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Major whisky
producers unite for landmark peatland
restoration at RSPB reserve
A significant new
conservation partnership has been
launched today, bringing together RSPB
Scotland and leading whisky distillers
Suntory Global Spirits, Diageo and The
Glenmorangie Company. Their shared goal
is to revive peatland on Islay — one of
Scotland’s most celebrated natural
landscapes.
The collaborative project at The Oa
nature reserve aims to protect vital
wildlife habitats, capture carbon, and
honour the deep cultural ties between
Scotland’s land, its communities, and
the whisky industry. This unique
cross-industry effort highlights the
importance of collective action in
restoring Scotland’s natural
environment.
Over the next five years, the three
distillers will jointly invest £1.6
million to rehabilitate around 1,000
hectares of peatland. The work will help
strengthen the landscape’s resilience to
flooding and wildfires, enhance habitat
quality, and support the recovery of
species across a restored, functioning
blanket bog ecosystem.
Scotland’s peatlands are critical in the
national response to climate change and
biodiversity decline. These globally
significant landscapes hold vast stores
of carbon — estimated to be ten times
more than all UK forests combined —
making restoration a key tool in climate
mitigation. Their ecological importance
extends to wildlife as well, with
efforts at The Oa expected to benefit
priority species such as Curlew, Snipe,
Hen Harrier and the Large Heath
Butterfly.
"This incredibly exciting partnership at
the Oa will allow us to return some of
Scotland’s large and internationally
important peatlands back to health,”
said RSPB Scotland director Anne McCall.
“It’s a shining example of how
conservation and industry can work hand
in hand in restoring Scotland’s
incredible and unique habitats. We are
extremely encouraged to see businesses
collaborating to share the
responsibility of environmental
restoration and protection.
"Healthy peatlands also help improve
water quality, which should benefit both
wildlife and people."
The Oa is home to a rich mosaic of
habitats, ranging from exposed moorland
to farmland managed for wildlife.
However, centuries of peat cutting have
drained much of its blanket bog,
diminishing its ability to store carbon.
Restoring this landscape will encourage
peat-forming vegetation to return,
supporting both climate objectives and
biodiversity recovery.
Alistair Longwell, Head of Distilling
and Environment at Suntory Global
Spirits, says: "We’re delighted to be
part of this forward-thinking
collaboration that combines the
expertise of RSPB and industry
counterparts to restore peatland on
Islay. It marks the latest step in
Suntory Global Spirits’ ongoing global
sustainability commitment, including the
Peatland Water Sanctuary™ initiative. We
have dedicated more than $4 million to
the conservation and restoration of
peatlands and natural watersheds, and to
date we have restored over 370 hectares
across Scotland, including at The Oa. We
look forward to working with our new
partners to continue protecting these
unique landscapes for generations to
come."
Kristin Hughes, Global SVP for
Sustainability at Diageo, says:
"Collective action across industries and
with environmental leaders is essential
if we are to make a lasting impact in
restoring Scottish peatlands. By
bringing together diverse expertise,
resources, and shared commitment, we can
accelerate progress toward real,
measurable results. Across our peat
work, we will invest in improved
scientific understandings of the
multiple benefits peatland restoration
can bring, such as water management,
carbon capture and biodiversity. We look
forward to delivering collaborative
impact and strengthening the case for
peatland restoration across Scotland and
beyond."
Caspar MacRae, President and CEO of The
Glenmorangie Company, says: "At Ardbeg,
we recognise the vital role peatlands
play, in Scotland's natural heritage and
in securing a sustainable future. We are
proud to be part of this partnership at
The Oa, working alongside RSPB Scotland
and fellow distillers to restore this
precious landscape. By investing in the
health of our peatlands, we are
investing in the resilience of our
environment, supporting biodiversity,
and safeguarding the legacy for
generations to come."
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