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Highland Jobs boost for peatland restoration


By Tom Ramage

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NatureScot’s Peatland Action programme is expanding with a boost for new green jobs in the wake of COP26.

The expansion includes nine new roles across Scotland, including a covering a wide range of skills, from land management and technical expertise to financial, project management and communications skills.

Peatland demonstration day. Picture: Lorne Gill, NatureScot
Peatland demonstration day. Picture: Lorne Gill, NatureScot

Recruitment is now underway for the positions, which will support the Scottish Government’s 10-year, £250 million commitment for peatland restoration.

The jobs boost was a key commitment in NatureScot’s Action Plan for nature-based jobs, which identified peatland restoration as an important area for growth.

The recent UN Climate Change Conference (COP26) in Glasgow highlighted the critical role that peatlands in good condition can play in naturally capturing and storing carbon.

As a “nature-based solution” to the twin crises of climate change and biodiversity loss, peatland restoration can help protect nature, improve water quality and contribute to the local economy.

Gathering moss. Picture Lorne Gill, NatureScot
Gathering moss. Picture Lorne Gill, NatureScot

Peter Hutchinson, Peatland Action programme manager, said: “Peatland restoration is a relatively new and growing sector in Scotland.

“In the last 10 years, NatureScot has built a highly dedicated team, growing from just 10 staff to more than 30. We are now looking to expand further to meet the growing ambition to restore Scotland’s peatlands, and we hope that these roles will be followed by more opportunities in the near future.

“This is a really exciting time to join us and be part of the green jobs revolution, working on projects that are making a real difference to tackling the twin crises of nature loss and climate change. Peatland restoration is not only a win for nature and climate, but also for job creation and for local communities across Scotland.”


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