England has extended its ban on burning in peat bogs, in a move scientists call critical to restoring the country’s “rainforests of the North.”
England extended its ban on burning in peat bogs on September 9, 2025, protecting an area the size of Devon from a practice that releases vast stores of carbon and destroys fragile ecosystems. The new rules, taking effect on September 30, now cover 676,628 hectares of deep peat, up from 222,000 previously, and aim to safeguard some of the nation’s most important natural carbon sinks.
For decades, controlled burning in peat bogs has been used to manage grouse shooting estates by promoting heather growth, providing food and cover for red grouse. But this traditional land-management method has come at an immense ecological cost. Burning dries out peat soils, releasing carbon stored for thousands of years and eroding habitats vital to birds, insects, and rare plants.
Under the expanded regulations, England seeks to protect its globally significant peatlands, often called the “lungs of the Earth,” for their unmatched ability to absorb and store carbon more efficiently than forests. While trees sequester carbon during growth, peatlands can lock it underground for millennia. When damaged or burned, however, these same ecosystems release carbon dioxide back into the atmosphere, worsening the climate crisis.
The extended ban follows a 2025 government consultation and scientific review that redefined “deep peat” from 40 to 30 centimeters in depth. That change brings more land under protection and aligns UK policy with the latest ecological research on how peat forms and functions. Officials have likened England’s peatlands to “the country’s Amazon Rainforest,” underscoring their importance for carbon storage, biodiversity, and flood control.
Peatlands perform multiple ecosystem services, purifying water, supporting wildlife, and shielding communities from floods. Yet around 80 percent of England’s peatlands remain degraded or dried, releasing rather than storing carbon. Burning in peat bogs accelerates this decline and worsens air quality by releasing fine particulates into the atmosphere, which are linked to respiratory and cardiovascular disease. Smoke from moorland fires can drift into nearby cities, such as Manchester, Sheffield, and Leeds, posing a nationwide health risk.
Under the updated rules, any prescribed burning must now be licensed and justified by ecological or safety necessity, such as wildfire prevention in extreme conditions. Applicants must demonstrate that no alternative management method is viable and submit a plan to phase out burning entirely. The intent is clear: burning should become a last resort, not a standard practice.
England’s peatlands represent some of the world’s rarest ecosystems, forming 13% of global blanket bogs and storing over three billion tonnes of carbon, more than the combined forests of the UK, France, and Germany. When peat burns or dries, carbon escapes into the air, contributing to global warming. Restoring and rewetting peatlands helps reverse that process, making landscapes naturally fire-resistant and drought-resilient.
The ban also brings local benefits. Less burning in peat bogs means cleaner air, healthier water, and reduced flood risk. Peat soils act like giant sponges, soaking up rainfall and releasing it slowly; when dry, they lose this ability, increasing the risk of flooding downstream. Protecting these wetlands, therefore, serves the interests of both wildlife and public safety.
See also: UK Peat Ban: Carnivorous Plants Can Be Grown Without Peat
Environmental groups and conservation organizations have welcomed the decision, emphasizing that stronger protections will improve air quality, help stabilize water supplies, and strengthen the natural carbon cycle. They note that communities near upland moors, such as those around Sheffield, Manchester, and Hebden Bridge, have long endured smoke, flood risks, and other impacts tied to routine burning practices. Analysts also note that safeguarding peatlands is becoming increasingly critical as heavier rainfall and flooding intensify under climate change, with potential consequences for household insurance coverage and infrastructure.
Research consistently shows that burned moorlands emit more greenhouse gases and experience more intense wildfires than restored or rewetted areas. Healthy peatlands retain moisture, prevent bare-soil exposure, and naturally suppress fire. A 2025 Natural England review confirmed that halting managed burning is essential for protecting biodiversity, carbon reserves, and water systems.
The revised definition of deep peat expands protection to previously excluded landscapes and begins reversing historic environmental losses such as at Kielder Forest, where 25,000 hectares of peatland were once converted to forestry. These unique ecosystems support golden plovers, curlews, dragonflies, adders, and distinctive moss species found only in the British uplands. When rewetted and restored, they return to vibrant, living landscapes.
The expansion of the peat-burning ban is part of England’s wider environmental restoration strategy, alongside milestones such as the first release of wild beavers in 400 years, a new national forest stretching from the Cotswolds to the Mendips, and a £10 billion waste reform initiative. Scotland is advancing similar protections through its Wildlife Management and Muirburn Bill, marking a coordinated UK effort to safeguard peatlands for future generations.
