In Conversation with…Randal Wilson

Since joining Caledonian Climate as a Founding Director in 2021, Randal has been instrumental in the development of the business’s long-term growth strategy and driving our vision for large-scale peatland recovery.

We sat down with Randal to hear more about what inspired his interest in peatland restoration, his opinion on the state of the sector today, and what the future holds for nature-based solutions in Scotland.

 

1.) What first piqued your interest in peatland restoration?

As a farmer and land manager, I had a keen interest in integrated land management and the complexities surrounding this, such as forestry, livestock, deer and renewable energy.

Then, in 2013, I embarked on a run of river hydro scheme, but soon realised it wasn’t quite as efficient as I had anticipated. With growing concern around the long-term feasibility of the scheme, I made the decision to restore the surrounding peatland to improve the efficiency of the hydrology on site.

Soon after the diggers were laid on the ground, I began to see the land transforming. What was once dried-out peat hags was immediately transformed into a flourishing wetland ecosystem.

The impacts of peatland restoration were felt almost immediately. The water stream slowed practically overnight, with reduced flashiness and improved flood mitigation. Not only this, but I began to see more wildlife and plant life on site –the degraded peat was no longer entering the water course because of the mosaic of pools created by the mini dams,  it was truly fascinating to watch and opened my eyes to the vast potential of peatland restoration.

 

2. How do you manage the competing concerns of land management and peatland restoration?

I have never viewed peatland restoration as in competition with farming or forestry. They can coexist, but you need to be aware of herbivore impacts.

Effective asset management requires strategic planning. You can still have deer, sheep and cattle alongside restored peatland; it is important, however, to manage the density appropriately.

And, while you may subsequently have fewer deer, sheep or cattle, the vast environmental benefits of recovering damaged peatland far outweigh this, at least in my opinion.

 

3. What do you feel is the biggest challenge facing the peatland restoration sector today?

Attracting consistent private investment.

The public funding has its place, but it also has limitations. Many nature organisations have a limited budget, with multiple competing projects, and progress can be slow.

Greater private finance would bring an increased commitment from contractors able to work on larger-scale projects for longer periods throughout the year. This, in turn, would, therefore accelerate the scale and speed of peatland restoration across Scotland, bringing significant environmental and socio-economic advantages.

 

4. What do you feel is holding private investment back?

In the UK, businesses lack a clear pathway to get involved in peatland restoration. Projects are difficult to find. Furthermore, demand is driven voluntarily and there are simply not enough incentives or security for businesses to invest in the current climate, despite the incredibly positive impact that peatland restoration has.

The government needs to do more to encourage private financing of restoration projects, both by increasing confidence in the demand side of market and by building security within the nature framework.

 

5. And what can be done to encourage landowners to commit to peatland restoration?

It’s crucial we educate landowners that there is no conflict between farming, forestry and peatland restoration; we can support food production, biodiversity and carbon storage simultaneously, provided we manage the land asset correctly.

It is important that the government establishes a clear value in the ecosystem services produced from peatland restoration. By monetising biodiversity impact, water quality and the carbon, we can incentivise individuals to restore degraded peatland and be better custodians of the land. Doing so is critical if we want to see landscape-scale recovery of peatlands.

 

6. What sets Caledonian Climate apart from other peatland restoration organisations?

A special mix of passion, experience and expertise. Our team includes environmentalists, land management experts, and operational professionals, giving us a 360 view of the sector and a clear route to drive the industry forward. Collectively, we are focused on delivering projects that have maximum impact, are high integrity and are backed up by robust and insightful data.

All of us have a deeply ingrained passion for nature recovery. We have seen firsthand the positive impact of peatland restoration, transforming black, drained peat into an asset; that of a rewetted landscape. This shared understanding unites us and motivates us in our work.

 

7. How has peatland restoration progressed in the years since you first became involved?

There has been a huge sea-change since I first got involved in 2016! People are conscious of how important peatland restoration is for the planet and communities and are waking up to the opportunities of natural capital.

We are also seeing significant socio-economic benefits, with increased employment and a growing carbon market that can support rural economies.

It is incredibly reassuring to see the advancements that have already taken place within the sector, and which are only expected to grow.

 

Huge thanks to Randal for contributing to this blog.

To get in touch with Randal, visit his LinkedIn profile here. If you’re interested in seeing more of the work we do, take a look at our Peatland Portfolio.