Wetland restoration a route to lower carbon
Greater involvement in wetland creation by quarry firms when considering restoration schemes could help lock away large amounts of carbon to mitigate the effects of climate change, say conservationists.
The Wetland Vision Partnership, officially launched yesterday, has called on quarry firms to help in its vision of growing English wetland over the next 50years to lower carbon entering the atmosphere, protect wildlife and reduce flood risks.
England has lost 90% of its wetland in the last 1,000years, the partnership of the RSPB, Wildlife Trusts, Natural England, English Heritage and the Environment Agency states, much of it since the industrial revolution.
Alastair Burn, Natural England’s freshwater specialist, told MQR that quarry firms had a substantial part to play in re-introducing wetlands and that there may be money available to help out the right schemes.
He said: “We have allocated £2million a year over the next three years for projects to target the creation and restoration of wetland. We will be working through local biodiversity action groups and I encourage firms to contact them.
“Although Wetland Vision has a national overview, this is reached by regional initiatives. Firms should work with local groups, tell them they want to work with us to help meet targets and say how they could use any funds.”
The Partnership has drawn up maps illustrating the loss of wetlands in England. They show where wetlands once were, the fragments which remain and the potential opportunities for creating and restoring wetlands in areas of mineral extraction.
The initial target areas will be the Meres and Mosses of the West Midlands, the fens of South Lincolnshire, and the peatlands of the Humberhead levels. Click here to visit the website to download the maps and technical information.
The Wetland Vision Partnership, officially launched yesterday, has called on quarry firms to help in its vision of growing English wetland over the next 50years to lower carbon entering the atmosphere, protect wildlife and reduce flood risks.
England has lost 90% of its wetland in the last 1,000years, the partnership of the RSPB, Wildlife Trusts, Natural England, English Heritage and the Environment Agency states, much of it since the industrial revolution.
Alastair Burn, Natural England’s freshwater specialist, told MQR that quarry firms had a substantial part to play in re-introducing wetlands and that there may be money available to help out the right schemes.
He said: “We have allocated £2million a year over the next three years for projects to target the creation and restoration of wetland. We will be working through local biodiversity action groups and I encourage firms to contact them.
“Although Wetland Vision has a national overview, this is reached by regional initiatives. Firms should work with local groups, tell them they want to work with us to help meet targets and say how they could use any funds.”
The Partnership has drawn up maps illustrating the loss of wetlands in England. They show where wetlands once were, the fragments which remain and the potential opportunities for creating and restoring wetlands in areas of mineral extraction.
The initial target areas will be the Meres and Mosses of the West Midlands, the fens of South Lincolnshire, and the peatlands of the Humberhead levels. Click here to visit the website to download the maps and technical information.
