WALES PEATLANDS MAP LAUNCHED

WALES’ precious peatlands can now be seen on a new map that will track how they recover through conservation action.

Vital for storing vast amounts of carbon in the fight against climate change, peatlands also harbour a wealth of wildlife, help purify water and can reduce flood risk.

Responding to the climate and nature emergencies, the Wales Peatland Action Programme has ambitious targets. A new grant scheme makes £100,000 available to individuals and organisations for developing peatland conservation projects that could be funded through the Wales Peatland Action Programme, or other funding streams.

The Peatlands of Wales Map is part of a new onestop-shop Welsh Peatland Data Portal of information on peatland conservation, managed by Natural Resources Wales. It captures the extent and depth of Welsh peatlands, including information about how much carbon they store and an estimate of the carbon they release when in a poor condition.

The map is available free to download and use. It will be regularly updated to show an ever-improving picture of the habitat’s recovery through conservation management.

Minister for Climate Change Julie James said: “Our bogs might not sound very glamorous, but they are Wales’ unsung heroes. Their restoration is vital to our response to the nature and climate emergencies.

“The maps published today will help us understand their valuable role. With this knowledge and the new peatlands funding pot, I encourage groups and communities to get involved in the restoration and protection of our bogs so we can pass on a Wales that we are proud of, to our future generations.”

This year’s peatlands development grant application window closes on July 4 and can be found at naturalresources.wales/aboutus/grants-andfunding/peatlands-grantfunding/