Crofters say they should be paid to protect the Flow Country
CROFTERS should be paid as climate change custodians to help manage vital carbon sink peatlands, say their representative body.
The Flow Country between Caithness and Sutherland is home to the largest continuous peatbog in Europe and is estimated to hold almost 1.5 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2E).
Unesco World Heritage status is to be sought for the vast area of almost 500,000 acres – joining the likes of the Grand Canyon, Great Barrier Reef and Taj Mahal.
A study, commissioned by environmental campaign group WWF, last year called for more Government investment to protect and improve peat bogs.
Now the Scottish Crofting Federation (SCF) has welcomed the announcement of Scottish Government funding to support agriculture’s contribution to meeting Scotland’s climate change ambitions, with crofting leading the way.
SCF chairwoman Yvonne White said: “Funding for a new Agricultural Transformation Programme of, initially, £40 million to support changes that will benefit our environment is very welcome and not before time.
“Crofting takes place on some of Scotland’s most ecologically fragile areas and primary carbon sinks
– the peatlands. We would like to see crofters being supported to manage these areas. Crofting is well ahead on environmentally sustainable practices with its mainly extensive grazing system.
“The reinstatement of an easily accessible crofting forestry grant scheme, including low-density woodland cover for grazing, would see tree-planting on croft land burgeon.
“Peatlands, which crofters also manage, are even more relevant to carbon sequestration and therefore climate change.
“Studies have shown that careful mixed grazing is very beneficial to both carbon storage and increasing biodiversity. Payment towards the management of this important resource would reap huge rewards.
“Crofting has always worked with nature to produce high quality food and manage the environment in a sustainable manner.
“While crofting is already leading the way in low carbon agriculture, crofters are prepared to do even more to help reach the Scottish Government’s ambitious net-zero targets. Both embracing innovation and traditional methods will play a role in achieving this.”