It is the first peatland bog to ever gain the prestigious status and is Scotland’s first natural World Heritage Site. The landscape, widely considered to be the largest area of blanket bog in the world and covering around 1500 square miles in Caithness and Sutherland, has become the UK's 35th Unesco World Heritage Site. It joins aa very exclusive list of natural Unesco World Heritage Sites, including the Grand Canyon and Great Barrier Reef.
Due to the nature of the site, the listing is also expected to bring new opportunities for local people through the creation of green jobs in landscape restoration and conservation. Reacting to the news, Scottish Government Net Zero Secretary Gillian Martin said it was a “momentous day” for both Caithness and Sutherland and Scotland overall. “The Flow Country is an area of truly outstanding natural beauty and its diverse ecosystems and peatlands are a vital part of our efforts to combat climate change and nature loss.
This new global prominence will help preserve the area for many generations to come," she said. “I want to congratulate the Flow Country Partnership and everyone who has worked so hard towards this tremendous achievement. Their passion and determination has not only elevated the Flow Country to Unesco World Heritage Status, but has ensured its protection far into the future.
” It will be the seventh Scottish site to receive World Heritage status, joining St Kilda and the Forth Bridge, which attracts hundreds of tho.
