by staff reporter

Last updated at 10:50, Friday, 09 October 2009

Another £500,000 award has been made to restore historic peat bogs across parts of north Cumbria – which it is claimed will secure many jobs in rural areas hit by the recession.

Peat

The award recognises the pioneering restoration work in the North Pennine Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in the battle against climate change.

The latest cash award, a national flagship grant from Biffaward, brings the investment in the project – which covers an area the size of a small city – to £1.5m.

The cash goes to the County Durham Environmental Trust to cover work in Cumbria, County Durham and Northumberland.

Chris Woodley-Stewart, director of the AONB Partnership, said: “We are committed to restoring and conserving peatlands in the North Pennines AONB. The grant will allow us to restore these internationally important habitats at a landscape scale. It also presents a unique opportunity for us to raise awareness about the role of peatlands in reducing national and international carbon dioxide levels.”

The award will fund work to block drainage channels created over the last half a century, together with research into greater understanding of peatland restoration and its benefits.

Peatlands are growing in importance in the battle against climate change. Drying peat releases huge amounts of carbon – as much as 11 per cent of the world’s annual output. By restoring the North Pennines peatlands, this project is stopping the release of the carbon.

Rare plants and wildlife habitats will improve. Biodiversity will flourish by reversing degradation of peatlands caused by drainage channels.

The Partnership say jobs in rural areas will be created and sustained, which is especially welcome in areas which have been hardest hit by the recession. Recent studies show that market towns have seen unemployment rise by a third more than urban areas.

Debra Steadman, of RS Contracting Ltd in Alston, said: “Peatland restoration has allowed us to grow the business and invest locally – in equipment, in jobs and in training.”

First published at 05:17, Friday, 09 October 2009
Published by http://www.cumberlandnews.co.uk