NPAP is an alliance of statutory agencies, local authorities and voluntary or community agencies working together to promote public understanding and enjoyment of the North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) and support the local economy. NPAP has been working on peatland projects for 14 years, restoring 35,000 hectares of peatland.
Impact
- Challenge
The area has severely damaged and eroding peat and support is needed to continue restoration work. Advocacy of this work is also important to demonstrate the value of peatland restoration in tackling climate change.
- Impact goal
Preserved and improved species and habitats
- Priority
Jenny Dadd, Funding Manager, Esmée Fairbairn Foundation
NPAP has shown innovation in its work on peat restoration and in particular its pilot trials on sphagnum inoculation. This work has gone on to underpin many other restoration works, in the UK and beyond. They are working well with the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) to advocate for peat and are also working to raise awareness amongst decision-makers, funders and the public of the link between peatlands and climate change.
We hope this work is a catalyst to policy change at a national level with statutory protections for peatland sites, improved practices around peat management as well changes in consumer demand for peat. We also believe their work with IUCN will be valuable beyond the UK.
