UK expands peatland burning ban to cut carbon

September 10, 2025

The UK government has confirmed that burning on England’s deep peatlands will be banned in a major step to restore vital habitats, protect rare wildlife, and reduce both air pollution and flood risks.

Why peatlands matter

Peatlands, often referred to as the UK’s "natural carbon store," play a crucial role in the fight against climate change. They act like giant sponges, storing an estimated 3.2 billion tonnes of carbon across the UK. Healthy peat absorbs and retains water, helping prevent flooding downstream. However, when drained or burned, these carbon-rich soils dry out, releasing harmful greenhouse gases into the atmosphere instead of storing them.

The problem: damaged and degraded peat

According to official government figures, 80% of England’s peatlands are degraded due to burning, drainage, and intensive land use, particularly for grouse shooting. Burning is often carried out to encourage new plant growth for grouse to feed on, but this practice destroys habitats, threatens rare species such as adders, toads, and ground-nesting birds, and worsens air pollution.

Previous rules fell short

Earlier legislation introduced by the Conservative government only restricted burning on certain designated sites, such as Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs), and only on peat deeper than 40cm. Many ecologists warned the rules were too weak, leaving huge areas of deep peat unprotected. Countryside groups criticized the restrictions as an “attack on grouse shooting,” while conservationists argued that the measures failed to protect fragile ecosystems.

What the new ban means

From 30 September, the updated law will extend protection to all peatlands deeper than 30cm – not just those on SSSIs – covering more than 676,000 hectares, up from the current 222,000 hectares. This expansion will significantly reduce the destruction caused by routine burning.

Protecting England’s “amazon rainforest”

Environment Minister Mary Creagh described peatlands as “England’s Amazon rainforest,” stressing their importance for biodiversity, climate protection, and flood prevention. She warned that burning peat releases dangerous smoke, damages ecosystems, and makes the land more vulnerable to wildfires. The new restrictions, she said, will help restore and rewet peat, making them more resilient in the long term.

Conservation groups welcome the change

The move has been widely praised by environmental groups. Beccy Speight, Chief Executive of the RSPB, said the extended ban is a “hugely positive step” for nature, climate action, water quality, and flood management. She emphasized that burning peatlands is damaging on every level and that restoring them is essential to meet the UK’s climate and biodiversity goals.