Natural Capital

In episode three of this Natural Capital Series we are joined by Dr Emily Taylor to explore the very relevant and important topic of peatlands. Peatlands are a key part of the Scottish landscape covering over 20% of the land. Healthy peatlands are valuable carbon stores and provide many ecosystem services and benefits to people and nature. We discuss the importance and value of this natural capital resource, the various work that is ongoing to protect and restore peatland and what land managers can do to look after it. 

Dr Emily Taylor is a peatland specialist and leads the Crichton Carbon Centre, overseeing all of their projects. Emily has developed, and is delivering, the highly popular Peatland Action Restoration Events throughout Scotland. 

The Earth’s soils, rocks, air, water, plants and animals are all valuable resources that provide a wide range of services and benefits. These resources need to be carefully managed and maintained to support a healthy functioning environment. In this Natural Capital podcast series, hosted by Rachel Smillie we will explore different natural capital assets and their value to Scottish agriculture and the rural economy, including the opportunities and risks for the future. 

Hosted by Rachel Smillie, produced by Iain Boyd, editor Ross Mackenzie, executive producer Kerry Hammond. 

Timestamps 

What is peatland? : 2:22 – 8:52 

What is involved in peatland restoration? : 8:53 – 13:47 

Peatland Action and The Peatland Code : 13:47 – 18:57 

Ecosystem services and land use : 18:57 – 29:05 

Advice to landowners and potential financial benefits : 30:58 – 34:17 

Related FAS Resources 

• Protecting Scotland’s Peatlands - https://www.fas.scot/environment/biodiversity/protecting-scotlands-peatlands/   
• FAS TV S2 E11 - Peatland Restoration in Shetland: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=txdnXcOy8Eo  
• FAS Sounds:  https://www.fas.scot/sounds/  
• FAS Environment Pages: https://www.fas.scot/environment/    

Other Related Resources 

• Crichton Carbon Centre - https://www.carboncentre.org/   
• Peatland Action - https://www.nature.scot/climate-change/nature-based-solutions/peatland-action-project  
• Peatland Code - https://www.iucn-uk-peatlandprogramme.org/peatland-code/introduction-peatland-code  
• How to assess the condition of peatland -  https://www.nature.scot/doc/peatland-action-how-do-i-assess-condition-my-peatland 
• Scotland’s Forum on Natural Capital - https://naturalcapitalscotland.com/   

In episode two of this Natural Capital Series we discuss and raise the awareness about Scotland’s Rainforests.  What are Scotland’s rainforests, why are they special, what are the threats and how do we look after them? Recorded on site at Tanish National Nature Reserve with Helen Bibby Senior Conservation Consultant SAC Consulting and Stan Phillips from NatureScot.

Helen Bibby is a Senior Conservation Consultant with SAC Consulting based in Oban, Argyll. Her work focuses on management advice to famers, crofters and other land managers to support farming and biodiversity. This is a varied job and ranges from grant scheme advice to best practice information to support different species and habitats as well as raising awareness on the importance of Biodiversity within the farmed landscape.  

Stan Phillips is an Operations Officer for NatureScot based in Argyll.  His work includes biodiversity management advice to landowners and land managers, particularly those on designated sites, many of which are woodlands.  Stan is involved in a number of projects for Scottish rainforest, the restoration and enhancement of which could neatly help address the twin crises of climate change and biodiversity loss. 

The Earth's soils, rocks, air, water, plants and animals are all valuable resources that provide a wide range of services and benefits. These resources need to be carefully managed and maintained to support a healthy functioning environment. In this Natural Capital podcast series, hosted by Rachel Smillie we will explore different natural capital assets and their value to Scottish agriculture and the rural economy, including the opportunities and risks for the future.

Hosted by Rachel Smillie, produced by Iain Boyd, editor Ross Mackenzie, executive producer Kerry Hammond. 

Timestamps 

Scotland’s National priority species : 2:55 – 3:45

What are Scottish rainforests, do we have rainforests? : 3:50 – 10:00

What makes our rainforest so special? : 10:08 – 13:25

Measure to protect and pressures on Scottish rainforest : 18:08 – 28:00

Farming benefits, looking after and managing rainforests : 28:01 – 35:03

Related FAS Resources

Scotland’s National Priority Species:  https://www.fas.scot/environment/biodiversity/scotlands-national-priority-species/  

FAS Sounds:  https://www.fas.scot/sounds/  

FAS Environment Pages: https://www.fas.scot/environment/    

Other Related Resources

Alliance for Scotland’s Rainforest: www.savingscotlandsrainforest.org.uk 

Follow Alliance for Scotland's Rainforest on Twitter: @ASRainforest

Alliance for Scotland's Rainforest farmer on Mull video: https://savingscotlandsrainforest.org.uk/people/farmer  

Taynish Nature Reserve: https://www.nature.scot/enjoying-outdoors/scotlands-national-nature-reserves/taynish-national-nature-reserve

The Earth's soils, rocks, air, water, plants and animals are all valuable resources that provide a wide range of services and benefits. These resources need to be carefully managed and maintained to support a healthy functioning environment. In this Natural Capital podcast series, hosted by Rachel Smillie we will explore different natural capital assets and their value to Scottish agriculture and the rural economy, including the opportunities and risks for the future.

In our premier episode, we are joined by Dr Hannah Rudman who is co-director of the Thriving Natural Capital Challenge Centre at SRUC.  

Her work focuses on how digital and data innovations can help the natural economy sector address the Grand Challenges of climate change, food safety and security and loss of biodiversity.

Hosted by Rachel Smillie, produced by Iain Boyd, editor Ross Mackenzie, executive producer Kerry Hammond.