The Scottish government has published its draft second report on proposals and policies (RPP2) for meeting Scotland's annual greenhouse gas emissions targets.
This includes proposals for conserving and restoring peatlands and a policy for peatland restoration benefits to be incorporated within Scottish Greenhouse gas accounting.
To read the Scottish government report please click here.
The report indicates that the potential benefits of peatland restoration could be at least 0.5 MtCO2e per year by 2027 if 21,000ha of peatland in Scotland is restored each year. Proposals for a Scotland Peatland Plan have also been announced. This will be produced by the Scottish Government in association with Scottish Natural Heritage to encourage partnerships in delivering peatland restoration.
Clifton Bain, Director of the IUCN UK Peatland Programme welcomed the proposals as a positive signal for peatlands and encouraged the Scottish Government to set these out as firm policies with targets and funding commitments. The IUCN UK Peatland Programme as a partnership can help in delivering an ambitious programme to restore peatlands. Through our work in developing consensus on peatland benefits, and working with the business community and land managers to encourage peatland projects, we believe tall peatlands can be brought into good condition, benefiting climate change and biodiversity. The results of our Inquiry into Peatlands highlighted a potential for over 1 million ha peatland to be in good condition or under restoration management by 2020.
The IUCN globally has given priority to peatland conservation and Scotland is now the home for an international group chaired by the IUCN UK Peatland Programme which will help showcase good practice examples of strategic peatland policy.
To download IUCN comment please click here
