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Peatland Erosion and Restoration for Carbon and Water Ecosystem Services

Summary of the impact

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).

Submitting Institution

University of Manchester

Unit of Assessment

Geography, Environmental Studies and Archaeology

Summary Impact Type

Environmental

Research Subject Area(s)

Earth Sciences: Physical Geography and Environmental Geoscience
Environmental Sciences: Ecological Applications, Environmental Science and Management

Paying for Nature's Services: Developing the UK Peatland Code

Summary of the impact

This case study shows how research on ecosystem service governance is directly supporting the Government's promotion of Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES) schemes. These aim to pay for nature's services through the involvement of business and the wider public. Specifically, research has informed the development of a pilot UK Peatland Code to stimulate private investment in peatland restoration. The pilot Code, which was published for public feedback in June (and launched in September 2013 by the Environment Minister), sets out guidance and quality standards for sustainable business investment in peatlands. It has implications for chartered surveyors, planners and others advising clients on future land use and income generating opportunities. According to Defra's Deputy Director of Sustainable Land and Rural Evidence and Analysis, lessons from this research have "made a significant contribution" towards Defra's PES agenda, "provid[ing] us with valuable lessons for the development of PES schemes in the UK" (Testimonial 1).

Submitting Institution

Birmingham City University

Unit of Assessment

Architecture, Built Environment and Planning

Summary Impact Type

Environmental

Research Subject Area(s)

Environmental Sciences: Environmental Science and Management
Biological Sciences: Ecology

Deriving evidence-based land management practices for heathland and moorland conservation

Summary of the impact

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.

Submitting Institution

University of Liverpool

Unit of Assessment

Earth Systems and Environmental Sciences

Summary Impact Type

Environmental

Research Subject Area(s)

Environmental Sciences: Ecological Applications, Environmental Science and Management
Biological Sciences: Ecology

Case 5 - Creating sustainable uplands through stakeholder-academic co-learning and policy influence

Summary of the impact

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.

Submitting Institution

University of Leeds

Unit of Assessment

Geography, Environmental Studies and Archaeology

Summary Impact Type

Environmental

Research Subject Area(s)

Environmental Sciences: Ecological Applications, Environmental Science and Management

The influence of MMU research on protecting and restoring ecosystems affected by air pollution.

Summary of the impact

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.

Submitting Institution

Manchester Metropolitan University

Unit of Assessment

Earth Systems and Environmental Sciences

Summary Impact Type

Environmental

Research Subject Area(s)

Environmental Sciences: Environmental Science and Management
Biological Sciences: Ecology, Plant Biology

Case 1 - Peatland catchment research on water colour yields economic benefits for the water industry

Summary of the impact

The water industry sources significant drinking waters from peatland catchments and faces major water discolouration problems due to dissolved organic carbon (DOC) caused by peat degradation. DOC has to be removed to meet strictly regulated drinking water standards and to eliminate disinfection by-products. One proven, but expensive industry solution uses Magnetic Ion Exchange (MIEX) at treatment works. Research at the School of Geography (SoG) investigated catchment management as a potentially longer term, more sustainable treatment solution that addresses the problem at source. Yorkshire Water (YW) has subsequently adopted recommended practices, and has invested [text removed for publication] in catchment solutions yielding wider environmental benefits.

Submitting Institution

University of Leeds

Unit of Assessment

Geography, Environmental Studies and Archaeology

Summary Impact Type

Environmental

Research Subject Area(s)

Earth Sciences: Physical Geography and Environmental Geoscience
Environmental Sciences: Ecological Applications, Environmental Science and Management

PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTOR INVESTMENT IN CARBON CAPTURE AND STORAGE TECHNOLOGIES

Summary of the impact

Impact: Public and private sector investment in technologies for Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS), including a major UK Government CCS Commercialisation Programme.

Significance and reach: In the 2010 Spending Review the UK government re-affirmed a £1billion commitment to CCS funding, which since 2012 has been referred to as a CCS Commercialisation Programme. [text removed for publication]. The European Commission have placed CCS pipelines into 2012 infrastructure package negotiations, with allocated funds of ~ €2.5billion.

Underpinned by: Research into the sub-surface storage of carbon, undertaken at the University of Edinburgh (1999 onwards).

Submitting Institution

University of Edinburgh

Unit of Assessment

Earth Systems and Environmental Sciences

Summary Impact Type

Environmental

Research Subject Area(s)

Engineering: Environmental Engineering, Resources Engineering and Extractive Metallurgy

Quantifying biodiversity's role in REDD+

Summary of the impact

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.

Submitting Institution

University of Cambridge

Unit of Assessment

Biological Sciences

Summary Impact Type

Environmental

Research Subject Area(s)

Environmental Sciences: Environmental Science and Management
Biological Sciences: Other Biological Sciences
Medical and Health Sciences: Public Health and Health Services

Preserving carbon-rich tropical peatlands and forests for societal benefit

Summary of the impact

In the REF impact period, our research on carbon-rich tropical peat swamp forests in Indonesia has been used to:

  • Shape EU, USA and Indonesian policy on land-use and biofuels
  • Underpin a major peatland UN REDD rehabilitation project in Indonesia
  • Provide input into UN World Meteorological Organization (WMO) publications underpinning a €75 million European Space Agency Climate Change project
  • Contribute to development of robust IPCC emission factors for drained tropical peatlands
  • Help a large multi-national plantation company to reduce its environmental impact
  • Inform campaigns by environmental pressure groups (Greenpeace and WWF)

Submitting Institution

University of Leicester

Unit of Assessment

Geography, Environmental Studies and Archaeology

Summary Impact Type

Environmental

Research Subject Area(s)

Environmental Sciences: Environmental Science and Management
Biological Sciences: Ecology, Other Biological Sciences

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