Scotland has achieved unprecedented success in peatland restoration, with a record-breaking 14,860 hectares of degraded peatlands restored during the 2024-25 financial year. This remarkable achievement represents a 42% increase over the previous year’s figure of 10,360 hectares, marking a significant milestone in Scotland’s environmental conservation efforts.
The Scottish Government has pledged £250 million to support the restoration of 250,000 hectares of peatlands by 2030, with an interim target of 110,000 hectares by 2026. Currently, nearly three-quarters of Scotland’s peatlands are in a degraded state, making this restoration work crucial for environmental conservation.
Agriculture and Connectivity Minister Jim Fairlie said: “I am very pleased to report Scotland’s Peatland ACTION partnership has put 14,860 hectares of degraded peatlands on the road to recovery last year. This represents a 42% increase over the 10,360 hectares restored during 2023-24. I thank all of our partners for their sustained efforts and tenacity in delivering another milestone figure.”
The Minister emphasized the multiple benefits: “Restoring peatland benefits our environment by reducing emissions, reducing risks of flooding and wildfires and improving water quality, it also invests in people and skills, creating green jobs in rural communities.”
The restoration work has been carried out through the Peatland ACTION partnership, a collaborative effort funded by the Scottish Government and delivered in partnership with NatureScot, Cairngorms National Park Authority, Forestry and Land Scotland, Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park Authority, and Scottish Water.
CEO Kevin Quinlan said: “Forestry and Land Scotland is proud to be supporting the Scottish Government’s commitment to restoring 250,000 hectares of peatlands by 2030 as a key delivery partner in the Peatland ACTION Partnership. Every site we restore adds to the scale of the contribution we make in efforts to transform and restore one of Scotland’s largest degraded ecosystems to create a far healthier landscape.”
Across the partnership, significant achievements have been recorded:
- Forestry and Land Scotland delivered 1,744 hectares of peatland restoration, exceeding its target of 1,500 hectares.
- Cairngorms National Park Authority delivered 2,181 hectares through 15 projects, significantly exceeding its target of 1,573 hectares
- Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park Authority successfully restored 697.5 hectares through eight projects
- Scottish Water began its first phase of 406 hectares of restoration work at Loch Katrine, contributing to their Net Zero ambition with a carbon emission reduction of 4,390 tCO2/yr tonnes
The Scottish Government has demonstrated its continued commitment to peatland restoration with a significant funding boost. The 2025-26 budget has allocated £35.5 million towards peatland restoration, representing a 32% increase from the previous year’s budget. This will fund the restoration of at least 12,000 hectares of degraded Scottish peatlands.
Since 1990, almost 90,000 hectares of peatland have been restored, putting Scotland on track to meet its interim target. The restoration work has created economic opportunities, with contracting firms growing from micro-enterprises to become significant employers in local rural economies, complementing existing rural activities including agriculture.
The program has also introduced innovative approaches to funding and delivery. Through a new competitive application process, the partnership has leveraged over £2.7 million in private funding. Additionally, the Shared Island Initiative provided over £850,000 of additional funding for restoration works across Scotland.
Looking ahead, the partnership will pilot Carbon Contracts as a means of leveraging private finance to support additional restoration work. The funding will also enable investment in designing new projects for future years, ensuring the sector’s sustainability and continued acceleration of restoration efforts.
The success of Scotland’s peatland restoration program demonstrates the country’s commitment to addressing climate change and biodiversity loss through practical environmental action. With continued investment and partnership working, Scotland is advancing toward its ambitious peatland restoration targets while creating sustainable rural employment opportunities.
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