Evaluating the carbon costs of UK blanket peatland restoration

Brennand, Jack ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4441-4139 , Barker, Jane ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0003-0109-511X , Manns, Helen ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5552-4782 and Carr, Simon ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4487-3551 (2025) Evaluating the carbon costs of UK blanket peatland restoration. Carbon Management, 16 (1). p. 2574026.

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Abstract

Peatland restoration is recognised as a key nature-based solution to the climate crisis. While post-restoration carbon benefits are widely emphasised, carbon emissions generated during restoration remain unquantified. Increasing reliance on private financing through mechanisms like the IUCN UK Peatland Code mean these emissions could significantly affect the quantification of Pending Issuance Units (PIUs) and Peatland Carbon Units (PCUs) for voluntary carbon markets. Using a Life-Cycle Assessment (LCA) approach, this study evaluates the carbon costs of common UK blanket peatland restoration interventions, including rewetting and revegetation techniques. Results reveal substantial variability: interventions reliant on exotic materials and helicopter transport produced the highest emissions, with some emitting ~277 times more carbon than others. Case study analysis shows that intervention choice can delay net carbon benefits by up to ~8 years, challenging the adequacy of uniform “risk buffers” applied under the IUCN UK Peatland Code. Conversely, locally sourced materials and low-emission installation methods substantially reduce carbon costs and improve the robustness of carbon credit claims. These findings highlight the importance of integrating carbon cost considerations into restoration planning to increase investor confidence in voluntary carbon markets and strengthen the role of peatland restoration in achieving climate mitigation goals.

Item Type:	Article
Journal / Publication Title:	Carbon Management
Publisher:	Taylor and Francis
ISSN:	1758-3012
Departments:	Institute of Science and Environment > Forestry and Conservation Centre for National Parks and Protected Areas (CNPPA)
Additional Information:	All authors are of the Institute of Science and Environment at the University of Cumbria, UK: Jack Richard Brennand is a Doctoral Researcher; Dr (Annabel) Jane Barker is Professor of Practice with CNPPA and director of Barker and Bland; Dr Helen Manns, PhD, is Director of the Institute of Science and Environment; Dr Simon James Carr, PhD, is Associate Professor in Geography. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Depositing User:	Anna Lupton
Date Deposited:	10 Nov 2025 10:46
Last Modified:	10 Nov 2025 11:00
URI:	https://insight.cumbria.ac.uk/id/eprint/9179

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