Peatland plan from council
South Lanarkshire councillors have approved the decision to employ two members of staff to deal with peatland as part of the wider aim to combat climate change.
The posts will be fully funded by Nature Scot and supported by Glasgow City Region to take action in protecting and restoring peatland areas across the region.
The new job roles were discussed at the Climate and Sustainability Committee, and councillors agreed to host the new posts for a period of 23 months.
An analysis to target peatland restoration and improve habitat for wildlife identified 85 locations across the Glasgow City Region with a total of 52 locations in South Lanarkshire.
Council leader John Ross said:“once again South Lanarkshire has the chance to be at the forefront of decarbonisation and I think this is a really good thing to be involved in.
“I just couldn’t believe initially that when we looked at this that two-thirds of the peatland in this area is actually within the boundary of South Lanarkshire.”
The focus of the new peatland officers will be the development of an extensive programme of peatland restoration projects.
East Kilbride West councillor Monique Mcadams, said:“i’m fully in support of this report, I think it’s a great idea and it is just to say that it doesn’t matter whereabouts in South Lanarkshire this happens, the fact is that it is going to be a positive difference and it is going to impact all of us even if it’s not in our area, because it’s going to make a difference environmentally.”
The Climate and Ecological Emergencies have brought into focus the key role that peatland restoration has to play in the drive for net zero, climate change adaptation and in reversing the decline of wildlife habitat.
Degraded peatlands emit carbon, therefore the need for management is essential to lock up large amounts of carbon in short time scales. Up to 80 per cent of Scotland’s peatland is in decline, therefore restoration is a priority.
Healthy peatlands are rich in biodiversity and host a vast amount of specialist flora and fauna. The new peatland officers will develop action plans aimed to tackle degraded peatlands and restore them, improving the environment and habitats.