Record high for peatland restoration in Scotland welcomed

Press Release

Rural business organisation Scottish Land & Estates (SLE) has welcomed new figures from Peatland ACTION showing that 15,448 hectares of peatland were restored in Scotland in 2025, the equivalent of nearly 30,000 football pitches. This figure is in excess of the Scottish Government’s target for 2025/26.

Eleanor Kay, senior policy adviser (agriculture and climate change) for SLE commented: “These figures are fantastic news for Scotland and demonstrate how collaboration can unlock peatland restoration at scale, support local priorities and deliver long-term benefits for the climate, biodiversity and people.  The majority of restoration in Scotland is undertaken by private land owners, with support from NatureScot.

“Peatland restoration offers a wide range of benefits, from carbon capture to flood resilience and water management, habitat creation and wildfire mitigation.

“Around a third of our members are engaged in peatland restoration, alongside wider conservation projects and sustainable land management. We congratulate all those who are making such a valuable contribution to our environment and boosting biodiversity.”

Among the successful peatland restoration projects undertaken by SLE members, Lochrosque Estate has restored over 1,000 hectares of degraded peatland, cutting potential carbon emissions of around 230,000 tonnes over the next 100 years, while also improving water quality and creating jobs in Wester Ross.

Peatland restoration also helps create high-quality habitats for rare native species.

The East Cairngorms Moorland Partnership has reported breeding success for species including golden eagle, hen harrier, red kite, osprey, peregrine, merlin and short-eared owl, following a landscape-scale peatland restoration project.

SLE’s own research into projects undertaken by members reveal that innovation and technology often play a significant role in peatland restoration. From drone surveys to better mapping and monitoring, data is helping target restoration where it can have the greatest impact for carbon, water and biodiversity.

Organisations such as the Crichton Carbon Centre help build understanding of peatland restoration while Sky-Pin Drones is pioneering the use of drone technology in Scottish land management, agriculture, and environmental restoration. 

Eleanor Kay added: “Across rural Scotland, peatland restoration work creates skilled employment, strengthens rural businesses and helps build a green economy rooted in land management. Peatland restoration is not just good for the environment, but also represents an investment in rural jobs, skills and the creation of resilient landscapes.”