The UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology (UKCEH) is set to host an online roundtable on Wednesday, 25 February 2026, from 10:00 am to 11:00 am. The event, titled “Biochar-Peat Innovation Roundtable: Turning UK lowland peat soils from major GHG source to long-term sink,” tackles one of the UK’s most significant environmental challenges: the greenhouse gas emissions from drained lowland peat soils.

Drained peatlands currently represent the UK’s largest terrestrial source of emissions. This event explores a promising solution—combining permanent rewetting (paludiculture) with biocharBiochar is a carbon-rich material created from biomass decomposition in low-oxygen conditions. It has important applications in environmental remediation, soil improvement, agriculture, carbon sequestration, energy storage, and sustainable materials, promoting efficiency and reducing waste in various contexts while addressing climate change challenges. More application. The goal is to reverse the current trajectory, transforming these landscapes from carbon sources back into durable carbon sinks.

The roundtable will bring together researchers, regulators, industry leaders, and carbon credit standards bodies to discuss critical barriers to adoption. Key topics include:

• Carbon Crediting & Permanence: Re-evaluating stability thresholds for biochar in anoxic peat conditions.

• Regulation: Addressing current restrictions on spreading materials on waterlogged soils.

• Incentives: Ensuring fair returns for farmers and land managers who take on operational risks.

• System Considerations: Navigating site heterogeneity, heritage concerns, and public trust.

This free event is essential for policymakers, land managers, researchers, and environmental NGOs dedicated to peatland restoration and carbon dioxide removal (CDR). It represents a crucial step toward evolving the regulatory and economic frameworks needed for credible, long-term climate action in the UK.

Registration is now open via Eventbrite.