A BORDERS councillor has made a plea for the local authority to move towards a ban on the extraction of ‘Scotland’s rainforest’ in a bid to fight climate change.

Peat plays an important role in fighting climate change because it stores large amounts of carbon.

Scotland’s peatlands are estimated to hold the equivalent of 140 years’ worth of the country’s total annual greenhouse emissions.

But when peatlands are damaged – by burning, draining or extraction – they release large amounts of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases, which contribute to the heating of the planet.

In a question raised at a meeting of Scottish Borders Council, Tweeddale West Liberal Democrat councillor Drummond Begg called for extraction to cease.

He was informed that there is currently only one area of legally permitted peat extraction in the Borders, at a site near Lamancha.

Mr Begg said: “The issue is of critical importance. Peat bog is like Scotland’s ranforest, it actually captures up to twice as much carbon as forestry, so the very thought that we are still considering peat extraction going forward as a viable position is ill-considered.

“There has been a petition handed to the Scottish Government, and I’m aware there are local and national implications here, and it was seeking a ban on the extraction of peat and the seeking of alternatives.”

He called on Scottish Borders Council to act to address the issue.

He added: “I’d urge the council to look again at our planning criteria going forward in order to encourage alternatives, which is the mass composting of waste as the alternative, horticulturally, for destroying what is our Scottish rainforest.”

Councillor Jenny Lineham, the council’s executive member for environment and transport, said: “There is one site in the Scottish Borders where peat extraction is currently being undertaken, near Lamancha, operated by Westland Horticulture.

“The site has been operating since the late 1970s and has a valid permission that extends to December 31, 2040.”

Ms Lineham said the council’s development plan “seeks to protect against development that results in the permanent loss of significant carbon-rich soil reserves”, with a “presumption against peat extraction and other developments that have an adverse impact on peatland and all carbon-rich soils within peatland areas”.