IUCN UK Peatland Programme along with other environmental organisations welcomed the publication of the Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) National Peatland Plan – the consultation on the future of Scotland’s peatland. SNH are seeking views on this important draft plan and is seen as fantastic progress towards protecting and enhancing Scotland’s peatlands.
For the first time, Scotland will have a strategy to secure the sustainable use, management and restoration of peatlands – an internationally important type of habitat and vital natural capital asset. Compiling the strategy involved input from a wide range of stakeholders, and involved drawing on the expertise of the IUCN Peatland Programme.
Head of Policy and Planning for the Scottish Wildlife Trust, Dr. Maggie Keegan, said: ““Healthy peatlands store carbon, provide clean water, aid flood prevention and provide crucial habitat for plants and animals including bog rosemary, round-leaved sundew, greenshank, golden plover and dunlin. Sadly many of Scotland’s peatlands - including its lowland raised bogs - have become degraded by draining, overgrazing, burning or commercial peat extraction so this plan is a step in right direction to reversing past damage. The trick will be to ensure that there is adequate funding for restoration in the long term so that the benefits they provide can be enjoyed by future generations.”
Stuart Housden, Director RSPB Scotland, said: “RSPB Scotland has long worked to help bring peatlands into good condition, particularly at Scotland’s flagship site in the Flow Country. We look forward to working together with SNH and other partners on this vital plan to guide widescale peatland protection, management and restoration in Scotland to 2030. Bringing Scotland’s peatlands into good condition has proven environmental benefits alongside economic opportunities for rural communities and health benefits as wonderful outdoor places to enjoy. We hope this plan will enable a wide partnership of action with the right level of Government and private funding to ensure success. Scotland needs a long-term strategic approach to restoration of these habitats in order to ensure the greatest multiple benefits are achieved from bringing our damaged peatland back into good condition. We hope that the final plan will remove existing barriers and ensure the realisation of these ambitions, whilst enabling peatland restoration to play its part in assisting Scotland to meet its climate change targets.”
To find out more about SNH and Scotland's National Peatland Plan please click here.
