Peatland Expert Advisory Group minutes: June 2023

Attendees and apologies

• Ragne Low, SG Co-chair, Scottish Government
• Mathew Williams, CSA ENRA, Scottish Government
• Morag Watson, Scottish Renewables
• Andy Mills, Peatland geomorphologist
• Andy Gillan, RJ McLeod Contractors
• Emma Taylor, SEPA
• Claire Campbell, SEPA
• Juliet Caldwell, SE Link
• Robbie Kernahan, NatureScot
• Jo Smith, University of Aberdeen
• Roxanne Anderson, UHI
• Michael Kordas, Heads of Planning Scotland
• Kate Hopper, National Farmers Union Scotland
• Miranda Geelhoed, Scottish Crofting Federation

Apologies 

• Donald Henderson, SG Co-Chair, Scottish Government

Items and actions

Welcomes and introductions

The Scottish Government (SG) Co-Chair welcomed members and thanked them for agreeing to form the Scottish Government Peat Expert Advisory Group. Members were then invited to introduced themselves.

Scene setting and purpose of the group

The SG Co-Chair set out the context of the group, including the 2022 Onshore Wind Policy Statement that introduced the commitment to form the Peat Expert Advisory Group, the 20GW by 2030 onshore wind ambition and SG’s peatland restoration targets. The SG Co-Chair and members discussed the importance of achieving both our onshore wind ambitions and peatland management and restoration aims, as well as the opportunities for securing co-benefits.

Overview of ongoing work related to onshore wind and peatland

The SG Co-Chair offered an overview of the work of the onshore wind Strategic Leadership Group and the development of the draft onshore wind Sector Deal; that seeks to maximise both onshore wind deployment and the potential co-benefits of this, for example to community benefit. The SG Co-Chair also referenced the work currently being commissioned through CXC (ClimateXChange) to review the Carbon Calculator.

Review draft Terms of Reference and group membership

The SG Co-Chair introduced the draft Terms of Reference and invited comments from members. Specific suggested amendments are listed as actions below. Members also discussed existing relevant workstreams and how this group will interact with both them and the development of the draft onshore wind Sector Deal. The SG Co-Chair invited members to suggest if there were any additional members who should join the group going forward.

Members also discussed the technicalities of peatland re-wetting and restoration, as well as issues in monitoring both the emissions both from degraded peatland and recording the avoided emissions from restored areas.

Any other business/actions/agreement on next meeting

Members expressed interest in in-person meetings in future and the possibility of a site visit to an appropriate location.

Actions

• Terms of Reference:
  • the Scottish Government to amend phrasing of responsibilities and activities section
  • the Scottish Government to add objective on maximising the overall benefits (including carbon emissions and biodiversity benefits) of activity on peatland
  • the Scottish Government to send round the revised TOR to members for final approval
• members to share relevant evidence mentioned during meeting