Flow Country World Heritage Site bid 'has captured the imagination'
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
Efforts to have the Flow Country of Caithness and Sutherland recognised as a World Heritage Site have captured the imagination of people across the north, according to the project coordinator.
Dr Steven Andrews was speaking after a gathering of local and national stakeholders on the theme of growing and managing new opportunities for communities and businesses resulting from the potential Unesco inscription.
With much of the work on preparing the World Heritage nomination now complete, attention has turned to the ways in which the widest possible social and economic benefits can be achieved if the bid succeeds.
The creation of skills and job opportunities in landscape restoration and conservation, growth in sustainable tourism and hospitality and the potential of added value to new green finance models to attract global investment to the area were all discussed at the Flow Country Futures Network meeting in Golspie.
It was attended by representatives from organisations including NW2045, the Federation of Small Businesses, Bell Ingram, Scottish Land and Estates, NatureScot, VisitScotland, RSPB, Kyle of Sutherland Fisheries Trust, Highland Council, Wildland Ltd, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, the Scottish Government, University of the Highlands and Islands, North Coast 500 and Venture North, as well as community groups and councillors.
Dr Andrews said: “The level of engagement, enthusiasm and collaboration that we’ve seen from such a wide range of organisations and individuals testifies well to the fact that the Unesco bid has captured imaginations across the north.
“All are determined that if inscription is secured then everything must be done to realise the full environmental, economic and social impacts this will bring to the region. The project team is eager to hear from any organisation or initiative whose objective may align with the bid’s aims.”
Frances Gunn, chairperson of the Flow Country World Heritage Project said: “We have always known that Unesco World Heritage Site inscription has the potential to create a wide spectrum of knock-on opportunities for people living and working in Caithness and Sutherland. Making the most of these, alongside realisation of the Flow Country’s environmental and wellbeing value, is an absolute imperative for the bid team.
“It was really positive to see such energy and optimism from all involved as this project looks to the future in this new phase of activity.”
The next phase of the nomination process will be a site evaluation visit from Unesco designated experts later this year. A report arising from the visit, and further scrutiny of the submitted dossier and associated documentation, will be submitted to Unesco for consideration at the World Heritage Committee in mid-2024, at which time a decision will be made.
If successful, the Flow Country will become Scotland’s first World Heritage site inscribed for purely natural criteria. It would also be the first peatland site inscribed on the World Heritage list.
