Peatbogs should be preserved

The National Trust, a conservation body concerned with England and Wales, has issued a statement that, in my opinion, has huge relevance for the Isle of Lewis. The Trust says that peat bogs should be preserved, to reduce the amount of greenhouse gases (like CO2) that are released into the atmosphere. (source: this BBC article)

The NT states that peatbogs across the UK contain 20 years' worth of carbon emissions from the country as a whole. Disturbing them, or allowing them to dry out, would release said carbon back into the atmosphere.

Here in Lewis, the island is covered by a blanket of peat bog, up to 6 metres / 20 feet thick. As I have often reported, three windfarms are planned on the periphery of this bog, which will mean the removal of huge amounts of peat when the foundations for the towers (each requiring a footprint of 150 feet / 45 metres) are constructed. And there will be 176 towers.

The Scottish Executive (the devolved government of Scotland) is currently reviewing a planning application for two of the three windfarms. I hope they take this into account.