Highland peat restoration project wins funding boost

● Scottish scheme to get £26,000 from conservation group

A peatland restoration project in the far north of Scotland is among a group of international initiatives selected to receive funding from the European Outdoor Conservation Association (EOCA).

The scheme, run by RSPB Scotland, will receive nearly £26,000 for work to revitalise damaged peat bogs in Sutherland’s globally important Flow Country. It is one of six projects to receive an award

WEST DUNBARTONSHIRE

after winning votes from the public and EOCA members.

The grant will allow nearly four hectares of forestry plantation to be removed and the area returned to blanket bog.

Healthy peatlands are major stores of climate-warming carbon, but when damaged can release greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.

Peat soils in Scotland contain almost 25 times as much carbon as all other plant life in the UK. The carbon stored in peat and peaty soil here is equivalent to more than 180 years of greenhouse gas emissions from Scotland.

Peatlands are also vital wildlife habitat, supporting moorland birds and plants.

The bogs, which take thou- sands of years to form, also help prevent flooding and improve water quality by filtering out pollutants.

Blanket bog found in the Flow Country is the best example of its type in the world and holds about 400 million tonnes of carbon – double the amount of all the UK’S forests put together.

Non-native sitka spruce and lodgepole pine trees were planted around 30 years ago on peatlands in the Dyke plantation, near Forsinard.

The trees have caused significant damage to the bog.

Restoring the site will provide habitat for a wide array of wildlife and plants, including hen harriers and insectivorous sundews.

It will also play a crucial role in tackling climate change.

Catherine Savidge, general manager of the EOCA, said: “The peat bog of the Flow Country is internationally important for wildlife and for its role as a carbon store.

“EOCA is delighted to be able to fund the work of RSPB Scotland to conserve this special wild space. It fits perfectly with EOCA’S criteria of funding projects that conserve threatened habitats and which have a link to outdoor enthusiasts.”

George Campbell, of RSPB Scotland, added: “The Flow Country is of European significance and we are delighted that EOCA members have recognised this and made this funding available.”