Deadline: 01-Sep-21
Natural England has launched the first round of Discovery Grants, as part of the Nature for Climate Peatland Grant Scheme, to help support the development of new projects which seek to restore peatland systems to a natural and healthy state across the country.
The Nature for Climate Peatland Grant Scheme is a great step towards reversing the current decline in England’s peatlands. The recently announced England Peat Action Plan also sets out a host of further actions they will take to ensure the peatlands are functioning healthily for the needs of the planet.
As England’s largest carbon store on land, peatlands play a vital role in trapping carbon, and also provide a wealth of wider benefits such as improved ecosystems and biodiversity, better water quality and natural flood management. However, only 13% of England’s peatlands are in a near natural state. These Discovery Grants provide applicants with the opportunity to receive financial support to develop ambitious restoration proposals, making a difference to England’s peatland habitats.
Funding Information
Through the Scheme, the Government intends to invest over £50 million in peat restoration and has pledged to restore approximately 35,000ha of peatland in England by the end of this Parliament. Accompanying the main Restoration Grants, the Discovery Grants are available for organisations to scope and develop sites for peatland restoration.
Applications for the Discovery Grant funding may include:
- developing new peat partnerships and projects and engaging new partners or landowners
- building capacity and capability in emerging peat partnerships
- exploring opportunities for private investment funding
- developing site understanding, including baseline monitoring, hydrological and ecological surveys or historic environment assessments
For more information, visit https://www.gov.uk/government/news/nature-for-climate-peatland-grant-scheme-discovery-grants-open-to-fund-the-development-of-restoration-projects
