A CSO Frontier Series Output- What is this?
In 2015, the National Peatlands Strategy1 highlighted the importance of protecting and conserving peatlands. This strategy aims at a sustainable management of peatlands to optimise their social, environmental, and economic contributions to human well-being. Restoration and rehabilitation works have been carried out all over the country.
Restoration and rehabilitation, although often used interchangeably, are distinct terms:
In this chapter, we report the restoration and rehabilitation projects carried out by EU-LIFE programmes, Bord na Móna and the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS). LIFE programmes are EU funded and aim at environment and climate actions. Restoration works undertaken with co-funding from EU-LIFE involved NPWS and Coillte. As more sources become available, these data will be improved in future editions of this publication.
| Organisation | National Parks and Wildlife Service | Bord na Mona | EU-LIFE |
|---|---|---|---|
| Up to 2015 | 2412 | 1040 | 3170 |
| 2016-2020 | 604 | 2562 | 2116 |
| 2021-2025 | 9000 | 0 | 256 |
In the years up to 2015, more than 6,000 hectares of peatlands had been targeted for restoration projects. Half of this restoration work was carried out through EU-LIFE programmes whose primary purpose was the restoration of peatlands (Figure 5.1 and Table 5.1). Most of the sites restored under EU-LIFE programmes were on raised bogs located in the midlands (Map 5.1).
Between 2016 and 2020 just over an estimated 5,000 hectares have been targeted for restoration. NPWS restoration work experienced a decline during 2016 and 2017. However, accelerated NPWS restoration programmes started again in 2018 under the National Raised Bog SAC Management Plan 2017-2022. Nearly one half of areas subject to restoration work in the period 2016-2020 was undertaken by Bord na Móna (Figure 5.1 and Table 5.1).
From 2021 to 2025, NPWS plans to launch restoration projects covering 9,000 hectares (Figure 5.1 and Table 5.1).
| Organisation | Bord na Mona |
|---|---|
| Up to 2015 | 10118 |
| 2016-2020 | 10745.2 |
| 2021-2025 | 33000 |
More than 20,000 hectares of peatlands underwent rehabilitation projects up to 2020 (Figure 5.2 and Table 5.2). From 2016 to 2020, rehabilitation works have been mainly conducted under the Biodiversity Action Plan of Bord na Móna.
In November 2020, Bord na Móna launched the Peatlands Climate Action Scheme under which 33,000 hectares of peatlands are planned to be rehabilitated between 2021 and 2025 (Figure 5.2 and Table 5.2).
1. National Peatlands Strategy. (National Parks and Wildlife Service. Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, 2015).
2. Renou-Wilson, F. et al. BOGLAND: sustainable management of peatlands in Ireland - final report. (Environmental Protection Agency, 2011).
11. Bonn, A. et al. Peatland Restoration and Ecosystem Services: Science, Policy and Practice. (Cambridge University Press, 2016). DOI:10.1017/CBO9781139177788.
12. Bord na Móna. Rehabilitation and Restoration.
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