Three multinational scotch whisky brand owners have combined to support a GBP1.6m (US$2.1m) plan to restore peatland in Scotland.
Suntory Global Spirits, Diageo and Moët Hennessy, the latter through its The Glenmorangie Co unit, have pledged financial support for a five-year initiative to focus on restoring around 1,000 hectares of degraded peatland at The Oa nature reserve on Islay. The trio have partnered with charity The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) for the project, which will re-wet drained areas, improve resilience to flooding and wildfires and restore habitats for key bird and insect species.
All three own distilleries on Islay; Suntory Global Spirits operates Bowmore and Laphroaig, Diageo has Caol Ila, Lagavulin and the recently reopened Port Ellen, while Moët Hennessy oversees Ardbeg.
According to RSPB Scotland, peatland has a major role to play in Scotland’s climate strategy, with healthy bogs offering long-term carbon sequestration benefits. Much of the land at The Oa has been affected by historic peat cutting, which has reduced its carbon-storage capacity.
Restoration planning is already under way, with work expected to begin before the end of this year.
Last week, Diageo also announced an investment of up to GBP5m over five years to help restore up to 3,000 hectares of degraded peatland across Scotland.
Meanwhile, earlier this month, Suntory Global Spirits offered a high-end consumer experience alongside the launch of an ultra-premium iteration of Bowmore.
