Peat Bog Ecosystems: Ecological Impacts of Forestry on Peatlands

For the most part, UK blanket bogs have been treeless for many thousands of years, although in their natural state they would probably have had stunted woodland along streamlines and on steep marginal slopes. Commercial afforestation of UK bogs, on the other hand, requires intensive drainage to permit the trees to grow. This drainage results in substantial hydrological, morphological and carbon-storage impacts, as well as significant loss of typical peat bog biodiversity. This briefing note is part of a series aimed at policy makers, practitioners and academics to help explain the ecological processes that underpin peatland function. Understanding the ecology of peatlands is essential when investigating the impacts of human activity on peatlands, interpreting research findings and planning the recovery of damaged peatlands