Green MSP Ariane Burgess praises peatland restoration at Forsinard
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Highlands and Islands MSP Ariane Burgess has highlighted the benefits restoring natural environments can bring to rural areas of the far north.
The Scottish Green politician visited the RSPB’s Forsinard Flows Natural Nature Reserve this week and praised the efforts of the charity's staff and volunteers, including site manager Ben Jones.
The NNR is made up of 21,000 hectares of blanket peat bog. Last week a consultation was launched on extending the Caithness and Sutherland Peatlands protected area following restoration work to remove tree plantations, restore the bogs and bring back wildlife.
Ms Burgess said: “It was great to meet with Ben and his team. They are doing great work by restoring this dramatic landscape from mis-planted forest, which dries out the land, and converting it into blanket bog which creates a carbon sink.
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“This landscape is integral to tackling both our climate and biodiversity crises. It is equivalent to having our very own Amazon Rainforest and should be recognised as such.
“The RSPB is also providing an important source of training in the form of residential volunteers. I met one of these volunteers who is gaining experience in field surveying and building on his skills portfolio.
“The work that the RSPB is doing at Forsinard Flows goes to show that restoring the natural environment can help our environment while creating good green jobs in rural areas. I am looking forward to seeing how their ongoing project develops”
