Chamber and committees

There are many uncertaintiesassociated with emissions from organic soils and the Executive is undertakingresearch to better understand the role of agricultural and other land uses ongreenhouse gas emissions, including carbon dioxide, from Scotland’sorganic-rich soils. The Executive has commissionedresearch to consider development of a modelling framework to simulate carbonand nitrogen cycling in organic soils and to provide predictions of how theywill respond to land use change and climate change. The findings of this studywill contribute to understanding of greenhouse gas emissions from soils due toland use change.

With the help of the chair,Katharine Bryan, we have selected what we believe is a dynamic and varied teamof people to review the long-term options for the management of high andintermediate level radioactive waste.

The appointees are:

Mary Allan,Ross-shire - Lecturer, School of Business, The North Highland College;

Professor David Ball, Norfolk -Professor of Risk Management, Middlesex University;

Fred Barker, West Yorkshire- nuclear policy analyst;

Dr Keith Baverstock, Finland -former Head of Radiation Protection Division, World Health Organisation;

Professor Andrew BlowersOBE, Bedfordshire - Professor of Social Sciences at the Open University, localcouncillor;

Professor Brian DrummondClark, Aberdeen - former Professor of Environmental Management andPlanning, Board Member of the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency;

Dr Wynne Davies,Buckinghamshire - Vice President, Group Health, Safety and Environment,Amersham plc;

Dr Mark Dutton, Cheshire -physicist and nuclear decommissioning expert, NNC;

Dr Gordon MacKerron, Brighton -economist and energy policy consultant, Associate Director, NERA;

Professor Lynda Warren,Powys - zoologist and Emeritus Professor of Environmental Law at the University of Wales;

Jennifer Watson, London -Commissioner, Women's National Commission and Chair; and

Pete Wilkinson, Suffolk - Director of WilkinsonEnvironmental Consultancy, former Chair of Greenpeace and co-founder of Friendsof the Earth (UK).

continuation until March2006 of support for the Lloyds TSB Partnership Drugs Initiative at the currentrate of £750,000 per year, and the continuing secondment of a Scottish Executive staff member to manage the project. This initiative is aimed atpromoting voluntary sector work with children and young people affected by drugmisuse, whether directly or because of their parents’ addiction.

£1.2 million over two years(2004-06) to commission Columba 1400 to take up to 300 care leavers a year ontotheir personal development programme. This will provide an opportunity for careleavers to tap into their own potential for leadership and self determination.It will build their confidence and capacity, helping them in the transition toindependent living.

One-off funding of £250,000 toa new foundation that will fund combined groups of voluntary organisations to providecontinuity of care and support to vulnerable young people. A Scottish Executive member of staff will also be seconded to assist the foundation.

Blanket Bog

SNH’s recently developedScottish blanket bog inventory estimates the total extent of blanket bog as1,927,000 ha. Some 55% of this is considered to be degraded to varying degreesas a result of past agricultural drainage, peat cutting, erosion etc.

Raised Bog

SNH have estimated thatthere are approximately 24,000 ha of raised bog at present, of which 14% isactively peat forming, 23% is degraded but capable of restoration and 63% is nolonger restorable.

Fens

Fens, the third habitat andthe lesser of the three types in terms of area, are the least known in terms ofdiversity, extent and condition. Scottish Natural Heritage has recently embarkedupon the development of a Fen Inventory to collate information held by itself,other agencies and voluntary organisations.

Complete restoration of whole woodlands to peatland is not provided for in forestry grant schemes, but Forestry Commission Scotland’s Woodland Grant Scheme and the new Scottish Forestry Grant Scheme fund restoration work in relation to the management of forest edges, and smaller scale restoration of peatland habitats within forests.

Forestry Commission Scotlandis also undertaking peat bog restoration on national forest lands as part of a number of EU LIFE projects as shown in the following table:

Forestry Commission Scotland Net Expenditure Contributing to EU LIFE Projects on Peatland Restoration on National Forest Lands: 1999-2004

In addition to thesemanagement agreements, SNH has contributed approximately £0.5 million for peatbog restoration in Scotland through EC LIFE Nature schemes.