Moorland is among the most unique habitats found on Earth. These precious ecosystems serve as biodiversity sanctuaries for a wealth of scarce and increasingly rare flora and fauna specially adapted to cool, waterlogged environments.
A moor can describe a peat bog or grassland rich in acidic soil. Generally, however, these predominantly upland landscapes are referred to as heathland.
Moorland is an important contributor to mitigating climate change. But ranching, afforestation, and overmanagement of land is putting vast expanses of this natural vegetation at risk.
In this gallery, we find out why these bleak, elevated, treeless landscapes matter so much, and list some of the plant life and wildlife that call moorland home. To learn more, continue reading.