Carbon Crofting SLMG

This project forms part of a research project to build a carbon model relevant to agricultural use of the heather moorland and peatland habitats that characterise the hills of Shetland. Peat provides a unique carbon store in Shetland’s treeless landscape, more effective than equivalent areas of woodland. But for this carbon storage to work there has to be no erosion of the peat surface. Both over and under grazing of the heather moorland overlying the peat can lead to peat degradation. The carbon model will form one part of a “Carbon Management Plan” for SLMG members’ farms/crofts. The Carbon Management Plan will also detail how carbon sequestration can be improved through implementation of a Moorland Management Plan.