The Scottish Wildlife Trust has welcomed a commitment from the Scottish Government to develop a programme of peatland restoration across Scotland. The Trust has long recognised the need to protect these vital resources and last week called for peatland funding to be included in the Scottish Government’s Budget.

The Scottish Government has today announced £1.7 million in funding to restore Scotland’s peatland landscape.

Scottish Wildlife Trust Director of Conservation Jonathan Hughes said:

“Let’s face it, peatlands are not as glamorous a habitat as the romantic Caledonian pine forests or the rugged tops of our highest mountains. What they are is our biggest bank of carbon, natural water filtration factories, flood defence systems and home to internationally important breeding colonies of birds. The Scottish Government recognises these precious natural assets and the Scottish Wildlife Trust is today delighted to see investment going in to protect our peatlands. This is real 'investment' because these are habitats which will pay back with interest for all of Scotland in the long term.”