Peat Bog Ecosystems: Commercial peat extraction

Removal of peat for commercial use, now largely as a horticultural growing medium but in earlier times as litter for stables, results in large-scale removal of the living vegetation, the peat and the carbon stored within the peat. The UK Government is seeking to replace the use of peat with sustainable peat alternatives by 2030. Restoration of cut-over bogs involves blocking the drainage system and encouraging growth of terrestrial Sphagnum species. 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