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Flow Country of Caithness and Sutherland joins Great Barrier Reef and Grand Canyon among Unesco World Heritage sites





The Flow Country has been successful in its bid for World Heritage Site status. Picture: James Carter
The Flow Country has been successful in its bid for World Heritage Site status. Picture: James Carter

Unesco World Heritage Site status for the Flow Country will unlock a raft of economic, environmental and social opportunities for Caithness and Sutherland, it has been predicted.

The long-awaited news that the bid for the globally-recognised status had been successful was confirmed on Friday.

It becomes the first Scottish site to be inscribed with World Heritage status purely for its natural criteria, and joins the likes of the Grand Canyon and the Great Barrier Reef in the listing. It is the world’s first peatland bog to gain the status .

Graham Neville, who led the bid for the Flow Country, said it was a momentous moment for the people of Scotland and their beloved landscape.

“This successful bid is testament to the hard work and determination of the Flow Country World Heritage project team as well as community members, scientific experts, businesses, landowners and public bodies from across the Flow Country who have been so generous with their time, knowledge and expertise to shape the bid for the benefit of the whole area,” said Mr Neville, who is NatureScot’s head of operations for the north of Scotland.

“World Heritage Site status will lead to greater understanding of the Flow Country and raise the profile of Scotland’s peatlands globally for their value as biodiverse habitats and important carbon sinks.

“It is wonderful recognition of the expert stewardship of farmers and crofters in maintaining this incredible ecosystem as a natural legacy for future generations.”

The Flow Country is a vast peat bog that covers much of Caithness and Sutherland and stores approximately 400 million tonnes of carbon – more than all the UK’s forests and woodlands combined.

Frances Gunn, chair of the Flow Country World Heritage project, said it was a hugely important decision.
Frances Gunn, chair of the Flow Country World Heritage project, said it was a hugely important decision.

The 4000 sq. km area is home to a complex and fragile ecosystem with a vast array of plants that act as an important defence against climate change. The carbon stored by a 9000-year accumulation of dead vegetation in the form of peat acts as a carbon sink, preventing it from being released into the atmosphere.

It is also an internationally important place for wildlife, including upland breeding birds like red-throated diver, golden plover and greenshank.

The Flow Country Partnership has been shaping its nomination since 2020 and has completed extensive community engagement and consultation to inform the bid.

Frances Gunn, chair of the Flow Country World Heritage Project, said: “This is a hugely important moment for the Flow Country as well as the north of Scotland and the UK as a whole.

“We have always known that Unesco World Heritage Site inscription had the potential to create a wide spectrum of knock-on opportunities for people living and working in Caithness and Sutherland.

“Making the most of these, alongside realisation of the Flow Country’s environmental and wellbeing value, is an absolute imperative going forward. This is an exciting opportunity for the region, putting it on the map globally.”


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