Joanna MacLennan reflects on five years of Caledonian Climate

We spoke to individuals across the organisation, from those working on active peatland restoration sites to senior board members, to hear their thoughts on the company’s evolution since 2021, the explosion of the natural capital sector in Scotland, their biggest achievements at Caledonian Climate and ambitions for the future.

We’ll be sharing these interviews over the next four weeks, starting with our brilliant environmental consultant, Joanna MacLennan.

 

When you reflect on Caledonian Climate’s journey to date, what stands out most to you?

For me, it’s how far we've come in terms of scale, both in terms of restoration delivered and within the company itself.

Last year, Caledonian Climate was the largest contributor to Peatland ACTION’s Project Development Support Scheme – a figure which speaks to the scale and drive we have to deliver high-quality peatland restoration.

As a business, we've managed to grow rapidly to meet the demand seen across the sector. We've successfully trained a wide network of freelance workers and taken on and upskilled interns and students looking for work experience in peatland restoration.

 

Which projects or initiatives are you most proud of from your time at Caledonian Climate?

Personally, I'm most proud of helping to create the original Caledonian Climate peatland restoration monitoring methodology and the continuous development of the monitoring programme we offer.

Being at the forefront of the sector and working with professionals like Richard Lindsay, Linzi Seivwright and Sam Skinner to produce a robust, credible peatland monitoring framework has been hugely rewarding. Together, we are looking to sculpt the professional standards of peatland monitoring and capture essential data on the wide range of benefits restoration has on a landscape and peatland species. This collaboration is crucial if we are to progress in the delivery of high-integrity, high-value, and sustainable nature restoration projects.

 

How do you think Caledonian Climate has helped shape the peatland restoration sector in the last five years?

Caledonian Climate has repeatedly shown that increasing the speed and scale of restoration is possible by producing high-integrity projects across Scotland. We continue to engage with a range of key stakeholders to ensure that the momentum is maintained and that high-quality peatland projects remain at the forefront of the carbon sector.

As an organisation, we are leading the registration of accredited projects on the UK Land Carbon Registry, holding more registered peatland projects than any other organisation. This is a testament to the quality work the team does.

 

What role does collaboration play in delivering peatland recovery at this scale?

Collaboration is the key to making sure restoration gets delivered to the highest standard.

Landowners and estate workers are at the heart of every project; their knowledge of the ground is essential for delivering high-integrity projects. Public bodies such as NatureScot and Peatland ACTION provide both the funding architecture, often blending public capital with private investment, and the assurance framework of the IUCN Peatland Code that gives buyers confidence in genuine, independently verified carbon units.

In terms of the physical works on the ground, delivering quality restoration across Scotland wouldn’t be possible without specialist contractors; our long-standing relationships with some of the country’s best contractors allow us to ensure the speed and scale of works are achievable. Equally, our corporate investors provide the demand that sustains the market and engagement with local communities ensure lasting local benefit.

It is the alignment of all these partners around a shared commitment to integrity that has let us increase both the speed and scale of restoration across Scotland.

 

Looking ahead, what opportunities do you see for Caledonian Climate and the nature sector at large?

There is a lot to look forward to, with initiatives like biodiversity net gain, muirburn surveys and detailed monitoring practices all coming in the near future. There’s a lot to keep us busy – but we like it that way!

Huge thanks to Joanna for contributing to this blog. Stay tuned for more thoughts from the team.