Peatlands, Grouse and a Balancing Act
- Rob Beeson
- Apr 2
- 5 min read
This blog post discusses the key issues outlined in the GWCT’s Peatland Report - a review of the environmental impacts including carbon sequestration, greenhouse gas emissions and wildfire on peatland in England associated with grouse moor management.
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Peatlands: Nature's Carbon Vault
It might just look like soggy ground, but peatlands are actually England's largest carbon store. They cover about 11% of England's land and hold an estimated 584 million tonnes of carbon. To put that in perspective, if all that carbon were released as CO2, it would be equivalent to a whopping 2.14 billion tonnes of emissions.
Think of peatlands like giant natural sponges that have been soaking up carbon over thousands of years. This happens because the waterlogged conditions slow down the decomposition of dead plants, allowing carbon to accumulate. So, keeping these peatlands healthy is crucial for tackling climate change.
Grouse Moors: A Part of the Peatland Puzzle
So where do grouse moors fit into all of this? Interestingly, all grouse moors are peatland, whether they are dry heath or bog. Management for red grouse, primarily through heather burning, has historically helped to maintain heather and other peat-forming plants in these areas compared to other land uses like livestock farming and forestry. Grouse moors are also important habitats for upland wading birds like curlew, golden plover, and lapwing.
It's estimated that grouse moor management covers around 423,000 hectares in total, with 282,000 hectares of that being above the Defra moorland line and assumed to be on peat. This makes grouse moor management a significant land use in the English uplands.
The Burning Question: Managed Fires vs. Wildfires
One of the most debated aspects of grouse moor management is heather burning. It's crucial to understand that there are two main types of burning:
Managed Burning (Prescribed or Rotational): This involves setting small, controlled fires (seldom wider than 30m) to older heather. The aim is to reduce the amount of old heather and encourage new, young shoots for grouse to feed on. These burns are carefully supervised and surrounded by firebreaks, making them "cool" burns that typically don't burn into the peat or moss layer. This rotational burning also creates a mosaic of different heather heights, which benefits not only grouse but also other moorland birds.
Wildfires: These are uncontrolled fires that can burn extensive areas. They often happen in the summer and can be started accidentally or deliberately. Wildfires can burn at very high temperatures, not only destroying surface vegetation but also burning deep into the underlying peat. The Saddleworth Moor wildfire in 2018, for example, is estimated to have resulted in a loss of seven centimetres of peat.
It's important to distinguish clearly between these two types of fire.
Carbon Emissions: What's the Score?
When heather is burned, carbon stored in the vegetation is released into the atmosphere. However, as the vegetation regrows, it captures carbon again. The big question is whether, over the long term, managed burning leads to a net loss or gain of carbon.
Current scientific understanding is still evolving, and long-term research is needed to fully understand the carbon balance over a complete burning cycle (e.g. 15 years). Some recent studies even suggest that recently burned areas might emit less carbon than older or unburned areas.
Interestingly, the report highlights the role of pyrogenic charcoal (soot or char) produced during burning. This charcoal is very stable and can store carbon for a long time. One study even found a positive relationship between moorland burn frequency and carbon storage due to the accumulation of pyrogenic charcoal. This aspect is often overlooked in carbon assessments.
Estimating the total carbon dioxide equivalent emissions from grouse moors is complex due to varying estimates of area, peat condition, and emission levels. However, based on different methods in the report, English grouse moors are estimated to emit between 0.98% and 4.82% of total England peatland net carbon dioxide equivalent emissions. This places them as a relatively low emitter compared to peatlands converted to cropland, intensive grassland, and forestry.
Wildfire: A Major Threat to Peatlands
Everyone agrees that wildfires on upland blanket bogs are a serious problem. They can destroy vast areas of vegetation and burn deep into the peat, causing significant and long-lasting damage, including the loss of stored carbon.
Rewetting peatlands is proposed as a way to reduce wildfire risk. Wetter conditions should make the peat less flammable. However, even rewetted sites can still be at risk, especially during dry periods, and a build-up of fuel load on restoration sites could increase fire risk. Reducing fuel loads is seen as crucial for preventing significant wildfire damage.
Looking to the USA, the report highlights the negative consequences of fire exclusion policies. Decades of suppressing prescribed burning led to increased wildfire extent and severity, along with declines in some bird species.
In contrast, regions where prescribed burning continued saw better biodiversity outcomes and fewer damaging wildfires. This suggests that managing fire, rather than simply excluding it, might be a more sustainable long-term strategy for fire-prone ecosystems like heather uplands.
Biodiversity: Finding a Balance
Grouse moor management, particularly heather burning, also has implications for biodiversity. Managed burning can create suitable habitats for other upland birds, especially waders like curlew and golden plover, which are of conservation concern. Studies have shown that wader abundance can be higher on moors with managed burning or grazing, which create shorter vegetation. Ceasing managed burning could negatively impact these already declining species.
Heather-dominated moorland supports unique plant communities. Historically, grouse management may have helped prevent the conversion of moorland to forestry or intensive sheep grazing, which can harm these habitats.
The effect of burning on blanket bog vegetation is complex. Some studies suggest it can increase overall species richness at a moor level by creating a mosaic of habitats. However, others indicate that frequent burning might favour heather and reduce the abundance of mosses and sedges. Restoration burning aims to reduce heather dominance and encourage peat-forming plants.
Cutting heather is being promoted as an alternative to burning, but there's currently limited evidence on its long-term effects on vegetation and carbon. The ideal management approach for blanket bog will likely depend on various factors like peat depth, altitude, and rainfall.
The impact of burning on invertebrates is also being studied. While burning can temporarily remove invertebrates, recolonization from nearby unburnt areas usually occurs. Maintaining habitat diversity through management is key for invertebrate conservation.
Navigating the Complexities: A Call for Collaboration
Managing England's upland peatlands is a delicate balancing act. There are trade-offs to consider between carbon storage and emissions, biodiversity, wildfire risk, and the economic and social aspects of land management. A "one-size-fits-all" approach is unlikely to be effective given the complexity and variety of peatland conditions.
The report emphasizes the need for policies that acknowledge the complexities of land management, consider new scientific evidence, understand risks like wildfire, and allow landowners to develop estate-specific management plans. Collaboration between policymakers and land managers is crucial for achieving good environmental outcomes.
Moving forward, it's essential to have more research to fill the knowledge gaps around carbon fluxes, the long-term impacts of different management practices, and the role of pyrogenic carbon. We need to learn from past experiences, both in the UK and in other fire-prone regions like the USA, to develop sustainable management strategies.
Ultimately, there's a shared desire to protect peatlands, enhance biodiversity, and maintain these living, working landscapes. Grouse moor managers have a role to play by setting out their "environmental offer" and working together to make a positive impact at scale.
By understanding the science, acknowledging the trade-offs, and fostering collaboration, we can unlock the full potential of our uplands – ensuring they continue to be vital carbon stores, havens for wildlife, and cherished landscapes for generations to come.
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