Project Overview

Connecting Ireland's peatlands, people and policies

At a glance

Location

Ireland’s midlands

LIFE Budget

€9,894,803

Duration

October 2020 – September 2027

Scale

Improvements across upwards of 9,900ha of peatlands will be supported within the project itself (with complementary action over circa 28,100ha of peatlands and 40,000ha of grasslands)

Why are peatlands important?

Ireland has a high proportion of Europe’s remaining peatlands, including a variety of raised and blanket bogs, fens and heath. Peatlands are wetland ecosystems in which waterlogged conditions prevent plant material from fully decomposing.

Our peatlands have immense value - they combat climate change, protect biodiversity, maintain water quality and provide a space for wellbeing, as well as ensuring other important ecosystem services. While the harvesting of peatlands is damaging to the environment, restored and intact bogs store excess carbon dioxide they have removed from the atmosphere.

The restoration of peatlands is considered in Ireland's Climate Action Plan (2019), which sets out 183 actions targeted at tackling climate change and achieving net zero carbon energy systems while creating a resilient and sustainable country. A LIFE-funded project, Peatlands and People uses peatlands as a theme to support the Plan in delivering climate action and carbon benefits, and is listed as a key action (#22) in the most recent update of the Climate Action Plan (2021).

Three powerful pillars

Each project pillar will develop and implement activities that contribute towards achieving this vision, working together with communities and other stakeholders. Find out more about each catalyst:

Implementing change

The project actions related to preparing, delivering, monitoring the impact and raising awareness of the three pillars, all aim to contribute towards the realisation of Ireland's Climate Action Plan.

About the actions Your questions answered

A multifaceted project

Peatlands and People also contributes and creates synergies towards numerous other EU policies and strategies (e.g. Biodiversity Strategy, Habitats Directive). It strongly aligns with the European Green Deal, providing the opportunity to ensure clean energy, sustainable industry, biodiversity and circular food systems are integrated into Ireland’s policies, industries and societies.