A REPORT calling for better management of natural resources has been welcomed by a local wildlife group.

The Managing the Land in a Changing Climate report, from the Committee on Climate Change, this week said carbon-rich peat soils in the uplands urgently needed to be restored and called for the condition of wildlife habitats to be improved and for their size to be increased.

The Yorkshire Wildlife Trust said it was working with the Yorkshire Peat Partnership to advocate the restoration of peatlands and help to secure carbon stores worth billions of pounds against the risk of loss due to climate change and damaging land practices.

Dr Rob Stoneman, Trust chief executive, said: “The report explicitly recognises that wildlife is good for people. Conserving wildlife and the habitats that wildlife lives in is one of the ways in which we can both slow down the rate of climate change and adapt to that change.

“In particular, the report recognises the crucial role of peatlands. YWT is leading the charge to restore our upland peat bogs to both protect their wonderful wildlife and also ensure they can continue to suck damaging carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere, laying it down as peat and out of harm’s way.”

Dr Stoneman also said the Government “must up the ante in response to this report”.

For more information, go to ywt.org.uk