A peatland restoration programme would have costs associated with the restoration actions and with compensation to land owners in case activities such as grazing need to be reduced.

Because public budgets are tight, those costs would have to be funded by the tax payer through an annual tax to a Peatland Trust. This Peatland Trust would be managed by independent body of scientists, government agencies, farmers and land owners organisations, nature conservation and community representatives.

The peatland restoration programme and the tax would start this year and be in place for the next 15 years (until 2030). The tax would have to be paid by all tax payers.

Different alternatives of a restoration programme can vary in the cost to the taxpayer depending on the restoration intensity and effort required.