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Overview
Peat is a natural material made of partially decomposed plants that have accumulated over thousands of years in waterlogged, oxygen-poor wetlands called peatlands.
In New Brunswick, peat is owned by the landowner. Most commercially viable peat resources are located on Crown land and are regulated under the Quarriable Substances Act, which governs exploration, extraction and site reclamation. Peat is widely used in horticulture and agriculture as a growing medium and soil amendment because it improves moisture retention and soil structure.
Extensive research conducted between 1975 and 1983 mapped and analyzed over 800 peatlands, creating a detailed database that has supported the development of the province’s peat industry.
The map shows the distribution of peatlands in New Brunswick. Peatlands cover approximately 140,000 hectares, representing about 2% of New Brunswick's land area.
Peatland reclamation
The Crown Peat Policy (PDF 223 KB) says that peat extraction sites must be restored after extraction. Alternatively, sites may be reclaimed for another approved land use. The most common restoration method is the moss-layer transfer technique, developed through research by the Peatland Ecology Research Group, which helps re-establish peat-forming vegetation and ecosystem functions. Detailed guidance on this process is available in the Peatland Restoration Guide (PDF 3 MB). Lease holders are required to provide a reclamation security as outlined in the Crown Peat Policy.
Acquisition of rights
Peat Exploration Licence
A Peat Exploration Licence grants the holder the exclusive right to explore a specified area and apply for a peat lease. Licences are issued for up to two years and may be extended for up to two additional terms.
Only one licence can be held at a time, and licence holders must complete a minimum amount of work each year and submit all collected data to the provincial government.
Licences for area greater than 40 ha are awarded through a public tender process, where registered companies submit proposals that are evaluated based on set criteria, though smaller peatlands (under 40 hectares) may be applied for at any time and may not be required to go through a public tender at the Minister’s discretion. Successful applicants may be granted a licence, and results are published by the government within about 90 days.
Peat lease
A peat lease allows the holder to extract peat from Crown land and can be applied for by a holder of a Peat Exploration Licence by submitting detailed plans for development, drainage and site reclamation.
Leases are issued for up to 10 years and may be renewed provided the lease holder remains in compliance with lease conditions. Before approval, applicants must provide thorough information about how the site will be developed, how environmental impacts like water discharge and dust will be managed, and how the land will be reclaimed after use.
Lease holders must also report on how much peat is extracted regardless of whether any peat has been removed during the period and pay royalties twice a year, due on or before July 20 for the January to June period, and January 20 for the July to December period. Upon application, the provincial government can issue renewals, modifications, and transfers (with approval) or cancel a lease if conditions are not met.
Industry activity
Most peat extraction activities occur in the northeastern part of the province, particularly within the Acadian Peninsula and the Baie-Sainte-Anne regions. Information on all Crown licences and leases can be found in the provincial peat industry map (PDF 333 KB) or the peat industry review (PDF 135 KB)
Fees
| Description | Fee ($ CAD) |
| Peat Exploration Licence Application | 100.00 |
| Peat Lease Application | 50.00 |
| Peat Lease Annual Land Rental per area leased | 5.00 / ha |
| Peat Lease Renewal | 50.00 |
| Peat Lease Transfer, Reduction, Subdivision, Amalgamation | 50.00 |
| Royalty: – ordinary peat – value-added peat | 0.10 / bale 0.06 / bale |