Jamie McGrigor, Highlands & Islands Conservative MSP and the Scottish Conservative Environment Spokesman, has called on the Scottish Government to ensure that support measures designed to reinstate Scotland’s peatlands are straightforward and accessible for Scotland’s farmers, crofters, and land managers.
Jamie questioned the Environment Minister Paul Wheelhouse on the subject at Thursday’s meeting of the Scottish Parliament’s Rural Affairs, Climate Change, & Environment Committee.
The Scottish Government is investing £5 million next year and £10 million the following year in measures to restore peatlands, with the funding being delivered through the Scotland Rural Development Programme (SRDP).
Speaking today, Jamie, who has consistently spoken out about the importance of Scotland’s peatlands, which are an internationally important habitat and act as a major carbon sink, said:
“Both the Minister Paul Wheelhouse and the lead civil servant on this policy area acknowledged the need for a simpler and more accessible funding allocation method, and I welcome this and urge them to ensure this reality is delivered in the new Scottish Rural Development Programme.
“I hope as well that the Scottish Government will be able to lever in additional funding for peatland restoration from other non-governmental sources. Peatland restoration has the potential to play a significant part in meeting Scotland’s emissions reduction targets”.