Scale delivery of the Peatland Action programme, restoring the condition of peatlands as a key ecosystem in line with Net Zero targets as well as supporting the expansion and upskilling of the peatland restoration workforce.
Objective 5: Invest in nature
Priority Action 24. Drive increased investment in Biodiversity and Nature Restoration.
The Peatland ACTION programme is Scotland’s main programme for restoring damaged peatlands. Scottish Government and NatureScot evidence shows it is being scaled up using public funding linked to climate and nature goals, including net zero targets.
The programme funds and delivers peatland restoration work across Scotland with land managers, contractors, and public bodies. This includes blocking drains, rewetting peat, and restoring damaged bogs. There is also work to grow the peatland restoration workforce, including training and developing more specialist contractors to help deliver more restoration work. However, while activity has increased, there is no single published summary showing total progress against national net zero targets or the full impact of workforce expansion.
Peatland restoration is important for:
– storing carbon and reducing emissions
– improving wetland and bog habitats
– supporting wildlife that depends on peatlands
– improving water quality and flood control
Increasing the scale of Peatland ACTION means more damaged peatlands can be restored, which improves these benefits. However, results depend on whether restored peatlands fully recover over time and are maintained. National-level ecological outcomes are still being built up rather than fully shown in long-term results.
Maintain and seek to increase investment in nature restoration through our £65 million Nature Restoration Fund.
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