Peatland ACTION - What we have achieved

Peatland ACTION is a national programme to restore peatlands across Scotland.

It is led and funded by Scottish Government and delivered in partnership with NatureScot, Loch Lomond & the Trossachs National Park Authority, Cairngorms National Park Authority, Scottish Water, and Forestry and Land Scotland.  

In April 2019 The Scottish Government lead the nation in declaring a global climate emergency. In recognition that peatland restoration offers a clear nature-based solution to both the climate crisis and biodiversity loss the Scottish Government announced, early the following year, a multi-annual investment in peatland restoration of more than £250 million up to 2030. 

What have we achieved?

Since 2012 The Peatland ACTION Programme has set over 43,000 ha of degraded peatland on the road to recovery.

 

Infographic depicting restoration progress delivered by the Peatland ACTION Programme between 2012 and 2023
Infographic depicting restoration progress delivered by the Peatland ACTION Programme between 2012 and 2023
Click for a full description

Bar chart showing hectares delivered by the Peatland ACTION Programme between December 2012 and end of March 2023.

Horizontal (x) axis shows financial year e.g. 2012-13 meaning March 2012 to March 2013

Vertical (y) axis shows the number of hectares on the road to recovery.

Excavator graphic showing the total for the programme = >43,000 hectares

Peat bog graphic showing the Scottish Government cumulative target of 250,000 hectares to be delivered by 2023.

Data: 2012-13 = 270 ; 2013-14 = 420 ; 2014-15 = 5570 ; 2015-16 = 2810 ; 2016-17 = 450 ; 2017-18 = 3660 ; 2018-19 = 5810 ; 2019-20 = 6000 ; 2020-21 = 5658 ; 2021-22 = 5637 ; 2022-23 = ca. 7502

Sequence of images showing Scottish Government peatland restoration target and Peatland ACTION progress milestones (2023).

Contractors heading out to a peatland restoration site on an All Terrain Vehicle. Caption says: "Peatland restoration target of 250,000 hectares by 2030". (Data published August 2023). IMAGE: ©Lorne Gill/NatureScot

Contractors heading out to a peatland restoration site on an All Terrain Vehicle. Caption says: "Peatland restoration target of 250,000 hectares by 2030". (Data published August 2023). IMAGE: ©Lorne Gill/NatureScot

Silhouette of a digger on an upland Peatland ACTION restoration site with a loch in the background. Caption says "Peatland ACTION restoration progress milestones over 43,000 hectares on the road to restoration since 2012" (Data August 2023). IMAGE: ©R.J.Cooper

Silhouette of a digger on an upland Peatland ACTION restoration site with a loch in the background. Caption says "Peatland ACTION restoration progress milestones over 43,000 hectares on the road to restoration since 2012" (Data August 2023). ©R.J.Cooper

Machine operator re-profiling a bare peat hag and caption saying "NatureScot Peatland ACTION restoration progress milestones 5,000 hectares on the road to restoration in 2022-23". ©R.J.Cooper – Peatland ACTION / LL&TNPA

Machine operator re-profiling a bare peat hag. Caption says "NatureScot Peatland ACTION restoration progress milestones 5,000 hectares on the road to restoration in 2022-23" (Data Published August 2023). IMAGE: ©R.J.Cooper – Peatland ACTION / LL&TNPA

Contractors heading out to a peatland restoration site on an All Terrain Vehicle. Caption says: "Peatland restoration target of 250,000 hectares by 2030". (Data published August 2023). IMAGE: ©Lorne Gill/NatureScot
Silhouette of a digger on an upland Peatland ACTION restoration site with a loch in the background. Caption says "Peatland ACTION restoration progress milestones over 43,000 hectares on the road to restoration since 2012" (Data August 2023). IMAGE: ©R.J.Cooper
Machine operator re-profiling a bare peat hag and caption saying "NatureScot Peatland ACTION restoration progress milestones 5,000 hectares on the road to restoration in 2022-23". ©R.J.Cooper – Peatland ACTION / LL&TNPA

 

Awards - Peatland ACTION Programme

  • RSPB's Nature of Scotland Awards (2023) - Landscape Restoration Award category - Highly Commended 
  • Holyrood Climate Award (2023) - Winners trophy for the Nature and Climate category.
  • RSPB's Nature of Scotland Awards (2020) - Nature and Climate Action category - Finalist 
  • Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management (2016) - Best Practice - Large Scale Nature Conservation Award category - Winner
  • Scottish Land and Estates' Helping it Happen Awards (2018) - Enhancing our Environment category - Winner (for NatureScot Peatland ACTION funded restoration project at Dryhope Farm led by Tweed Forum)
  • Shetland Environmental Awards (2017) - Winner (for Scottish Water - Sustainable Land Management Team Peatland ACTION funded restoration work at Sandy Loch.
  • RSPB’s Nature of Scotland Awards (2015) - Innovation Award Category - Winner (for NatureScot Peatland ACTION funded restoration project led by CNPA)

 

Series of images showing some of the award trophies and certificates the Peatland ACTION Programme have won

A framed certificate displaying Peatland ACTION as Highly Commended in the Nature of Scotland (2023) Landscape Restoration Award category.

A framed certificate displaying Peatland ACTION as Highly Commended in the Nature of Scotland (2023) Landscape Restoration Award category.

Winners trophy in the Holyrood Climate Award (2023) for the Nature and Climate category.

Winners trophy in the Holyrood Climate Award (2023) for the Nature and Climate category.

Group photo of Dryhope Farm holding Scottish Land and Estate's Helping it Happen Awards winners trophy for the 'Enhancing our Environment' category (2018)

Group photo of people holding Scottish Land and Estate's Helping it Happen Awards (2018) winners trophy for the 'Enhancing our Environment' category for NatureScot Peatland ACTION funded restoration project at Dryhope Farm led by Tweed Forum.

Group photo of Scottish Water's Sustainable Land Management Team holding Shetland Environmental Awards (2017) winners trophy for NatureScot and SW Peatland ACTION funded restoration work at Sandy Loch.

Group photo of Scottish Water's Sustainable Land Management Team holding Shetland Environmental Awards (2017) winners trophy for NatureScot and Scottish Water Peatland ACTION funded restoration work at Sandy Loch.

A framed certificate displaying Peatland ACTION as Highly Commended in the Nature of Scotland (2023) Landscape Restoration Award category.
Winners trophy in the Holyrood Climate Award (2023) for the Nature and Climate category.
Group photo of Dryhope Farm holding Scottish Land and Estate's Helping it Happen Awards winners trophy for the 'Enhancing our Environment' category (2018)
Group photo of Scottish Water's Sustainable Land Management Team holding Shetland Environmental Awards (2017) winners trophy for NatureScot and SW Peatland ACTION funded restoration work at Sandy Loch.

 

 

 

Last updated: