Unlocking contractor capacity to lock up carbon in the Cairngorms - Cairngorms National Park
Peatland conservation organisations and experts from across the world have joined together with the United Nations Environment Programme’s Global Peatlands Initiative (GPI) to pledge their collective commitment to tacking climate change, protecting nature and forging ahead for the health of the planet. The network of organisations is beginning a press and social media collaboration to share experiences and celebrate the successes of ongoing work. The joint effort will highlight the importance of peatlands to the planet and focus on the different ways that organisations are working towards their conservation, restoration and sustainable management across the world.
The Cairngorms National Park Authority’s (CNPA) Peatland ACTION Officers have facilitated over 2,000 hectares of peatland restoration since 2014, but these efforts need to be scaled up to address the nature and climate crisis and contribute to the Scottish Government net zero carbon emissions targets set for 2045.
In April 2021, the CNPA became a direct delivery partner of the Scottish Government / NatureScot Peatland ACTION programme. Which means that the CNPA are now able to directly award funding for peatland restoration projects within the Cairngorms National Park. The team of experienced Peatland ACTION Officers provide advice, guidance and support in designing and delivering impactful peatland restoration projects.
A major hurdle in scaling up efforts is contractor availability in the local area. Peatland restoration, especially in challenging upland locations and on sites with complex erosion, requires skilled contractors who can work safely and deliver the best outcomes in restoring degraded peatland habitats. Contracting companies may be put off from branching into restoration work for various reasons, including the expense of purchasing machines or adapting machines for working on deep peat, the harsh conditions (most projects take place in the colder months to avoid impacting breeding birds), uncertainty regarding likelihood of future work, difficulty recruiting the right team, and so on.
The CNPA are digging deep into how to make work contracts more attractive. This includes a plan to award multi-year funding packages, providing confidence for contractors and continuity in work so that they can see the impact of their hard work, dedication and commitment to climate action.
Dianna Kopansky, Global Peatlands Coordinator from UNEP highlights the importance of creating green jobs, she said: “Green and meaningful rural jobs are the future, where work-life balance and purpose comes together to help people who are connected to a place, stay there and provide for themselves and their families for generations to come."
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Posted On: 29/10/2021