NatureScot Commissioned Report 701: Scotland's peatland - definitions and information resources

This report describes the state of Scotland’s peatland, using available information on peatland extent and location, vegetation and land cover, land use and management, and environmental pressures. It is a revised and updated version of the JNCC Report No. 445 Towards an assessment of the state of UK Peatlands, focusing on the Scottish context.

The NatureScot report sets out the context of peatland and carbon-rich soils in Scotland, as these are relevant to the identification of natural heritage issues of national interest in development proposals and other casework activities. Many peatlands will include species and habitats of outstanding conservation importance and will therefore be of national interest on conservation grounds. The definitions of peat, carbon-rich soil and peatland are important in relation to the guidance which sets out NatureScot’s approach to determining whether impacts on natural heritage interests raise issues of national interest. The report addresses how we define, delineate and describe peatlands, and critically consider the sources of available information. It also includes a comprehensive glossary of peatland terminology.

Pages: 62
Published: 2014

NatureScot Commissioned Report 701