Parliamentary sketch: First you get the peat, then you get the power

Politics can be a grubby business, so maybe it was inevitable peat would enter the debating chamber eventually.

And though it would be unfair to say that Rob Gibson, SNP MSP for Caithness, Sutherland and Ross, is a man obsessed with peat, he does take a strong interest in the stuff.

Speaking at the recent debate, aiming to secure greater protection for peat, he said: “Peatlands are a vital part of Scotland’s natural capital and provide some of our best open landscapes. They are important for biodiversity, carbon and water, for our cultural identity, and as historical archives. Globally and nationally, there are major commitments to the conservation and restoration of peatlands.”

RELATED CONTENT

Heat policy statement launched by Scottish Government

SNP attacked over missed emissions targets

MSPs discuss whisky: What could possibly go wrong?

Continuing, he said: “As species champion for the rusty bog moss, which is one of the emblems of the health of peat bogs, I have a particular interest in my constituency in the issue.”

As species to champion go, rusty bog moss was one of the more obscure. It is the hipster’s choice.

To get some perspective, when Scottish Environment Link set up the scheme, Jamie Hepburn got the Pine Marten. Stuart McMillan has the Basking Shark. Bill Kidd champions the Red Kite.

Rhoda Grant, Labour member for the Highlands and Islands, is the champion for both the Golden Eagle and the Wild Cat.

Describing rusty bog moss as, “the logical choice” back in 2014, Gibson explained, “Whilst many MSPs went for iconic or cute and fluffy animals to champion I thought it was important that they had something to sit on!”

Indeed. But, while peat is useful in soaking up CO2, supporting biodiversity and filtering water, it is at risk from commercial mining for use as manure.

Gibson explained: “Commercial extraction involves the stripping of peat-forming vegetation, drainage and extraction, which results in the stored carbon being released to the atmosphere.

“In the United Kingdom, consumption of peat leads to annual carbon dioxide emissions of more than 630,000 tonnes, at a cost to society of £32.5 million, arising from the climate change impact.”

Labour’s Claudia Beamish came next, extending her “warm thanks to Rob Gibson for bringing the protection of the Scottish peatlands to the chamber’s attention today – not for the first time and, I am sure, not for the last.”

Frankly, given how much Gibson likes peat, it was a relief it was just the topic he brought into the chamber, and not the peat itself. Mind you, did anyone check his pockets?

Continuing, she said: “Sphagnum moss, often the main component of a peatland bog on the surface, is one of nature’s heroes. It is the living surface of the bog, with a spongy quality enabling it to soak up and filter eight times its own weight in water, preserving the materials below. That makes it a natural barrier against flooding and improves the water quality of an area.”

A quick google search reveals that Sphagnum moss is a genus including, among about 120 others, rusty bog moss. Beamish was talking about Gibson’s favourite moss – presumably in an attempt to charm him.

That or she wants to champion it herself. Was Beamish unsatisfied being champion of the sea trout, as well as the forester moth?

Maybe Labour does have a strategy to win power back after all. First you get the moss, then you get the peat, then you get the power.

Finishing, she said: “The word “bog” does not conjure up the most inspiring of images, but peat bogs are unique and precious.”

Maybe it was the mention of ‘inspiring images’. Maybe it was the reference to ‘unique and precious’ things. Either way, European Spiny Lobster champion Stewart Stevenson, was on his feet.

Giving a short history of peat, he said: “The method of producing peat was through the back-breaking task of cutting out the peat from the peat banks, latterly by using a machine taking smaller slabs as tractors dragged it across, increasing the exploitation and the damage that we are doing to our peat bogs.”

At this point Gibson intervened. Concerned that Stevenson was getting bogged down in peaty details – peatails – he said: “In this debate, I wanted to focus on horticultural peat and not the extraction of peat for heating homes.”

Talk about using peat for heating homes in your own time, Stevenson. Though to be fair, he probably does.

By this point everyone was an expert – though they were all careful to pay homage to Gibson. As Angus Dey, champion of the endangered Woolly Willow, put it: “Outwith we peatland anoraks – I acknowledge that my friend Mr Gibson is the anoraks’ anorak in this area – the majority of people might not understand the pressing need to better protect our peatlands.”

The need for protection may be pressing, but at least those concerned with peat’s conservation will be reassured it has quite so many champions in the chamber.