The Open Inquiry held on 3 November in Edinburgh as part of the IUCN UK Peatland Programme Commission of Inquiry on Peatlands heard from peatland managers that restoring bogs can bring vital jobs to economically vulnerable and remote upland areas.
Norrie Russell, RSPB Forsinard Reserve Manager, said: “Our peatland management has tripled the number of jobs helping secure those previously onsite and visitor numbers have been shown to generate five full-time equivalent jobs in the local area.”
Clifton Bain, Director of the IUCN UK Peatland Programme, said: “We are getting clear signals that properly managed peatlands help ensure jobs and wider economic benefits as well as avoiding the cost to society from damaged peatland which releases carbon and contaminates water supplies.”
The Open Inquiry aims to investigate the steps needed to repair our important peatbogs and return them to a state where they remove carbon from the atmosphere and store it as peat.
ENDS
Media contact: Nicola McGovern, Scottish Wildlife Trust Tel: 0131 312 4742, Email: nmcgovern@swt.org.uk
This press release is distributed by Scottish Wildlife Trust on behalf of IUCN. Scottish Wildlife Trust is a stakeholding partner in IUCN and is providing a press office function for this project
Notes
- The IUCN (International Union for the Conservation of Nature) UK Peatland Programme exists to promote peatland restoration in the UK and advocates the multiple benefits of peatlands through partnerships, strong science, sound policy and effective practice. The work of the Peatland Programme is overseen by a coalition of environmental bodies including the Scottish Wildlife Trust, John Muir Trust, Yorkshire Wildlife Trust, RSPB, North Pennines AONB Partnership, Moors for the Future and the University of East London. The Programme is funded by the Peter De Haan Charitable Trust.
