PEAT+
What is PEAT+?
PEAT+ is a €19.2 million cross-border project to restore peatlands, enhance biodiversity and combat climate.
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, and associate partners NI Water and NPWS. RTÉ is also expected to partner on the project.
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.
Why are we here?
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 CO2.
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?
PEAT+ 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 also help recover biodiversity, including rare and threatened species such as golden plover and large heath butterfly
The project will also reserve 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 16 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 project 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 is delivering restoration plans for Glenveagh National Park in Co Donegal. Their project also pioneers 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 project builds capacity and skills in peatland restoration through mentoring, training, and public engagement, delivering toolkits, QGIS guidance, accredited courses, and workshops to create a skilled workforce and embed best practices across sectors. Crichton Carbon Centre.
Fermanagh and Omagh District Council
The project focuses on gathering imagery and data to create management plans for peatland restoration, species conservation, wildfire prevention, and sustainable grazing. Restoration efforts will be concentrated on Cuilcagh Geopark. Fermanagh and Omagh District Council.
Cuilcagh Geopark
The Cuilcagh Lakelands Global Geopark, spans the Cavan/Fermanagh border an includes rugged uplands, lakes and forests through to gently rolling drumlins, the landscapes of the Geopark represent a complex Earth history dating back as far as 895 million years ago. 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 is one of the oldest continuously operating public service broadcasters in the world. RTÉ.
Northern Ireland Water
Northern Ireland Water provides water and sewerage services in Northern Ireland. It supplies 560 million litres of clean water a day for almost 1.8 million people as well as treating 320 million litres of wastewater a daily. NI Water.
National Parks and Wildlife Service.
Ireland's National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) develops peatland policy, manages turf schemes, oversees land designation and restoration, implements national/EU biodiversity laws, protects priority habitats and species. NPWS.