Jamie McGrigor, Highlands & Islands MSP, today highlighted the international importance of the peatlands in the Highlands & Islands. Jamie was speaking in a Member’s debate on the subject of reducing the amount of peat being used for horticultural purposes; the debate was initiated by Caithness, Sutherland and Ross MSP Rob Gibson. Speaking in today’s debate Jamie said:“ Scotland holds a very high proportion of the European and world blanket bog resource, comprising about 15% of the global total for this habitat. The Northwest of Scotland has the highest percentage cover of peatlands of anywhere in Europe. This is an internationally importance resource we must cherish and the Flow Country has been added to the tentative list for UNESCO world heritage sites.“ Our peatlands are critical in terms of biodiversity, carbon and water. Their value as a carbon sink is massive with Scottish peats estimated to hold around 1,620 Mt of carbon. And they can play a part in meeting our climate change and emission reduction targets as peatlands in good condition can sequester up to an additional 2.8 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent per hectare per year. We have consistently supported efforts to restore damaged peatlands and, while recognising the current efforts being made on peatland restoration, believe there is significant potential for this work to be extended.“ In relation to the extraction of peat for horticulture, I am aware that Scottish Planning Policy confirms that planning authorities should seek to protect areas of peatland, and states extraction is “only acceptable in areas of degraded peatland which has been significantly damaged by human activity and where the conservation value is low and restoration is not possible.” This Planning policy must be adhered to and enforced. We recognise the Scottish Government’s stated willingness to support market-led initiatives to reduce the demand for and use of peat in horticulture and would encourage greater efforts in this regard as the UK seeks to phase out the use of peat in the horticultural sector by 2030 at the latest. We should recognise the progress made to date within the UK horticultural sector; B&Q for example are to be commended for rooting their bedding plants in virtually peat-free compost. But we should also be aware that further research and development is required to both identify appropriate, cost-effective and quality alternatives to peat and give confidence to users that these alternatives will meet their needs at minimal risk to their business. Another issue we need to consider is the need to ensure there is a level playing field across Europe and we need to gain European and indeed international consensus on a strategy for peat reduction.“ It is my belief that the significance of peat should have been included when the land classification parcels were drawn up in the new CAP and I have alluded to this many times in the past. If these areas of peatland are so important, then surely they should draw down a level of subsidy which ensures that land managers will keep them in their present condition or even try to improve them. The fact is that most peatland attracts a payment of 10 euros per hectare where arable is attracting 220 euros, ie 22 times as much. This may be fair in terms of food production but does not take into account the public good the peatland is producing. While it is too late for this round of CAP negotiations, I feel any new round should include a figure which takes in the public good element which farmers with peat on their ground produce for everyone else. A recognition of the importance of this type of land would make an enormous difference to hill farmers in my area of the Highlands & Islands who have difficulty in sustaining their livelihoods on the payments received under the CAP.“ I would also call for a derogation for crofters who still burn peat in areas where there is no firewood. As someone said recently you get four heats from peat, first when you cut it, second when you turn it, third when you carry it home and fourth when you burn it! Home consumption of peat is a tradition which would do little harm and it would be sad to lose the famed peat reek so remembered in the tradition and poetry and song of Highlands culture.”