International conservation and restoration of peatland and improved drinking water quality through peatland carbon sequestration research

Our research has impacted on UK and international policy on peatland/wetland conservation and restor-ation for climate change mitigation and water purification, by showing how peatlands function as a major global carbon sink and regulator of climate and water quality. Additionally, our discovery that peatland carbon release, from local to global scales, is controlled by a single enzyme system has provided a tool to prevent carbon loss from degraded peat. Our new methods have been implemented in peatland restoration projects by UK agencies and NGOs, benefiting carbon storage, biodiversity and landscapes; raising public awareness and improving UK water industry management leading to better water quality. For more information contact Prof Chris Freeman.