Ulster Wildlife is delighted to confirm a major €19.2 million investment through PEACEPLUS, a programme managed by the Special EU Programmes Body - SEUPB, to deliver the ‘PEAT+ Project’ – a transformative cross-border partnership initiative to restore peatlands, enhance biodiversity and combat climate change across Northern Ireland and the border counties of Ireland.
The project will be led by Ulster Wildlife with eight project partners including Armagh City, Banbridge & Craigavon District Council, Atlantic Technological University – Donegal, Bord na Móna, Crichton Carbon Centre, Fermanagh & Omagh District Council, Newry, Mourne & Down District Council, Mournes Heritage Trust and RTÉ is also expected to partner on the project.
Peatlands are among the most precious and powerful natural assets we have — acting as carbon stores, water regulators, and rich biodiversity havens. Yet, many are degraded and in urgent need of restoration. The PEAT+ project will restore these critical landscapes and re-establish their essential ecological functions, ensuring lasting benefits for people, nature, and climate.
The PEACEPLUS Programme aims to promote peace and prosperity across Northern Ireland and the border counties, with a strong focus on sustainability and shared environmental goals. Part of a wider €40 million funding award under PEACEPLUS’s Biodiversity, Nature Recovery and Resilience Investment Area, the PEAT+ project will receive €19,207,851 to:
Restore peatlands across 18 sites, improving habitat quality and promoting carbon capture;
Recover biodiversity, including rare and threatened species such as golden plover and large heath butterfly;
Preserve archaeological and historic features within peatlands;
Improve water quality, reduce wildfire risks, and contribute to flood alleviation.
“This investment marks an important moment for nature recovery on the island of Ireland,” said Dawn Miskelly, Chief Executive of Ulster Wildlife. “Healthy peatlands are one of our strongest natural defences against climate change, and with this funding we can accelerate restoration and nature recovery on a really significant scale. We are proud to lead the PEAT+ Project and look forward to working with our partners and landowners to safeguard these vital ecosystems.”
SEUPB Chief Executive Gina McIntyre said: “Our natural environment is one of our most important assets and its continued enhancement and protection is critical to future economic and social development in Northern Ireland and the border counties of Ireland. A clean, green and accessible environment makes a major contribution to people having long, active, healthy lives, as well as creating a place where people want to live, visit and invest.“As one of two funded PEACEPLUS projects in the Biodiversity, Nature Recovery and Resilience investment area, PEAT+ will support cross-border protected site restoration that will see the delivery of crucial conservation measures. The goal is to enhance key habitats and species to improve conservation conditions and increase ecological and climate resilience.”
The project is structured around three core work packages:
- Conservation Planning, Design – Using satellite imagery, ecological data, and records to inform tailored action plans for restoration, species protection, wildfire management, and sustainable land use.
- Peatland Restoration – On-the-ground implementation of restoration work, aimed at bringing priority habitats towards 'favourable condition' status.
- Capacity Building, Community Engagement & Research – Empowering local communities, landowners, and volunteers to take part in conservation efforts and develop long-term stewardship.
Ulster Wildlife looks forward to working closely with partners, landowners and communities, along with our funding partners through the PEACEPLUS Programme over the next four years to deliver meaningful change — because investing in our natural environment, is investing in all our futures.
Editors Notes
- The Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB) is a North South Body with the statutory remit for managing EU funding programmes within Northern Ireland and the border counties of Ireland.
- PEACEPLUS is a cross-border funding Programme designed to support peace and prosperity across Northern Ireland and the border counties of Ireland and has a total value of €1.14 billion, to be delivered over the next four years.
- PEACEPLUS is co-funded by the European Union, the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, the Government of Ireland, and the Northern Ireland Executive.
- For media enquiries around PEAT+ and our peatland restoration work contact vickie.chambers@ulsterwildlife.org, visit ulsterwildlife.org or find us on social @UlsterWildlife