Stone ‘thrilled’ with Flow Country’s World Heritage Status

Jamie Stone, MP for Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross, has expressed his joy at the news that the Flow Country - considered to be one of the largest areas of blanket bog in the world - has been awarded World Heritage Site status.

Blanket bogs are areas of peatland that are valuable as forms of carbon storage and sites of biodiversity.

After almost 40 years of campaigning, the award has been made by UNESCO, and signifies a recognition of the Flow Country’s natural and cultural value - as well as granting the land legal protection.

Commenting, Mr Stone said:

“As the MP who represents the Flow Country, I’m more than thrilled by this news. Of course, many of us have long suspected that this unique habitat was probably of world importance - now we know that it most certainly is and has been recognised as such.

“Of course, this historic announcement will stimulate great public interest, and I should imagine that tourists and locals alike will be interested to see such a special place.

“The task for the future is to make sure that the visitor experience is of the highest quality - but at the same time, in no way undermines the long-term viability of such an extraordinarily delicate and important ecosystem.

“The world’s flora and fauna are treasures of priceless value and they must be protected for countless generations to come.”