Chamber and committees

Both tree planting and peatland restoration can provide greenhouse gas savings. However it is not possible to provide a strict comparison as to the relative scale of greenhouse gas benefits as this will depend on a wide variety of factors such as soil type and condition and type of tree being planted. The level of greenhouse gas sequestration for both will build up over time.

Greenhouse gas estimates for peatland restoration are currently in the process of being finalised but the estimates provided by ClimateXChange for the second Report on Policies and proposals suggested peatland would deliver net emission reductions of 1.5 tCO2e/ha (cumulative) over five years; 12 tCO2e/ha over 15 years, 21 tco2e/ha over 20 years and 32.5 tCO2e over 25 years. We expect to see updated estimates later this year.

On average the Greenhouse gas savings from tree planting would be 4.25 tco2e/ha (cumulative) over five years; 55.5 tco2e/ha over 15 years; 161.5 tco2e/ha over 20 years and 283 tco2e/ha over 25 years.

In the last eight years, the Scottish Government has provided in the region of £211,000 to a variety of organisations including Nestrans, Highland/North Ayrshire/Perth and Kinross Council and Glasgow Airport. The Scottish Government has also committed to contribute to funding through the Longannet Task Force and the Aberdeen City Region Deal.

The Scottish Government is not the promoter of peat extraction at Auchencorth Moss and does not have any proposals to extract peat from the site.

In terms of proposal to extract peat within Scotland can I refer the member to the answer to questions S5W-01192 and S5W-01197 on 20 July 2016, planning applications are determined in accordance with the relevant development plan unless material considerations indicate otherwise. Scottish Planning Policy (2014) paragraph 248 is clear that the review of mineral permissions every 15 years should be used to apply up-to-date operating and environmental standards. As a statement of Ministers’ priorities the content of Scottish Planning Policy is a material consideration that carries significant weight. 

All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx

The reviewing of old mineral permissions is a matter for individual Planning Authorities to address. The information requested is therefore not held centrally.

The Scottish Government liaises with all UK administrations on matters of common interest such as sharing knowledge and best practice around peatland protection and restoration. Through the National Peatland Plan Scotland has established a programme of action to protect, manage and restore our peatlands and through the Scottish Natural Heritage led Peatland Action the Scottish Government has been able to support of peatland restoration projects delivering around 10,000 hectares since 2012-13 as well as support to projects that enhance our capacity to undertake restoration, such as training and best practice guidance.

The Scottish Government, along with Scottish Natural Heritage, published Scotland's National Peatland Plan in August 2015. The Peatland Plan establishes a framework in which the Scottish Government, along with SNH, are leading the way forward in the management, protection, and restoration of Scotland’s peatlands, and as a consequence, protects its biodiversity and ecosystems. The Peatland Plan established a National Peatland Group which involves partners such as the IUCN Peatland Inquiry to support its delivery and along with a Monitoring and Research Group ensuring an evidence base and helping future actions.

In addition to the protection afforded by the suite of Natural sites and SSSIs, specific actions in the Plan include Scottish Planning policy which provides protection for peatlands as well as the work funded by the Scottish Government, through its Strategic Research Programme and Centres of Expertise, to deliver multi-disciplinary research to improve our knowledge of peatlands. This knowledge is then used to develop new tools and approaches to support sustainable management and help achieve restoration targets. Funding to support peatland restoration and management is available through the Scottish Rural Development programme and SNH has supported more than 100 projects through its Peatland Action initiative.

Scottish Government officials contributed to the work that led to the Sustainable Growing Media Task Force's 2012 report, ‘Towards Sustainable Growing Media’. In 2014 the level of peat sold for horticultural use was 24% lower than the 2011 baseline. At its August meeting Scotland’s National Peatland Group discussed the scope for further work to support phasing out the use of peat in horticulture and the group is considering what further actions it could support to address a global issue. Scottish planning policy confirms that planning authorities should use their development plans to protect areas of peatland and only allow commercial extraction in very limited circumstances; consents from historic consents are a matter for individual planning authorities.

Compliance with import regulations in another country is a matter for companies exporting to that market. The seal licensing system in Scotland enables fish farms to control seal predation as a means of last resort. Having a licence is not mandatory, and some fish farms choose to use only non-lethal deterrents instead.

A decision on the status of the European beaver in Scotland will be announced before the end of 2016.

No decision has yet been made on the future of beavers in Scotland. Any framework that may be required to support the future management of beavers in Scotland will be discussed with relevant stakeholders in due course.