04 October, 2023
Peatland ACTION shortlisted for two major awards
A Scottish Government-funded programme that offers landowners, farmers and crofters 100% funding and support to restore their damaged peatlands has been shortlisted for two prestigious Scottish awards.
Peatland ACTION, a partnership programme led by NatureScot, with Scottish Water, Scottish Land & Estates and Scotland’s two National Park Authorities, has been shortlisted for an RSPB Nature of Scotland Award in the Landscape Restoration category, and for its work on Nature and the Environment for the Holyrood Climate Action Awards.
The Nature of Scotland Awards celebrate the inspirational people, projects, groups and organisations working hard to protect Scotland’s precious natural heritage. Peatland ACTION has put Scotland at the forefront of landscape-scale peatland restoration in Europe. By providing 100% funding, on-the-ground support, innovative techniques and technical know-how that are needed to successfully restore our peatlands, it plays a vital part in tackling Scotland’s biodiversity crisis.
Launched in 2021 to coincide with Glasgow as the host city of COP26, the Holyrood Climate Action Awards recognise key players across seven categories including technology, nature, community, and the circular economy who are making significant contributions to Scotland’s Net Zero journey. Healthy peatlands can capture and store ten times as much carbon as any other land-based habitat. The work that Peatland ACTION is doing with landowners has so far resulted in over 43,000 hectares of restoration work on damaged peatlands, giving it a significant role in helping Scotland achieve its net-zero target by 2045.
Peter Hutchinson, a NatureScot Peatland ACTION Programme Strategy Manager said: ‘One of Peatland ACTION’s main aims is to encourage land owners and managers to work with us to put more of Scotland’s damaged peatlands on the road to recovery. So we are delighted to be shortlisted for these awards. We hope this will encourage more people to understand the value of our peatlands and take action to restore and protect them.’
The Holyrood Climate Award winners are due to be announced on 8 November 2023, with the Nature of Scotland Awards announced at a ceremony on 22 November 2023.
Contact information
- Name
- NatureScot Media
- Telephone
- 0131 316 2655
- media@nature.scot
Notes to editors
Peatland ACTION media contact: peatlandactionmedia@nature.scot
About Peatland ACTION
Peatland ACTION’s aim is to restore 250,000 hectares of Scottish peatlands by 2030. Scottish Government has pledged £250m to achieve this, as part of the Scottish Government’s Climate Change Plan for Net Zero. It is delivered in a partnership led by NatureScot, with Cairngorms and Loch Lomond & Trossachs National Park Authorities, Scottish Water, and Forestry and Land Scotland, working together with landowners, organisations and communities.
Peatland ACTION provides:
- 100% grants for peatland restoration.
- Peatland ACTION project officers across Scotland supporting landowners by working on-the-ground with stakeholders: writing applications; doing surveys; managing contractors; and advising on all aspects of the process.
- Training for contractors, project designers, and surveyors in peatland restoration.
- Innovative research for surveying, practical restoration and monitoring at landscape-scale.
- A communications team promoting the value of healthy peatlands for climate, biodiversity, green economy and wellbeing.
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
