Scotland's Peatland Standard - Have Your Say

Scotland's Peatland Standard - Have Your Say

Peatland landscape near Loch Katrine, Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park. Credit: Ian McKee / NatureScot Peatland ACTION.

The consultation for Scotland's Peatland Standard has now launched.

This consultation represents a key opportunity for stakeholders to input to this new resource which will provide technical information and a framework to guide and promote the protection, restoration, and management of peatlands in Scotland.

It will consolidate existing legal requirements and best practice into one comprehensive document. This will improve efficiency and effectiveness by matching actions to local circumstances and ensuring consistency of approach in decision-making. It will support a broad audience and is being developed as a collaborative effort shaped by input from specialists including peatland practitioners, advisors, and regulators. Scotland’s Peatland Standard has been developed by drawing together current scientific knowledge, observational evidence, and expert opinion.

Aerial view of a low ground pressure excavator on an area of damaged peatland.

Excavator working in Murrister, on Shetland. © Swift Films / Peatland ACTION.

The open consultation will remain live until 28th August 2026 and Peatland ACTION invite comments on both the principles and the requirements and best practices from all peatland stakeholders. The views of those with experience of peatlands is vital to the ongoing development. If you are involved in peatlands in any capacity, please take part in the consultation on the draft of Scotland’s Peatland Standard. 

For updates on how to participate, please visit nature.scot/ScotlandsPeatlandStandard

Peat dams holding back water to create rectangular pools of water on a blanket bog.

Peat dams on Armadale Farm, in Caithness. © Swift Films / Peatland ACTION.