The Trust is welcoming the launch of the National Peatland Plan by Scottish Natural Heritage that sets out a strategy for protecting some of Scotland’s most important habitats.
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.
Peatlands are an important part of Scotland’s natural capital, making up 20% of the landscape.
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.
Compiling the strategy involved input from a wide range of stakeholders, and drew on the expertise of the IUCN Peatland Programme – hosted by the Scottish Wildlife Trust – which was set up to promote peatland restoration in the UK.
Head of Policy for the Scottish Wildlife Trust, Dr Maggie Keegan, said: “The Scottish Wildlife Trust welcomes this plan.
“Peatlands are some of Scotland’s most valuable natural capital assets and it is very encouraging to see the Scottish Government taking this issue seriously.”
“The Trust has been at the forefront of peatland restoration work in Scotland, using our own Wildlife Reserves such as Carsegowan Moss in Dumfries and Galloway to demonstrate pioneering techniques to restore lowland raised bogs.
“To help meet our peatland goals we will also need the Scottish Government to align other policies so that we end commercial peat extraction for horticulture, refuse consent to developments that damage peatland sites and stop burning on peatlands.
The National Peatland Plan is also backed up by a new National Peatland Group. Chaired by Scottish Natural Heritage, the group will promote, facilitate and monitor delivery of the plan.
Measuring progress and undertaking research are seen as important tasks in taking forward the plan’s aims as is international outreach to promote Scotland’s best practice and share experience with other peatland nations around the world.
Click here to read our Muirburn policy
Click here to read our policy on Lowland Peat and Horticulture