Scotland's Peatland Standard consultation open for public input on restoration guidelines

Scotland is developing its first Peatland Standard, a set of technical guidelines for protecting, restoring, and managing the country's two million hectares of peatlands. These peatlands hold an estimated 140 years' worth of Scotland's annual greenhouse gas emissions when healthy, but many are currently degraded and releasing carbon. The standard aims to provide clarity on legal requirements and best practices for land managers, regulators, and funders. The consultation, led by the Peatland ACTION partnership including NatureScot and Scottish Water, is open until August 28. NatureScot chief executive Nick Halfhide noted that while 90,000 hectares have been restored, much work remains. The standard covers water quality, livestock welfare, wildfire mitigation, and job creation. The draft is available on NatureScot's website for public comment.