In a healthy state peatland is waterlogged. This water slows down the decomposition of the plants growing on the surface, locking in their carbon to create peat. In this form peatland provides natural long-term carbon storage.
Scottish peatlands store 1.7 billion tonnes of carbon; this is equivalent to 140 years’ worth of Scotland’s total annual greenhouse gas emissions.
As well as being a carbon sink, peatlands improve water quality, reduce the risk of flooding and provide a rich habitat for some of our most rare and threatened species, many of which are restricted to peatlands. Species for which this habitat is particularly important include dunlin, golden plover, greenshank and red-throated diver.