Mapping the Status of Upland Peat Using Aerial Photographs
Natural England Commissioned Report NECR089 Mapping the status of upland peat using aerial photographs First published 21 February 2012 www.naturalengland.org.uk Foreword Natural England commission a range of reports from external contractors to provide evidence and advice to assist us in delivering our duties. The views in this report are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of Natural England. Background Information relating to the extent, condition and use due to misinterpretation. Some 73% of the samples of peatlands in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, visited supported peat >40cm deep. However, the was collated to inform the multi-agency Partnership data suggest that, with the exception of peat cuttings, Project to Protect and Enhance Peat Soils. This the extent of the main peatland features assessed exposed a general paucity of information on the was likely to have been underestimated by the extent of gripping (moorland drainage), rotational mapping. burning, erosion, bare peat and other upland peatland condition and land use features in England, The maps produced by this project represent a more and revealed no consistent and comprehensive data comprehensive and consistent approach to sources across the country. understanding the status of England‟s upland peatlands. They communicate the scale of the issues To address this problem, Natural England facing upland peatlands and contribute much to our commissioned this project to deliver an assessment national understanding of peatland management. of the extent of gripping, rotational burning, erosion, This understanding enables improved estimations of bare peat and peat cutting affecting deep peatlands greenhouse gas flux and carbon storage and delivery in upland England.
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