Aviemore in the Cairngorms National Park is to play host to the UK’s largest gathering of peatland experts.
An estimated 400 people will attend the annual IUCN UK Peatland Programme Conference, which will take place at the Macdonald Aviemore Resort from September 17 to 19.
The conference will celebrate and share the work of organisations, in Scotland and across the UK, who have been repairing damaged peatlands and seeing the benefits for people and nature even in the early stages of recovery.
The event bring together everyone with an interest in peatlands, from land managers to policy makers and scientists to restoration practitioners, to share their knowledge, enthusiasm and experience and seek solutions to the twin crises of climate change and biodiversity loss.
Delegates will have the opportunity to experience the work of Scotland’s Peatland ACTION programme in progress on field trips to 12 locations including Creag Meagaidh National Nature Reserve, Wildland Estate and Inshriach Forest.
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Workshops and talks will also explore a variety of themes from community engagement to developing technologies, showcasing the latest research and peatland projects.
Parts of this year’s event will also be open to the public. Anyone is welcome to join in the evening exhibition on Tuesday September 17, from 5pm-7pm in the Osprey Arena within the Macdonald Aviemore Resort, where around 300 conference delegates will also be in attendance. The exhibition will offer the chance to meet a diverse range of people from across the UK and learn more about peatlands through a variety of interactive exhibits and displays.
With many examples of partnership working to restore peatlands in and around Scotland, Aviemore was deemed an obvious choice when it came to choosing a location for the conference.
Director for the IUCN UK Peatland Programme, Dr Emma Hinchliffe, said: “This is the fourth time the IUCN UK Peatland Programme has brought its annual conference to Scotland. It speaks volumes that we have had overwhelming demand for tickets and will be gathering around 400 peatland experts from across the UK during our three days in Aviemore.
"There is a wealth of expertise in the area and delegates will have chance to visit inspirational sites within the Cairngorms National Park to see Scotland’s world-leading peatland restoration work for themselves. The annual IUCN conference is a real melting pot of expertise and I am excited to welcome delegates to Aviemore for this year’s event and for being able to take the opportunity of a face- to- face meeting to discuss some of the most pressing issues for UK peatlands.”
Grant Moir, Chief Executive of the Cairngorms National Park Authority, said: “We are delighted to welcome the IUCN UK Peatland Programme Conference to the Cairngorms National Park. Large-scale peatland restoration is essential to our plans to become the UK’s first net zero national park, and it is only by working in partnership with land managers, scientists, the public and private sectors, and local communities that we can achieve our collective restoration targets.
"This conference will be a great opportunity to showcase what’s been achieved so far and to bring people together from multiple perspectives to find common ground and tackle the issues that matter.”
Clare Armstrong, director of sales at Macdonald Aviemore Resort, said: “We are excited to welcome the IUCN conference to Aviemore for what promises to be a fantastic and insightful event. Through our sponsorship and hosting responsibilities, the resort is committed to playing a vital role in not only facilitating the exhibition’s success but also promoting the important work being done to preserve and protect our natural environment and peatlands more widely. Delegates can be assured of a warm Highland welcome while our highly experienced team of talented conference professionals will ensure that every detail is taken care of, from start to finish.”
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