PEAT+
What is PEAT+?
PEAT+ is a €19.2 million cross-border project to restore peatlands, enhance biodiversity and combat climate change.
The project is led by local nature conservation charity, Ulster Wildlife, and is funded by PEACEPLUS, a programme managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB).
Delivery partners in the project include Armagh City, Banbridge & Craigavon District Council, Atlantic Technological University (ATU) Donegal, Crichton Carbon Centre, Cuilcagh Lakelands Geopark, Newry, Mourne & Down District Council, Mourne Heritage Trust, RTÉ and associate partners NI Water and National Parks & Wildlife Service (NPWS).
The project will deliver large-scale peatland restoration across Northern Ireland and the border counties of Ireland on 19 priority sites over the next three years and will include innovation and research along with promoting the heritage of our peatlands.
PEAT+ Launch video (https://youtu.be/G92vHLVLsoA?si=ocRLH4dkn6Yca1um)
Discover how the PEAT+ project will deliver large-scale peatland restoration across Northern Ireland and the border counties of Ireland on 19 priority sites over the next three years ,
Why is PEAT+ needed?
The island of Ireland holds 50% of western Europe’s remaining raised bogs and 8% of the world’s total of blanket bogs.
Peatlands store vast amounts of carbon—twice as much carbon as all the world’s forests.
However, when damaged, peatlands go from being a carbon sink to a carbon source, releasing into the atmosphere centuries of stored carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas which contributes to climate change.
Over 80% of peatlands on the island of Ireland are damaged and in poor condition as a result of turf cutting, drainage and overgrazing.
What are we doing?
The PEAT+ project is working on 19 sites in Northern Ireland and Ireland’s border counties to improve more than 12,000ha of peatlands – the equivalent of 16,000 football pitches.
Peatland restoration will help recover biodiversity, including rare and threatened species such as golden plover and large heath butterfly. The project will also preserve archaeological and historic features within peatlands.
PEAT+ work will help Improve water quality, reduce wildfire risks, and contribute to flood alleviation.
Our Partners and Projects
Ulster Wildlife
Lead partner Ulster wildlife will deliver peatland restoration actions across our conservation sites. Interventions will include drain blocking, bunding, revegetation, reprofiling, and erosion control to restore hydrology and improve habitat resilience.
Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council
ABC Council’s work focuses on restoring three significant peatland sites in the council area at Peatlands Park, Selsion and Brackagh Bog, each requiring tailored interventions to improve hydrology and biodiversity. Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council.
Atlantic Technological University (ATU)
ATU Donegal is delivering restoration and wildfire plans for Glenveagh National Park in Co Donegal. Their PhD’s will also pioneer portable soil and hydrology technologies to accelerate peatland restoration. Innovations include eco-friendly soil analysis systems and IoT-enabled sensors for real-time water monitoring. ATU.
Crichton Carbon Centre
Based in Scotland, Crichton Carbon Centre's contribution to PEAT+ will build capacity and skills in peatland restoration through mentoring and training project staff, delivering toolkits, GIS guidance, accredited courses, and workshops to create a skilled workforce and embed best practices. Crichton Carbon Centre.
Cuilcagh Lakelands Geopark
The Cuilcagh Lakelands Global Geopark, spans the Cavan/Fermanagh border an includes rugged uplands, lakes and forests through to gently rolling drumlins. Fermanagh Omagh District Council will focus on gathering imagery and data to create management plans for peatland restoration, species conservation, wildfire prevention, and sustainable grazing in the area of Cuilcagh Lakelands Geopark Cuilcagh Geopark.
Mourne Heritage Trust
Restoration plans for Eastern Mournes SAC will integrate ecology, culture, and history using aerial imagery, LiDAR, GIS mapping, and stakeholder collaboration to guide peatland recovery, wildfire prevention, species conservation, and sustainable grazing strategies. Mourne Heritage Trust.
Newry, Mourne and Down District Council
The project uses aerial imagery, LiDAR, and GIS mapping to create restoration, wildfire, and grazing plans for Slieve Gullion SAC, integrating ecological, cultural, and historical priorities for resilient land management. Newry, Mourne and Down District Council.
RTÉ
Raidió Teilifís Éireann (RTÉ) is Ireland's public service broadcaster and will lead the development of peatlands focused natural history broadcast content that will highlight the amazing role of peatlands for nature, people and climate. RTÉ.
Northern Ireland Water
As an Associate Project Partner Northern Ireland Water will be working with Mourne Heritage Trust on peatlands restoration in some of their land holdings in the Mournes. NI Water.
National Parks and Wildlife Service.
Ireland's National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) will be working as an Associate Partner to support the work with Ulster Wildlife and ATU in Glenveagh National Park in Donegal – this area is predominantly state-owned and their local knowledge will help with developing wildfire management plans and delivering peatland restoration. NPWS.
€19.2 million cross-border peatland restoration project launched
A major €19.2 million cross-border project to restore peatlands, enhance biodiversity and combat climate change has been officially…
€19.2M PEACEPLUS Funding Boost for Ulster Wildlife-led PEAT+ Project to Restore Vital Peatlands
Ulster Wildlife is delighted to confirm a major €19.2 million investment through PEACEPLUS, a programme managed by the Special EU…
