RICS has responded to an International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) consultation on the pilot phase of the UK Peatland Code. The pilot code is designed to develop metrics for measuring the greenhouse gas emission reduction benefits of restoration.

It was developed through research funding from Defra and Natural England.

The pilot phase is expected to run from September 2013 for a year. it is intended to provide an open, credible and verifiable basis for business sponsorship of peatland restoration projects in the UK. 

The code will operate in a similar way to the successful UK Woodland Carbon Code, ensuring that restoration delivers tangible greenhouse gas emission reductions alongside other environmental benefits. 

RICS welcomed the pilot project and and offered to contribute further to the development of the pilot phase of the project via our expert rural members.

Read more on the full RICS response.