A series of peatland restoration meetings for land managers and local communities are taking place across Scotland between 6th and 23rd March. The four meetings are being held by independent specialist peatland consultant, Caledonian Climate Partnership (CCP), supported by NatureScot and PeatlandACTION.
The meeting will also look at the benefits for land management and local communities, including water quality and deer management, and grants and funding available for a peatland restoration project.
Freddie Ingleby, Managing Director of CCP, which surveyed over 8000ha of peatland in Scotland in 2022 and is working with the not-for-profit Wetlands International which is supported by fashion designer Stella McCartney.
He said: “In Scotland, almost 80% of our peatland is degraded, and, in this state, it is the fifth biggest emitter of carbon in the country. However, properly managed it becomes the greatest carbon store, which is probably one of the biggest natural opportunities we have here to turn the tide on the climate crisis.
“The good news is that restoring peatland can be delivered at speed and scale with almost immediate environmental benefits, accompanied by economic and social benefits, but we need to be restoring more quickly than we currently are.”
Read more: SRUC launch first academic peatland restoration course launched
The roadshow is aimed at farmers, keepers, stalkers, estate managers and advisers, and the local community.
Scottish Government has committed £25million for the restoration of 250,000 hectares of degraded peatland by 2030. The funding for this, which aims to restore 25,000ha of eroding peatlands annually, is managed by PeatlandACTION, for whom CCP is a delivery partner. Members of PeatlandACTION’s senior team will be speaking at each event.
All events are free to attend and open to all. They will be held 5.30-8pm including refreshments, a Q&A and time to talk informally at the end. For full details and to book a place at the event, see https://www.eventbrite.com/o/caledonian-climate-58958398913
Peatland Restoration Roadshow
6 March -Buccleuch & Queensberrry Arms Hotel, Thornhill
7 March - White Church, Comrie
16 March - Community Hall, Bonar Bridge
23 March - Village Hall, Fort Augustus
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here