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Flow Country 'vital in fight against climate change' – UK Minister for Scotland backs World Heritage bid on visit to Forsinard site


By Niall Harkiss

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Dr Steven Andrews, Iain Stewart MP, Graham Neville, Frances Gunn, Danni Klein. Front: Professor Roxanne Andersen
Dr Steven Andrews, Iain Stewart MP, Graham Neville, Frances Gunn, Danni Klein. Front: Professor Roxanne Andersen

Minister for Scotland Iain Stewart MP has joined the call for The Flow Country to become a UNESCO World Heritage site, after making a visit to the RSPB field station and visitor centre at Forsinard.

The Flow Country – home to the most extensive blanket bog system in the world – received a ringing endorsement from Mr Stewart today, as he met with representatives from The Flow Country Partnership, RSPB Scotland and NatureScot to discuss the site's bid.

The Minister's visit follows a 17-day series of community drop-in sessions around the counties to find out what local people thought about the bid.

An online consultation portal will remain open until July 29.

The most intact and extensive blanket bog system in the world, The Flow Country is the UK’s greatest resource against global climate change and consists of over 400,000 hectares of peatland across Caithness and north Sutherland.

The peatlands, described as the lungs of Scotland, are also home to some of the UK’s rarest wildlife, including white-tailed sea eagles; curlews; otters and pine martens.

The most intact and extensive blanket bog system in the world, The Flow Country is the UK’s greatest resource against global climate change and consists of over 400,000 hectares of peatland across Caithness and Sutherland.
The most intact and extensive blanket bog system in the world, The Flow Country is the UK’s greatest resource against global climate change and consists of over 400,000 hectares of peatland across Caithness and Sutherland.

Peat bogs are an important defence against climate change, because the plants that grow there don’t fully decay, meaning bogs sequester carbon, acting as a “carbon sink”. All green plants absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and use the carbon to build the plant’s structure.

When the plants die, the carbon is released back into the atmosphere – unless the plant material is preserved in some way.

The Flow Country expanse of peatland has trapped over 400 million tonnes of carbon – twice that stored in all the forests in the UK – but while peatlands are more efficient at storing carbon than rainforests, in many places in Scotland forestry has had a devastating impact on the peatland and its wildlife – releasing the carbon back into the atmosphere.

Working to restore this habitat and contain its valuable carbon using the latest science and restoration techniques are The Flow Country Partnership.

The lookout tower at the Forsinard site, which offers a picturesque view of the peatlands.
The lookout tower at the Forsinard site, which offers a picturesque view of the peatlands.

It is this group, drawn from a wide range of stakeholders including NatureScot, The Highland Council, RSPB Scotland and the University of the Highlands and Islands that are behind the bid.

The bid documentation, which comprises an extensive nomination dossier and management plan will be submitted to UNESCO by the UK Government (DCMS) at the end of this year.

Following a site visit, it is expected that the outcome will be decided in mid-2024.

UK Government Minister for Scotland Iain Stewart said: "These incredible peatlands are so special. Not only is the area spectacularly beautiful, carbon is trapped here naturally, making it vital in our fight against climate change.

"This unique ecosystem, enjoyed by the UK’s rarest wildlife, should be celebrated. Gaining UNESCO World Heritage status would be particularly fitting for this amazing landscape and also help level up the area, encouraging sustainable tourism and supporting local green jobs."

NatureScot chief executive, Francesca Osowska, believes that the Minister for Scotland's backing is another stride forward for the bid.

"It is important recognition that the restoration work taking place here to lock in carbon and reduce potentially harmful C02 emissions is a crucial landscape-scale solution to the climate emergency the world faces."

Flow Country World Heritage project coordinator, Dr Steven Andrews, said: “It has been extremely encouraging to see the support for this project build and receive such useful feedback throughout the consultation so far.

"Having the Minister for Scotland visit the site not only demonstrates the political support for this bid but also highlights the added attention that this very special region can receive, and potentially capitalise on.

"World Heritage Status for the Flow Country would be an incredible recognition of the world class nature of the Flow Country’s blanket bog and also a huge commendation of the land managers who have contributed to maintaining this exceptional ecosystem."


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