A Strategic Assessment of the Afforested Peat Resource in Wales

Findings and Recommendations

This report:

• Delivers an improved distribution map of the upland blanket peat and deep peat soils resource at the highest resolution.
• Includes an improved map of the distribution of afforested deep peats in Wales and ownership of forested land in Wales.
• Provides an overview of the likely impacts of peat forming factors and afforested peatland restoration and management on the biodiversity, hydrology and greenhouse gas (GHG) benefits.
• Develops national and field based assessment schemes based on rule based criteria, proxy factors and thresholds for the assessment of afforested peatland in Wales viable for restoration.
• Carries out a national GIS assessment identifying potential restoration areas in Wales.
• Tests the field-based assessment by ground truthing a number of sites in Wales.
• Provides relative costs of afforested peat restoration.