We strongly welcome this policy because protecting carbon stocks is critical to averting climate disaster. We urge that this policy does not focus solely on peatland but on all land-based carbon stocks (as set out in Natural England Research Report NERR094 which we note is one of the studies cited). Grassland (including urban green spaces), scrub, hedgerows etc all store carbon.
We would also reiterate the important distinction between a carbon sink (actively drawing down carbon from the atmosphere) and a carbon stock (carbon that is already locked away). It is vital to protect our carbon stocks even if they are not currently carbon sinks (see also our response under Climate Change - general
comments).