7. Prioritise topics for further development

Improvements to the statistics will be a long-term, incremental process. We can prioritise topics for further development, considering both user need and feasibility. This section of the report very briefly explains these potential topics.

It is worth bearing in mind that evidence on some of these topics may already exist, and that some of these topics may be better suited to academic research, than official statistics.

7.1 Water quality and water flow regulation

Degraded peatlands can release large amounts of carbon into water courses. This can worsen water quality, affecting both the provision of drinking water and aquatic ecosystems. Water generally flows off degraded peatlands quickly, and can increase flood risk. Conversely, healthy peatlands, with natural vegetation cover, help to regulate water flow.

7.2 Biodiversity

Peatlands directly support a diverse array of flora and fauna, including many specialist species such as the large heath butterfly. Peatlands can also influence downstream aquatic ecosystems due to their impact on water quality and flow.

7.3 Wildfire prevention and mitigation

Wildfires can have a devastating impact on both ecosystems and people’s livelihoods. Healthy peatlands are thought to help prevent the spread of wildfires and reduce their severity, and this is a continuously evolving area of research.

7.4 Game management

Game management is a common practice in Scotland’s uplands. The Wildlife Management and Muirburn (Scotland) Act 2024 (section 16AE) has a requirement for Scottish Ministers to publish five-yearly reports on the operation and effect of section 16AA licenses which concern land on which certain birds may be killed or taken. As such, we would not seek to duplicate any of the content of this report in the statistics.

7.5 Agricultural land use

As well as the area of peatland used for agriculture, it may be possible to estimate the type and intensity of use, based on data from the Scottish Agricultural Census and administrative data on agricultural claims. Much existing work has been published in this area by the James Hutton Institue (JHI), including: Peatlands and Payments Phase 1 Report (2019 Data).pdf, Peatlands and Payments Phase 2 Report.pdf and Peatlands and Payments. This analysis is not without difficulties, and the reports above list many important caveats and limitations.

7.6 Peat extraction

There is an evidence gap for up to date information of peat extraction in Scotland. For horticultural use, the most recent figures are provided by the Growing Media Monitor Report 2022. The report estimated that 0.17 million cubic metres of peat were extracted in Scotland for horticultural use in 2022, but figures vary considerably from year to year. Of the peat extracted in Scotland, it is believed that a relatively small proportion is used for whisky production, estimated at around 1%. Peat extraction for domestic fuel use is also uncertain, and believed to be similarly small in scale.

7.7 Renewable energy and other developments on peatland

Developments on peatland should adhere to the National Planning Framework 4 and additional protections relating to protected areas, where relevant. The precise impact of these developments depends on the exact location of peat, and the exact location and nature of the developments such as access tracks and foundations. Peatland restoration may be associated with these developments, via restoration, offsetting and enhancement. These terms have specific meaning in this context, as detailed in Advising on peatland, carbon-rich soils and priority peatland habitats in development management | NatureScot.

7.8 Land ownership

Land ownership influences how peatlands are managed, restored, and protected. It can offer some indication of who makes decisions about land use, but interpretation is complicated by factors such as tenancy arrangements, multiple owners, and shared or community‑managed land.

7.9 Socio-economic benefits of peatland restoration

Peatland restoration and maintenance can deliver skilled jobs and support rural economies. Socio-economic benefits also arise from the ecosystem services that healthy peatland provide, from flood resilience at a local level through to greenhouse gas regulation at a global level.