Major Peatlands Restoration Project Planned for Northern Ireland
A significant cross-border investment is set to deliver large-scale peatland restoration across some of Northern Ireland’s most treasured outdoor places, including the Sperrin Mountains, the Mourne Mountains and the Cuilcagh Bog beside the famous Stairway to Heaven walk.
The €19.2 million PEAT+ Project, led by nature conservation charity Ulster Wildlife and funded by the EU’s PEACEPLUS Programme, will restore degraded peatlands, enhance biodiversity, improve water quality and help tackle climate change over the next three years.
Peatlands act as vital carbon stores and unique wildlife habitats, but much of Ireland’s peatland is in a degraded state, releasing carbon and losing ecological function. Restoration work under the PEAT+ Project will involve blocking drains to rewet dried peat, reprofiling eroded peat surfaces, and promoting vegetation recovery to rebuild natural peatland hydrology. These techniques help to slow carbon loss and retain water in the lanscape, reducing the risk of flooding and creating conditions where peatland plants, insects and birds can thrive again, ultimately supporting healthier ecosystems in the outdoor trails and places we know and love.
Ulster Wildlife will play a central role in coordinating this effort, working with councils, landowners and local communities to deliver practical restoration and engage people with the value of peatlands.
