June 08, 2026 - 181 views
Peatlands across North Wales could play a crucial role in tackling climate change, boosting biodiversity and reducing flood risks, as experts from across the UK gather in Wales for a major conservation conference this week.
More than 400 delegates are attending the three-day IUCN UK Peatland Programme’s “Peatlands Under Pressure” conference in Swansea from June 9, highlighting both the challenges facing peatlands and the progress being made to restore them.
While much of the spotlight will fall on restoration projects across Wales, the event also shines a light on the importance of North Wales’ upland peatlands, including those within the Eryri (Snowdonia) landscape, where damaged peat bogs are being restored to lock away carbon and support wildlife.
Peatlands cover just four per cent of Wales’ land area but store around 30 per cent of the nation’s land-based carbon, making them one of the country’s most valuable natural resources in the fight against climate change.
Opening the conference, Welsh Government Minister for Rural Resilience and Sustainability, Llyr Gruffydd said peatlands demonstrate why nature-based solutions are so important.
He said they are among Wales’ most important natural assets, helping to support biodiversity while also reducing flood and wildfire risks.
Natural Resources Wales says around 90 per cent of Welsh peatlands have been damaged, leading to the release of greenhouse gases. However, the National Peatland Action Programme has already restored more than 3,600 hectares during its first five years and is now aiming to significantly increase that work.
NRW’s Strategic Projects Lead, Mannon Lewis, said there is an urgent need to repair degraded peatlands across Wales and ensure they continue to provide environmental benefits for future generations.
Topics being discussed at the conference include climate change, wildfires, land management, community engagement and sustainable uses for wet peatland habitats.
The event comes as conservation organisations continue restoration work on peat bogs across North Wales, where healthy peatlands are increasingly recognised as a key tool in helping communities adapt to a changing climate while protecting some of the region’s most treasured landscapes and wildlife habitats.
