Moorland conservation programme on the South Pennine Moors, UK (MoorLIFE)

MoorLife project takes place on the South Pennine Moors special area of conservation (SAC) included in the Natura 2000 network. This site is important for active blanket bog and represents the most south-easterly occurrence of the habitat in Europe. In addition, the project area forms part of two SPAs (Special Protection Areas according to the Birds Directive) – whose Annex 1 species include golden plover, dunlin, short-eared owl and merlin – all of which are dependent on blanket bog for breeding and/or feeding. The conservation status of the site has, over the years, been under threat due to almost two centuries of heavy sulphate and nitrate pollution leading to the destruction or severe depletion of the essential sphagnum moss cover of these moors. Consequently fire damage, of which there is a history of severe and repeated events, has led to more extreme levels of erosion than if the moorlands had remained sphagnum rich during this time. Even with a much reduced pollution load, erosion is now so widespread that not only is it difficult for sphagnum to become re-established but even those areas which have managed to retain sphagnum cover remain under continued threat of further erosion and new fires. The restoration of the favourable condition of the site therefore depends on the re-establishment of a sphagnum rich bog surface. The project is stabilising damaged peat to stop it being lost and re-introducing vegetation to create a healthy, sustainable active blanket bog habitat (an EU Priority Habitat). It takes into account potential negative impacts from climate change.