FEATURE SPONSOR
ECOLOGY: PEAT LANDSCAPES PEAT AND ITS SIGNIFICANCE FOR THE WIND INDUSTRY
The term peat is used for organic material derived from dead plants, accumulated under wet/ waterlogged (mainly anaerobic) conditions. Peatlands are living landscapes that build up at different rates, forming patterns of hummocks and hollows at a variety of scales. Peat depth will vary across a peatland with a Scottish average of between 0.5 and 3 metres, but depths of more than 8 metres are not uncommon. Generally speaking, the deeper the peat the older it is, with some deposits dating back to the end of the last ice age.
BLANKET BOG
Blanket bog is one of the most extensive semi-natural habitats in Scotland, covering some 1.8 million hectares, 23% of land area. Blanket bog is a rare habitat globally and Scotland holds a significant proportion of the European and world resource.
Scotland’s peatlands are areas known for their breeding birds, including a wide range of raptors, waders and waterfowl. Plants include a variety of dwarf shrubs and sedges, together with specialists like the insectivorous sundews and butterworts. However, the humble bog moss Sphagnum drives the process of peat formation.
PEAT BOGS PROVIDE BENEFITS FOR PEOPLE TOO… • Water supply - drinking water from peatland areas and is also a key ingredient that adds to the flavour of malt whisky
• Flood management - intact peat bogs store water and help to maintain steady flow rates on rivers as well as reducing flood risks downstream
• Recreation - whether it’s red deer stalking, angling or walking, these remote rolling moorlands provide an experience for visitors that is quintessentially Scottish
AWARENESS
Wind farm developers need to be aware of the potential carbon and waste implications, potential impacts on habitats and water quality, and the risk of landslide due to building activity on peat. There is increased scrutiny of carbon emissions from the land use sector in Scotland as part of a wider policy aspiration to reduce total greenhouse gas emissions.
Consistent and accurate site information is required when seeking planning permission for any development on peat.
GOOD SITE INFORMATION ON THE DEPTH AND CONDITION OF THE PEAT IS IMPORTANT FOR… • Understanding the potential volumes of peat that will be lost and/or disturbed
• reducing both construction and financial risks
• Informing better planning assessments and Environmental Impact Assessments
• Saving time later in the process (e.g. for restoration/de-commissioning)
• Providing more robust carbon assessments and waste management plans
• reducing the likelihood of pollution of watercourses via run-off and erosion
INFORMATION AND GUIDANCE Data collated from developments on peat can also provide valuable information on the extent of potential peat loss and disturbance at a national level.
Various pieces of guidance have been written to aid with the assessment of peat quantity and quality on proposed wind farm sites, as well as highlighting good practice and legal requirements associated with the management of peat.
THE FOLLOWING CAN BE FOUND ON OUR WEBSITE… • Guidance on the Assessment of Peat Volumes, Re-use of Excavated Peat and the Minimisation of Waste
• SEPA regulatory Position Statement – Developments on Peat
• Calculating Carbon Savings from wind Farms on Scottish Peatlands - A new Approach
• Peat Survey guidance • The Peat hazard and risk Assessment Guide provides best practice methods to identify, mitigate and manage peat slide hazards and associated risks in respect of consent applications for electricity generation projects in Scotland.
• good practice during windfarm Construction (Version 2)
Kenny Taylor Scottish Natural Heritage
www.windenergynetwork.co.uk
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