Aviemore gathering aims to break new ground on peatland preservation

The IUCN Peatland Programme Conference is being held here for an unprecedented fourth time, a clear marker of the sector’s interest in learning from the “inspiring” Scottish example, says Claudia Rowse, Deputy Director of the country’s nature agency NatureScot.

“Peatlands are a vital part of our efforts to combat climate change and address nature loss,” explained Rowse.

“Having the conference here is really exciting – it’s a sign that understanding of the importance of restoration work has grown.”

She added: “Scotland has a globally important amount of peatland – around 13 percent of the world’s blanket bog is in the UK and the vast majority in this country.

“Coming on the back of UNESCO’s designation of The Flow Country as a World Heritage Site, this shows that people really do see our peatlands as a national habitat, and a national asset.”

Last month, UNESCO approved a 40-years-in-the-making bid to include The Flow Country – a blanket bog habitat in Caithness and Sutherland – on its World Heritage Site list.

It is the world’s first ever peatland World Heritage Site, joining the Great Barrier Reef in Australia, the Serengeti in Africa and the Everglades in America as globally significant ecosystems.

Much of the UK’s recent work on peatland restoration has been led by Scotland, and the forthcoming Peatlands, People and Nature conference, in Cairngorms National Park from September 17 to 19, gives visitors the opportunity to discover more about the pioneering projects taking place.

Field trips are planned to 12 locations including Creag Meagaidh National Nature Reserve, Wildland Estate and Inshriach Forest, while workshops and talks will explore a variety of themes, from community engagement to developing technologies, showcasing the latest research and peatland projects.

Cotton grass and a peatland lochan at The Flows National Nature Reserve, Forsinard, Caithness. Photo: Lorne Gill

Peatlands cover more than 20 percent of Scotland’s land area - around two million hectares - yet are one of Scotland’s largest degraded ecosystems, explained Rowse.

“Peatlands are huge carbon stores, but when they degrade they become sources of carbon instead of sinks, and contribute to climate change rather than mitigate it,” she added.

“Degraded peatlands are responsible for more than 15 percent of Scotland’s total greenhouse gas emissions, and that is the driving reason for the Scottish Government’s £250m spend on restoration over a 10-year-period.”

Since 2012, the Peatland ACTION Programme has set more than 51,000 hectares of degraded peatland on the road to recovery. 

Including restoration work carried out under other programmes such as the Agri-Environment Climate Scheme (AECS) or through planning gain, more than 70,000 hectares have been restored of the 250,000 hectare target.

“When I talk about peatlands, I’m really talking about people – the communities who manage them, and live and work around them, and have done so for hundreds of years,” added Rowse.

“Up to 70 percent of Scotland’s drinking water is sourced from catchments dominated by peatlands, so we are all connected by them. They reduce the risks of flood and wildfires, support farming and crofting and attract tourism.”

Crucially, said Rowse, peatland restoration is creating jobs in rural communities.

“This is a new industry and it is vital for the economy,” she explained.

“We have been investing significantly in training sessions, to support contractors and to increase the number of people with the right skills to design and deliver restoration schemes.

“It’s fantastic to see contractors taking on apprentices, and actual jobs being created, as it means young people staying in their local areas to work on restoring peatlands.”

Peatland ACTION, which is led and funded by the Scottish Government and delivered with NatureScot and partners, offers funding to improve the condition of degraded peatlands across Scotland, for eligible land managers who have peatlands that would benefit.

Peatland ACTION explains the benefits and provides up to 100 percent of funding of capital costs for the restoration work, as well as support to design and develop the project. 

In addition, land managers can, in certain circumstances, receive payment for managing peatlands - either through publicly funded schemes such as the Agri-Environment Climate Scheme (AECS), or private funding through the IUCN UK Peatland Programme’s Peatland Code. 
At the moment, peatland restoration is voluntary and based around providing incentives, but as Scottish Ministers develop a future agricultural support system for the country, it is possible that new protections may be introduced, said Rowse.

“Around 70 percent of land in Scotland is agricultural,” she explained. “If you claim public support for agriculture, it is possible that in the future you may have to take peatland restoration into account.”

Rowse is confident the much-anticipated peatland restoration conference will have far-reaching impact.

“We will be able to learn from others, and they can learn from the fantastic partnership we have created here in Scotland, between politicians, landowners, communities and industry as we step up to face the challenge – a greater challenge than we have faced so far – ahead,” she said.

“I really hope people leave with a renewed sense of the positive future that we can achieve.”

www.nature.scot

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Pioneering project was at the root of reserve revolution

ONE of Scotland’s wildest and most beautiful places was also one of the first to tackle seriously the impact of land degradation.

Creag Meagaidh National Nature Reserve is a spectacular upland landscape, covering almost 4000 hectares in the districts of Badenoch and Strathspey and Lochaber in the north of Scotland.

Home to numerous mountain tops and a variety of habitats, it is a fantastic example of how partnership working is helping to restore a valuable natural resource.

Blanket bog pool and sphagnum moss at Creag Meagaidh National Nature Reserve which covers almost 4000 hectares in the districts of Badenoch and Strathspey and Lochaber

As part of the forthcoming IUCN UK Peatland Programme Conference, which is being held in Aviemore from September 17 to 19, attendees will walk up the reserve’s Coire Ardair path to experience the recovery of natural habitats in action.

They will also hear first-hand the importance of involving the local community, including NatureScot's Community Deer Stalking initiative, enjoy the network of footpaths and visitor facilities, and have a chance to see how the reserve is producing local wild venison on a small scale.

The community pilot offers those living nearby the opportunity to learn deer management skills and, when fully trained and qualified, free access to the reserve to shoot deer in season for their own consumption.

Community models of deer management are common in many European countries, but this is the first time it has been tried on publicly-owned land in Scotland. The aim of the project, explains Rory Richardson, NatureScot’s Creag Meagaidh National Nature Reserve Manager, is to encourage more community involvement.

“It’s also about developing skills,” he explained. “Although we have the capacity to manage the deer numbers at Creag Meagaidh on our own, it will help with our vital work to protect and

restore the reserve’s habitats as well.”
With access to a deer larder on the reserve, participants and the wider community will also benefit from increased access to venison as a healthy, sustainable product with zero food miles.

The initiative will complement the reserve’s deer cull, which is crucial for protecting and restoring Creag Meagaidh’s regenerating native woodlands and other habitats.

The move supports recommendations from the independent Deer Working Group, which recognised the benefits of more local consumption of venison.

Bob Murdoch, a local resident taking part in the scheme, said: “I have enjoyed stalking since I was young, but opportunities tended to be limited as it is fairly expensive and often relies on knowing people willing to let you onto their land.

“Community stalking is not about letting just anyone on to the hill with a firearm. A minimum standard of experience is required and group members are being helped to obtain the industry standard deer management qualifications to ensure stalking is done safely and professionally.”

He added: “One of the big advantages of the scheme is being able to keep the venison. It really is ground-breaking, and as a group we are extremely grateful to the staff of NatureScot, both at a management level and on the ground at Creag Meagaidh, who have gone out of their way to make the community stalking a success.”

NatureScot has recently advertised an additional community stalking scheme at Beinn Eighe National Nature Reserve. These pilots could also provide an example for other landowners interested in pursuing this approach.