High Peak MP Robert Largan has welcomed the announcement of a new Nature for Climate Peatland Grant Scheme to support the restoration of 35,000 hectares of degraded peatland in England, backed by over £50 million between 2021 and 2025.
The Environment Secretary, the Rt Hon George Eustace MP, has also unveiled a new world-leading target on species populations for 2030 aimed at halting species decline, as well as an action plan to treble tree planting by the end of this Parliament, backed by over £500 million of climate finance.
Three community forests will be created through a new Trees for Climate programme to enable the planting of 6,000 hectares of new woodland by 2025, building on the 500 hectares planted in the last year.
The Government will also ban sales of peat products by the end of this Parliament, subject to public consultation this year.
Robert Largan MP has long campaigned for the restoration of local peat moors, using his first ever question in Parliament to highlight the importance of the Nature for Climate Fund and moorland restoration. He also successfully campaigned for an increase in funding for local moorland restoration in the 2020 Budget.
Robert Largan MP commented:
“This is really welcome news. I have been noisily campaigning for the restoration of our local peat moors, which is vital for tackling climate change and for improving local water quality, helping to keep water bills down. It also increases biodiversity while reducing the risk of wildfire and flooding.
“The Peak District is unique, and we have a responsibility to protect and conserve it for future generations. These are really important steps forward.”
