Recognising UHI Researchers’ Involvement in the FutureMoss Project

That the Parliament commends the Environmental Research Institute of the University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI) on its involvement in the FutureMoss project, which is exploring Sphagnum moss and peatland restoration; recognises the importance of the £2.7 million project led by the James Hutton Institute, which aims to develop new varieties of Sphagnum that are more resistant and resilient to drought in the hopes of supporting the health of peatlands; notes that the innovative research hopes to develop previously unestablished methods of producing new moss; understands that peat mosses are on the front line of extreme weather and that this project has the potential to support effective peatland function and restoration; commends the work of the Environmental Research Institute, which is based in Thurso and is part of UHI, advancing scientific understanding of contemporary environmental issues using their proximity to outstanding natural resources combined with state-of-the-art facilities, and believes that the James Hutton Institute is a world-leading interdisciplinary scientific research organisation delivering work that helps society respond to the climate and nature crises while strengthening rural communities and resilient economies.