Ireland has announced €15m investment in a cross-border project with Northern Ireland and Scotland to boost blanket bog recovery.
But peatland awareness group Mid Shannon Wilderness Park has warned the “recovery of one category of bogs is not going to be enough” and called for the mandatory rehabilitation of all peatlands.
Results-based agri-environment payment schemes will be at the heart of the new collaboration with Northern Ireland Environment Agency and NatureScot.
Minister Noonan said: “I’ve just returned from COP15 where the link between biodiversity and climate change is being discussed by many.
“Biodiversity knows no borders and this collaboration reflects the importance of partner organisations working together across jurisdictions to protect and improve our natural environment.
“Our peatlands are a perfect example of how nature can help with mitigating the effects of climate change and I’m delighted that this funding will help strengthen efforts to restore more peatlands to deliver climate and ecosystem services and create a more sustainable island.
“A lack of technical and organisational capacity in peatland restoration is a barrier to preventing the ongoing decline of our peatlands - this funding will help to bridge that gap, working with our partners in Northern Ireland and Scotland.”
The EU-funded Wild Atlantic Nature LIFE Integrated Project, launched in 2021, is getting €10 million from the Government’s Shared Island Fund and €5 million from the National Parks and Wildlife Service.
Its new aim in Ireland is to improve the quality of all 55 blanket bog SACs and associated habitats through working with communities, landowners, farming families and groups.
Work so far has focused on 35 Natura 2000 sites in the North West, where over 800 farmers benefited from funding linked to the quality of habitat on their land and ecosystem services like providing clean water, carbon storage and biodiversity.
New sites across Ireland, Northern Ireland and Scotland will now be chosen for blanket bog restoration.
Dr Derek McLoughlin, LIFE IP Wild Atlantic Nature project manager added: “We plan to set up lighthouse sites to develop multidimensional peatland restoration... delivering social and environmental returns in partnership with local communities.
“Learnings from this cross border collaboration will be integrated into the work of National Parks and Wildlife Service to support its role in peatland restoration and agri-environment schemes aimed at improving biodiversity.”
Professor Des Thompson FRSE from NatureScot, said: “Concerted action to restore peatlands is vital in meeting our Net Zero targets.
“In Scotland, through the NatureScot Peatland ACTION programme, we look forward to sharing our work with colleagues in Ireland. Cooperation, sharing experiences and innovation are essential ingredients for success.”
Dr Sara McGuckin from Northern Ireland Environment Agency added: “Restoring our precious peatlands will play a critical role in addressing our nature and climate crises.
“We welcome this important Shared Island initiative and look forward to strengthening our collaborative working with our counterparts in Ireland and Scotland in pursuit of healthy, functioning peatlands and biodiversity.”
Peatlands are key to addressing the climate crisis in Ireland.
Intact blanket bog sequesters around 0.5 tonnes of carbon per hectare per year if wet enough but when drained or damaged, this ecosystem function ceases resulting in carbon losses at a rate of over 5 tonnes of carbon/ha/year.
Niall Dennigan from the Mid Shannon Wilderness Park welcomed the funding but said more needs to be done to restore all Irish peatlands.
The group has been highlighting ongoing issues at a Bord Na Mona managed bog in Co Longford, which it would like to see rewetted and restored for wildlife, habitats, new employment, tourism and to promote the mental and physical health of locals and not continually drained or used for a wind farm.
Niall said: “Funding for restoration and rehabilitation of our bogs is always welcome, but it’s also critically important to remember that cutaway bogs also play a significant role in a biodiversity and climate crisis and should not be overlooked.
“Recovery of one category of bogs is not going to be enough.
“It’s going to take all bogs and the cutaway bogs here which are already serving a critical wildlife purpose and should be developed into a mandatory rehabilitation scheme in their entirety through the Just Transition.”
The blanket bog funding announcement follows Heritage and Electoral Reform Minister Malcolm Noonan’s COP15 pledge to “support negotiations for an ambitious global biodiversity framework that will halt and reverse biodiversity loss”.
Earlier this week he declared an increase in Ireland’s marine protected areas from 2.3% to 8.3% and plans to put the National Biodiversity Action Plan on statutory footing with stronger responsibilities for public bodies.
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