What are peatlands and why are they important?

Peatlands are a vital component of carbon storage, estimated to hold more than twice the amount of carbon that is contained within the Earth’s rainforests combined. This carbon is locked away in peat, organic material which has not been able to fully decompose due to the presence of waterlogged conditions, such as a bog. 87% of peatlands in the UK are degraded, the majority of which have been drained for the purposes of agriculture. This has resulted in the water table falling, which can cause the peat to become oxidised, shrink and ultimately release the carbon that it was once storing.

Peat coverage of an area can be determined by sampling the soil, typically achieved through coring. It is important to note that there are two types of peatland: upland and lowland. Upland peat typically forms due to consistently high amounts of rainfall falling on an area, keeping it saturated and allowing for peat formation. Lowland peat is slightly different, relying on the water table being high enough to prevent complete decomposition of organic material. Here at Exo, we specialise in surveys of lowland peatland.

Peat coring involves the use of a manual soil corer with specialist auger heads suitable for different soil types. This is then driven into the ground using a clockwise motion, collecting a sample in the auger head. This can then be pulled up and examined for composition of soil, or presence of peat. We can make conclusions about the types of soils present in the cores, the depths of each layer and even the depth at which the water table is present.

Here at Exo Environmental, we have extensive experience in conducting peat cores and other surveys associated with peatland restoration. We have conducted over 800 peat cores collectively as part of the Fens East Peatland Partnership (FEPP) project, as well as on behalf of Natural England and the Broads Authority. We know that peat is an important carbon store, but why spend so much time and effort conducting peatland surveys?

Peatland surveys are a vital part of the Peatland Code: a voluntary certification standard for UK peatland projects wishing to market the climate benefits of peatland restoration.

The purpose of the Peatland Code is to provide assurances to voluntary carbon market buyers that the climate benefits being sold are real, quantifiable, additional and permanent. The Peatland Code is the only UK Government-backed standard way to measure, validate and verify peatland carbon units in the UK. If you are a landowner, Exo Environmental can conduct peatland surveys which can determine peat coverage. This will ensure that the peat present is of eligible depth and confirm the pre-restoration (baseline) peatland condition, ultimately determining eligibility for the Peatland Code.

We are also able to conduct additional surveys relating to peatland restoration, including topographic assessments, as well as water table and water quality investigations. To measure water levels, we can use rust rods which are a cost-effective method which gauge the average water level over time. Dip Wells can be installed to check water level against the rust rods and allow for water quality to be quickly measured.

While most of our analysis is conducted in the field, we can make use of laboratory testing to ensure our surveying is as accurate as possible. Loss On Ignition (LOI) testing can identify the total organic content of soil, with soil which has an organic content of over 50% constituting as peat. Other parameters can also be determined such as carbon content and particle size distribution.