Local MSP for the Linlithgow Constituency, Fiona Hyslop, highlights World Wetlands Day 2024.
World Wetlands Day raises awareness about Wetlands and celebrates the anniversary of the Convention on Wetlands, which was adopted as an international treaty in 1971. Blawhorn Moss near Blackridge is a wetland with blanket bog.
Commenting Fiona said:
“I am proud to be Scottish Environment Links Nature Champion for Scotland’s Extraordinary Blanket Bogs.
“Almost 90% of the worlds Wetlands have been degraded since the 1700s. We are also losing Wetlands three times faster than forests which is why World Wetlands Day is so important.
“This year, the theme for World Wetlands Day is ‘Wetlands and Human Wellbeing.’ This theme highlights how interconnected Wetlands and human life are, as Wetlands are important sites for biodiversity, climate mitigation and adaption and freshwater availability.
“Blanket Bogs cover around 23% of Scotland’s land area and are important for biodiversity in Scotland, flood management and carbon sequestration. In my own Constituency we have Blawhorn Moss National Nature Reserve which is an important Wetland site. This extraordinary blanket bog holds over 8,000 years of history and is one of the largest least disturbed Active raised bogs in the Central Belt of Scotland.
“Blawhorn Moss National Nature Reserve has a boardwalk around the bog to allow visitors to enjoy walks around this extraordinary site, and I would encourage you to pay it a visit. “
ENDS