Gibson welcomes Flow's latest

22nd March 2011

Rob Gibson SNP MSP for the Highlands and Islands* has warmly welcomed the news that the Flow Country has made it on UK shortlist to bid for world heritage status.

Europe's largest blanket bog, which has been described as the Northern hemisphere's answer to the Amazon rain forest, because of it's capacity to store large amounts of carbon, has made it to the short list with two other Scottish sites (the forth rail bridge and iron age remains in Shetland).

Mr Gibson said that the flows (which straddles Caithness and Sutherland) was of global strategic importance and deserved world heritage status.

Mr Gibson who is a long standing and keen backer of WHS for the flows...
"This is welcome news. I think that for it to achieve World Heritage Status would be a strong pointer to the future and would be a recognition of value the importance that the flow country has in the bio diversity not just of the Caithness and Sutherland but that of Northern Europe and the world as well."

"The Scottish Government have started the ICANN project which seeks to restore peatlands throughout Scotland. The rewetting of Peatland is a great way to store carbon as peatlands act as a natural carbon sink."

"WHS for the Flow country would act as a boon for the economies of Caithness and Sutherland it would put them quite literally on the World heritage map along side such sites as the Pyramids of Egypt, the Statue of Liberty and Skara Brae. World heritage status for part of Caithness and Sutherland would be something to celebrate."