Peatland restoration could make a considerable contribution in achieving national emission targets and is a vital part of Scotland’s strategy in moving towards net zero emissions. However, there is currently limited available information on the (monetary) costs and benefits of peatland restoration, which is important to inform project appraisals and policy development.
In this project, we characterized and analyzed peatland restoration activities and costs, using data collected as part of the grant application and reporting process for the Peatland Action Programme (PAP) in Scotland. The most recent analysis (2022) estimates median restoration cost per hectare to be £1026 based on actually incurred costs. Restoration costs are found to vary depending on the restoration activities implemented, as well as on the initial peatland condition. We also show how reported restoration costs and activities are distributed across Scotland.
Stage
Work in ProgressDirectory of Expertise
Purpose
Peatland restoration is increasingly perceived by policy and decision makers in the UK, across Europe and the world, as a relatively cost-effective way to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions. Evidence and knowledge of the costs and benefits of restoration is therefore crucial in informing policy decisions aimed at mitigating climate change. In this context, this research aims to improve our knowledge of peatland restoration costs and factors affecting it, through the systematic collation of a database of restoration sites.
Information on the cost of peatland restoration is currently patchy and fragmented, and often based on limited data. Our work resulted in the creation of a database that we plan to continuously update as new information on costs related to the PAP becomes available. To the best of our knowledge, there is currently no comparable database available for the UK, and for peatlands - at least across regions with temperate climates.
The database used information collected as part of the Peatland Action Programme, funded by Scottish Government and administered by Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH), between 2016 and 2019. Data collection and analysis were performed with the support of researchers and analysts from the University of Leeds (Julia Martin-Ortega) and Scottish’s Natural Heritage (Mahboobeh Shirkhorshidi and Andrew McBride).
In 2022, 142 unique projects covering 323 restoration sites in Scotland, of which data from 300 sites was considered suitable for further analysis of restoration costs.
Results
Peatland restoration can be undertaken using a range of techniques; see ‘A comparative analysis of the costs and merits of different restoration methods’, ‘Data from the Peatland Action Programme and their use for evaluations of ecosystem benefits’, and in the PAP project resources.
We found peatland restoration costs vary depending on the restoration activities implemented, as well as on the initial peatland condition. 2020 results indicate that restoration costs per hectare (based on the completed forms) average £1227. In a 2021 update of results, average costs per hectare are estimated as £1878. In the most recent update (2022) of results, we find that mean costs per hectare remain similar in magnitude (£1896).
The calculated average costs are distorted by a small number of sites with a relatively high cost per hectare, therefore it is more informative to refer to the median cost, which is lower at £955 (2020), £1000 (2021) and $1026 (2022). Project management costs (excluding support offered through Peatland Action and its officers) and in-kind contributions are estimated to account on for 6-7% of total restoration costs (median estimate for 2022).
Restoration costs are higher in the presence of forest-to-bog restoration activities. The restoration cost per hectare on sites that are actively eroding and involve removal of scrub and forestry were also found to be higher than for sites without these characteristics.
For the purpose of this project, restoration activities were broadly categorized into the following five categories:
A) Ditch (grip) blocking;
B) Hag, gully and bare peat restoration;
C) Bunding;
D) Forest to bog restoration; and
E) Scrub removal.
In our 2020 analysis and our 2021 update, we separately considered information from two types of forms completed by applicants and grantees: application forms and final reporting forms.
Restoration costs were estimated by area of peatland restored. Costs included on-site restoration costs (directly linked to the implementation of restoration activities, such as ditch blocking), project management costs and, if applicable, in-kind costs.
Aside from costs, the database also includes information on the site’s characteristics (such as site use prior to restoration and potential site designations) and restoration activities proposed or undertaken. A descriptive analysis of the sites included in the database indicates that more than half of the restoration sites are either a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) or National Nature Reserve (NNR). In addition, in the updated 2021 database, in terms of their current use, deer management (49%) and rough grazing (41%) are the most frequently mentioned uses, followed by biodiversity conservation (39% of sites).
In line with previous work on restoration costs, we have found that restoration costs vary depending on restoration activity and initial condition of the peatland. Preliminary modelling results indicate that restoration cost per hectare is approximately twice as high in the presence of forest-to-bog restoration relative to the absence of such activities, and costs are higher in sites that are actively eroding and involve removal of scrub and forestry. However, more data is needed to confirm this trend, and to allow an appraisal of other factors explaining spatial variation of restoration costs.
Benefits
Our research provides a first analysis of what represents, to the best of our knowledge, the largest existing database on peatland restoration costs in the UK (and possibly internationally). The database can be used to inform planning and policy regarding the management of upland peatlands and assist with climate change mitigation.
Our analysis of restoration costs support conclusions from an earlier study. Overall, peatland restoration in Scotland will provide a range of benefits to society through storing carbon, regulating water flows and enhancing people’s connection to nature. The great degree of variation in restoration costs reinforces the need for a case-by-case evaluation of restoration in practice, and, in terms of research, the need for refined analysis based on a growing database.
This unique database was built thanks to the collaboration between Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC), the James Hutton Institute, the University of Leeds and the Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) Peatland Action coordination and data management team. Through this collaboration, forms to be filled by applicants and grantees were adjusted to allow meaningful data collection on restoration costs.
To our knowledge, systematic efforts to collect data on the costs of land-based environmental schemes in formats suitable for analysis are relatively scarce. Such data is, however, of interest to decision makers, organisations and researchers alike, and accompanies additional information on experiences of scheme participants. This project therefore also represents an opportunity for mutual learning regarding the process and highlights the benefits of collaboration to establish such evidence, given the differing needs and constraints faced by all parties.
Project Partners
Peatland Action, Scottish Natural Heritage
Professor Julia Martin-Ortega, University of Leeds
Documents
- The costs of peatland restoration – data & analysis update 2021
- The costs of peatland restoration – data & initial analysis 2020
- The cost of peatland restoration – framework
- The cost of peatland restoration – data and analysis 2022