02 February, 2023
Peatland ACTION marks first decade with new guide
Scotland’s pioneering Peatland ACTION programme has published a vital new source of information and guidance on peatland restoration as it marks its first decade.
The best practice guide to peatland restoration techniques has been compiled by NatureScot, Scotland’s nature agency, and is built on the shared experiences of the Peatland ACTION programme since its inception in 2012. As well as providing an overview of future restoration requirements in Scotland, it serves as a guide to the types of work that have already been undertaken over the past decade.
The guide - a technical compendium - includes novel techniques developed by the Peatland ACTION partnership, such as wave damming and zipping and new generation forest-to-bog restoration options. It includes information on the requirements for peatland restoration in Scotland and the potential means to achieve success, and paves the way towards a UK-wide set of principles.
NatureScot’s Peatland ACTION Programme Manager, Peter Hutchinson said: “Since 2012, Peatland ACTION has set over 35,000 ha of degraded peatland on the road to recovery realising huge benefits for climate change and biodiversity, and supporting good, green jobs.
“Establishing a best practice guide for how to restore Scotland’s peatlands is a welcome achievement as we mark Peatland ACTION’s first decade. It demonstrates that our sights are set firmly on the future as we support the sector with the clarity of professional guidance it requires to ensure its contribution to mitigating the climate and nature crises”
Peatlands are one of Scotland’s largest degraded ecosystems. When peatlands are degraded the benefits they bring as a carbon store are lost – contributing to climate change rather than mitigating it.
NatureScot remains the lead delivery partner responsible for meeting Scotland’s peatland restoration targets (along with Forestry and Land Scotland, Cairngorm National Park Authority, Loch Lomond & Trossachs National Park and Scottish Water). It is training new contractors and designers to expand the workforce and to support Scotland’s nature restoration ambitions. It is developing pre-apprenticeship schemes, and supported the country’s already over-subscribed first academic course in peatland restoration with Scotland’s Rural College.
The new Peatland ACTION guidance is available at: https://www.nature.scot/doc/peatland-action-technical-compendium
Ends.
Contact information
- Name
- NatureScot Media
- Telephone
- 0131 316 2655
- media@nature.scot
Notes to editors
Peatland ACTION
Peatland ACTION Funding comes through the Scottish Government’s Climate Change Plan for net zero, which in 2020 set out a commitment to invest £250 million over 10 years to support the restoration of at least 20,000 hectares of Scottish peatlands annually, towards a total of 250,000 hectares by 2030.
Peatland ACTION Funding, provided by the Scottish Government, is delivered through a network of partner organisations.
The Peatland ACTION delivery partners alongside NatureScot are Loch Lomond & the Trossachs National Park Authority; Cairngorms National Park Authority; Forestry and Land Scotland; and Scottish Water – Sustainable Land Management Team.
Further information about the work of Peatland ACTION.
NatureScot is Scotland's nature agency. We work to enhance our natural environment in Scotland and inspire everyone to care more about it. Our priority is a nature-rich future for Scotland and an effective response to the climate emergency. For more information, visit our website at www.nature.scot or follow us on Twitter at https://twitter.com/nature_scot
’S e NatureScot buidheann nàdair na h-Alba. Bidh sinn a’ neartachadh àrainneachd na h-Alba agus a’ brosnachadh dhaoine gu barrachd suim a chur ann an nàdar. Tha e mar phrìomhachas againn gum bi nàdar na h-Alba beairteach agus gun dèilig sinn gu h-èifeachdach le èiginn na gnàth-shìde. Tha an tuilleadh fiosrachaidh aig www.nature.scot no air Twitter aig https://twitter.com/nature_scot
