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Research undertaken at the University of Manchester (UoM) has described peatland erosion and its impacts on hydrology and carbon balance; demonstrating the value of large scale peatland restoration via the re-vegetation of bare peat and erosion gully blocking. The primary impact can be seen within the Peak District National Park, where findings have formed the scientific underpinning for extensive investment in landscape-scale peatland restoration (totalling > £13m) by restoration practitioners such as the Moors for the Future Partnership (MFFP), which is significantly transforming degraded but iconic peatland landscapes. The MFFP mode is viewed as a national exemplar, with UoM research continuing to impact on upland policy, land use and restoration planning by regional, national and international bodies (National Trust, Moors for the Future, Natural England, DEFRA and the International Union for Conservation of Nature).
The project combined stakeholder knowledge with natural science to identify future scenarios and adaptation options for uplands. Research into upland ecosystem services identified win-win scenarios (e.g. around carbon management) and important trade-offs (e.g. effects on biodiversity). These were embedded within government policy reports leading to additional work in government departments seeking to overcome policy barriers in these areas in order to implement the recommendations from the research. Overcoming these policy barriers has influenced government's decision to work in partnership to launch a new peatland carbon code, focussing on upland peatlands, creating corporate social responsibility (CSR) options for companies via peatland protection and restoration.
Research at the University of East London has catalysed action across a wide range of policy, science and practice activities aimed at restoring and conserving peatlands. It has underpinned the development of a government-affiliated body (IUCN UK PP) committed to ensuring effective conservation and restoration of peatlands, and helped shape carbon-management initiatives and policies at national and inter-governmental level, prompting Ministerial commitments and substantial funding for UK peatlands. It has also supported inter-governmental consensus over the sustainable management of peatlands and their carbon stores, and influenced legal decisions about windfarm development on peat. Furthermore, it has enhanced public understanding of important environmental issues relating to peatlands and their ecosystem services, particularly in relation to greenhouse-gas emissions and water management.
The UN Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+) programme offers developing countries incentives to reduce carbon emissions from forested lands. Work on carbon storage and sequestration led by researchers in the Department of Zoology has had demonstrable impacts on international development, via the REDD+ programme and two associated UN Conventions; Climate Change (UNFCCC) and Biodiversity (UN CBD), and on national level policy development in Tanzania and Brazil. It has improved the quality of data collection and monitoring necessary for successful implementation of REDD+, and has led to international investment. The work has also had direct impacts in a number of developing countries, through capacity building, employment generation, and enabling local communities to better adapt to climate change.
Impact of peat research at NTU comprises:
Research on peatland hydrology and erosion has been used by stakeholders including Defra, International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN), Natural England, Scottish Natural Heritage, Moors for the Future, RSPB, water companies, horticultural peat producers and Environment Agency to improve policy and practice in the management of peatland habitats. Research into alternative growing media for use in horticulture, pioneered by Carlile in conjunction with William Sinclair Horticulture, contributed to development of market-leading brand New Horizon.
Our research on the hydro-ecology of restored wetlands has had impact through i) Changing the practices of conservation Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) in wetland habitat restoration and monitoring. This has been achieved by re-framing approaches to restoration as `open-ended' rather than `prescriptive'; and by producing a clear and accessible new guideline document on how to monitor open-ended, landscape-scale wetland restoration projects; ii) Building capacity for NGOs in biodiversity monitoring through running 44 workshops for volunteers on species identification; iii) Challenging conventional conservation wisdoms on approaches to habitat restoration through debate with stakeholder groups; iv) Increasing the influence of conservation NGOs and government agencies by providing them with a new toolkit for measuring the ecosystem services of restored wetlands.
This case study describes the impact of the research of the Centre for Earth and Ecosystem Responses to Environmental Change (CEEREC), MMU, on the protection and restoration of native ecosystems and upland semi-natural habitats that are affected by nitrogen pollution. CEEREC investigates the harm caused by nitrogen pollution to a range of semi-natural habitats. We also explore the impact of historic pollution in upland Britain and the potential for recovery through ecological restoration. Our research has informed evidence-based changes to UK, EU and US emission control policy and on the mitigation and restoration methods (e.g. `BeadaMoss™) of pollution affected landscapes.
Bournemouth University's (BU) pioneering analytical method of mapping ecosystem services and their associated values has led to significant impacts on environmental policy, planning and implementation at a global scale. Research informed the Convention of Biodiversity's (CBD) strategic plan for 2011-20 and its target to restore 15% of degraded ecosystems. Planned delivery of this target employs the use of Forest Landscape Restoration (FLR); an approach developed, tested and refined though BU research. Delivery using this method is already underway, with 50 million hectares committed by individual countries. Such restoration efforts have wide-reaching benefits to people and the environment, including carbon storage and increased biodiversity.
A major requirement for national conservation strategies within the EU is to ensure that priority habitats for conservation within their domain are in "favourable" condition (i.e. compliance with Council Directive 92/43/EEC on the Conservation of Natural Habitats and of Wild Fauna and Flora). In order to achieve this there is an increasing need to provide sound evidence-based advice. This is especially needed in cultural landscapes (grassland, heaths and moors) which were created and maintained by human activity. Marrs' group has led the field in providing evidence-based advice on management of both lowland heaths/upland moors for over 30 years using results from (a) regional-scale, structured-surveys, (b) extensive, long-term, manipulative-experiments and (c) ecosystem modelling. Outcomes have helped frame policy and guide good-practice by conservation practitioners, especially in the area of prescribed burning of moorlands.
The Mikoko Pamoja project uses carbon credits for conservation and development in Africa. It is one outcome of Edinburgh Napier University's (ENU) work on mangrove ecology which has local, national and international impacts. With public and private support, the project has recruited >140 international volunteers, trained 46 African scientists, and funded development including schools and pumps. It is pioneering community control of mangroves using new legal instruments and informing the national management plan. A regional forum founded by the team facilitates international networking. The work has been highlighted by the United Kingdom (UK) Department for International Development as good practice and has generated ACES (Association for Coastal Ecosystem Services), a new charity.