prevention, for a conservation purpose or where land is
inaccessible to cutting or mowing machinery. These licences may
cover several years so that they can be aligned with coherent
management plans for sites.
Environment Secretary said:
“Our peatlands have great potential as a
natural store of carbon, as well as protecting habitats,
providing a haven for rare wildlife and being a natural provider
of water regulation. We want to work with land owners to restore
the natural hydrology of many of these sites through our new
agricultural policy to support our ambitions for the environment.
The burning of heather on these sites makes it more difficult to
restore their natural hydrology which is why we are taking this
step today.”
Natural England Chair Tony Juniper
said:
“This is a hugely welcome announcement which
will see better protections for our globally important peatlands.
Blanket bog is an amazing habitat that provides essential
environmental benefits, including carbon storage, a home for
wonderful wildlife, clean drinking water and flood mitigation.
This is why it is vital we ensure these systems are healthy with
peat-forming species, such as Sphagnum mosses, thriving in
water-logged conditions.
“We will continue to work with Defra and land
managers to help with the successful implementation of these
measures, including by providing advice on good upland management
and leading a new peatland restoration grant scheme as part of
the Nature for Climate programme. This will provide funds to
carry out restoration work on these precious ecosystems, ensuring
their recovery and protection for the benefit of both present and
future generations.”
Today’s move marks a key step for meeting the
government’s nature and climate change mitigation and adaptation
targets, and part of the Government’s 25 Year
Environment Plan commitment to bring 75% of SSSIs into
favourable condition.
The government will be setting out further
measures to protect England’s peatlands this year as part of a
package of measures to protect England’s landscapes and
nature-based solutions. The government’s £640 million Nature for
Climate Fund also includes funding to kick-start a programme of
peatland restoration over the next 5 years.
Notes to editors
- The statutory instrument will be laid before Parliament for
its approval before it comes into force.
