The Use of Peat

Introduction

The Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management (CIWEM) is an independent professional body representing over 12,000 environmental professionals. CIWEM's agreed purpose is to develop and promote better and integrated management of the environment; to foster a deeper understanding of water and environmental issues and to enhance the quality of people's lives. This is achieved through CIWEM's Royal Charter, education, training and professional development; dissemination of information; conferences and events; research and publications; contact with Government agencies and other bodies, partnerships with other organisations and the publication of Policy Position Statements (PPS).

Purpose

The purpose of this PPS is to promote this lnstitution's views on the environmental damage caused by the unsustainable extraction and the use of peat and to encourage the use of alternative renewable resources.

Background

Peat has become a mainly non-renewable natural resource within the UK and Republic of Ireland and significant demand has depleted the source of supply. In the Republic of Ireland 95% of peat is burnt in electricity power stations. On a global scale it may be considered more renewable but importing peat into the UK and Eire from abroad, over longer distances, involves the consumption of large amounts of non-renewable fossil fuels and should not be encouraged.

The use of peat as a domestic fuel and as construction material can be traced back thousands of years. However, the scale of use was comparatively low, contained within small communities and had little environmental impact. It is only over the last forty years that its properties as a growing and packaging medium for the horticultural, agricultural and related industries has led to extraction and use on a massive scale. (Originally use in horticulture was to find a use for the waste peat overlying burnable peat). The consequent impact on peat reserves, the wildlife they support, the landscape quality and wider environmental considerations has been irreparable in some cases.

Key Issues

CIWEM believes that, wherever practicable, we should maximise the use of renewable resources. Peat extraction may involve the destruction of natural habitats and peat reserves which are often valuable sites of scientific interest. CIWEM supports the protection of such sites.

CIWEM welcomes the efforts of the Peat Producers Association (PPA) to establish codes of operation to minimise the damage to the environment. Restoration of damaged sites to a natural habitat should be a requirement of the industry the PPA represents.

CIWEM recognises that to be efficient and economic, a significant amount of plant production requires a non-soil based growing medium. At present peat often provides the best option for such a medium. This view is supported by the research and development conducted on the use of peat and other materials as a growing medium by respected horticulture research establishments.

The use of peat as a mulch, for the improvement of soil structure, or as a packaging material cannot be supported as there are alternative waste or renewable materials for this purpose.

In the interests of sustainability and environmental protection, and renewable alternatives (preferably locally sourced) should be sought to replace peat as a plant growing medium.

CIWEM recognises the contribution made in the UK by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAFF), Horticulture Research International, the Horticultural Development Council and producers to develop alternatives. This Institution believes that the building of a fund of knowledge on the use of any alternative must be continued and the further research and development in this area are necessary.

Conclusions

CIWEM calls on those industries which use peat, for whatever purpose, to find renewable alternative resources. To assist those industries the Institution urges continued research into the development of environmentally acceptable alternatives to peat.

CIWEM urges the urgent restoration of damaged peat reserves and that those companies which extract peat contribute to the cost of such restoration.

CIWEM urges the Government to protect those peat reserves that are deemed to be scientifically and/or environmentally important through existing legislation or new legislation where current measures do not provide the proper protection.

CIWEM urges MAFF to engage in a public awareness campaign which will lead to a better understanding of all the issues relating to the use of peat and the environmental damage commercial extraction is causing.

January 2001

Note:- CIWEM Policy Position Statements (PPS) represents the Institution's views on issues at a particular point in time. It is accepted that situations change as research provides new evidence. It should be understood, therefore, that CIWEM PPS's are under constant review, that previously held views may alter and lead to revised PPS's