As part of its Pillar 3 activities, the project aims to support Climate Champions and stimulate climate-positive behaviour change. For this purpose, the project has established synergies with the Leaders for Nature Programme.
Developed in partnership with Leave No Trace Ireland, Common Purpose Ireland, and Native Events, the programme is designed to empower emerging leaders to address Ireland’s most pressing environmental challenges and to explore actionable solutions for nature recovery.
Peatlands and People has funded three places on the “Leaders for Nature Programme” in 2025 (two external to the project, one internal) that are based in the Midlands region or are focusing their work on the Midlands.
- Investigation, assessment and selection of suitable sites
- Preparation of restoration and rehabilitation plans
- Development of drainage management plans
- Review of regulatory requirements
- Implementation of restoration and rehabilitation works
- Vegetation monitoring
- Hydrological monitoring
- Greenhouse gas (GHG) monitoring
- Further reductions in GHGs as more peatlands in Ireland are restored/rehabilitated via complementary actions
- Develop the accelerator model
- Site screening and assessment for the Just Transition Accelerator and People's Discovery Visitor Experience
- Establish the Just Transition Accelerator
- Stakeholder, partnerships and stewardship strategies
- Final site selection and development consent
- Become a self-funding legal entity and further support the midlands in a Just Transition
- Develop a business plan and establish an operational entity
- Site screening and assessment for the site of the Just Transition Accelerator and People's Discovery Visitor Experience
- Review of visitor facilitation at selected sites
- Stakeholder, partnerships and stewardship strategies
- Final site selection and development consent
- Sustainable construction of the People's Discovery Visitor Experience, including the programme, collections and exhibits.
- Operate and maintain a sustainable tourist and educational attraction which delivers a highly immersive visitor experience.