Background The Caithness and Sutherland Peatlands are the largest and most intact areas of active blanket bog found in the UK, and one of the largest in the world. In 1998, 143,538 ha were proposed as pSCI under the Habitats Directive. They were also classified as an SPA in view of their value for a diverse range of Annex I birds, such as the red-throated diver (Gavia stellata) and the golden plover (Pluvialis appricaria). A high proportion of the active blanket bog in the pSCI remains in excellent condition. However, parts were still being seriously damaged in the late 1990s as a result of past activities (large-scale afforestation and drainage) and to a lesser extent by on-going management practices (for example, grazing and burning). The greatest threat came from forestry plantations that lay just outside the SAC/SPA boundaries. Action was urgently required if this particular damage was to be stopped. The next three to five years of the new decade presented the last opportunity to restore afforested peatland with an optimal chance of success, as the forest canopy would close and finally shade out what remained of the peatland vegetation community. Objectives Building on the initial results of a previous LIFE-Nature project, the intention of this project was not only to enlarge the area of restored blanket bog but also to devise a long-term land use strategy for the sustainable management of the SAC/SPA in co-operation with the principal stakeholders. This would include identifying financial and procedural mechanisms by which such a strategy might be delivered. The project partnership was made up of conservation NGOs, the forestry authorities and the statutory conservation agency. Together, they would undertake a series of actions over a total area of 16,200 ha. The major restoration actions involved drain blocking on blanket bog and removal of trees as well as drain blocking on afforested peatland. Actions to facilitate this restoration included land purchase (more than 3000 ha of peatland targeted) and the implementation of site-based prescriptions on privately owned land using the SNH peatland management scheme. A range of public-awareness activities would also be undertaken to ensure that the continued support built up among local land-owners and communities by the previous LIFE project. Results The project has been successful in restoring large areas of blanket bog in Northern Scotland. It has been able to remove commercial forestry from 1 556 ha of land that had previously been blanket bog. The blocking of drains has benefited the condition of more than 16 600 ha of peatland, including existing Natura 2000 sites. Also the project purchased 2 275 ha of active blanket bog and 1 556 ha of afforested blanket bog (total land purchased 3 860 ha). A key part of this project has been the development of the Peatlands of Caithness & Sutherland Management Strategy 2005-2015. Scottish Natural Heritage led the development of the strategy, which is the principal means of securing the long-term benefits of the project and the sustainable management of the peatlands, which brings together the conservation aims of the project beneficiary and the economic objectives of local stakeholder. This has led to the formation of a Peatlands Partnership that will continue to work towards the Strategic Plan's four key objectives: • To promote land management that benefits nationally and internationally important areas of peatland. • To promote sustainable woodland management and an appropriate balance between woodlands and peatlands. • To encourage sustainable community and economic development that is compatible with safeguarding those features that make the peatlands important. • To promote greater awareness, understanding and enjoyment of the special nature and values of the peatlands. This project has been selected as one of the 26 "Best" LIFE Nature projects in 2007-2008.