Meet The Bogfather: Saving Peatlands to Battle Climate Change!

Dr Peter Jones, who is often called The Bogfather, has dedicated the last 30 years of his life to working in bogs, fens, and wetlands across Wales. His fascination with these unique landscapes began when he was just eight years old, during a rainy visit to Cors Caron, a national nature reserve. Now in his 60s, Dr Jones is still passionate about peatlands and spends much of his time studying and restoring them. Peatlands are incredibly important for the environment because they store a huge amount of carbon. In Wales, peatlands cover only 4 percent of the land but hold 30 percent of the country’s land-based carbon. Unfortunately, about 90 percent of these peatlands are damaged, which means they release greenhouse gases instead of storing them.

Healthy peatlands do much more than just store carbon. They help slow down water, which can prevent flooding, and they act as natural firebreaks during wildfires. As the climate changes, these benefits are becoming even more important. Dr Jones explains that peatlands are some of the last truly wild places in the UK, filled with interesting plants and animals. What makes peat so special is that it is made from the remains of plants that have not fully decomposed. Over time, peat can trap pollen, dust, and even volcanic ash, preserving a record of the past.

In the past, people did not see much value in peatlands. Many were drained for farming or planted with trees, and peat was often used as fuel because wood was scarce. This damage has made peatlands more likely to erode and lose even more carbon. Dr Jones and his team work with farmers and landowners to restore these areas. One of the key plants they use is sphagnum moss, which can hold up to 20 times its weight in water. This moss helps keep the peatland wet and allows new peat to form.

Dr Jones has a favorite plant in the peatlands: the fly orchid. This clever flower tricks male digger wasps into pollinating it by mimicking the scent of a female wasp. Healthy peatlands are home to many rare and threatened species, and restoring them helps protect this biodiversity. There are over 100 different ways to restore peatlands, such as blocking drains and replanting native vegetation. Peat grows very slowly, about one millimeter a year, so it can take a thousand years to form just one meter of peat.

Wales is now making a big effort to restore peatlands, aiming to fix about 1,800 hectares each year by 2030. Dr Jones believes that restoring peatlands is crucial for fighting climate change, but it is becoming more challenging as summers get drier. He is proud to be part of a larger community of scientists and conservationists working to protect these special places. Every peatland has its own unique history, and Dr Jones hopes that by restoring them, they will continue to help the environment for many years to come.