Major peatland restoration project announced for Northern Ireland

RSPB NI Director Joanne Sherwood, Department of Agriculture, Environment, and Rural Affairs Minister Andrew Muir and RSPB NI Peatland Programme Manager Martin Clift

Image Credit: Brian Morrison

RSPB Northern Ireland has announced a significant new peatland restoration initiative, delivered in partnership with NI Water and supported by the Northern Ireland Environment Agency’s (NIEA) Peatland Challenge Fund — part of the Shared Island Initiative Peatland Programme (SIIPP).

Peatlands cover around 12% of Northern Ireland’s landscape and are critical to the region’s ecosystem.

These unique habitats act as natural water reservoirs, help mitigate flood risks, and serve as filters that enhance water quality by removing pollutants. Despite their environmental importance, peatlands have faced degradation due to land-use changes and climate pressures.

Now, thanks to fresh investment, restoration efforts are set to expand significantly across key upland sites, including the Garron Plateau and the Sperrin Mountains.

Leading the new project is RSPB NI Peatland Programme Manager Martin Clift, who has welcomed new conservation officers to the team to help scale up delivery across Northern Ireland.

“Investing in peatland restoration is paramount to preserving this invaluable resource and ensuring a healthier future for Northern Ireland,” said Martin Clift.

“The aim of this ambitious project is to significantly increase the delivery of peatland recovery efforts, building on work that has already taken place on the Garron Plateau over the last 15 years as well as expanding into the Sperrin Mountains.”

As part of the partnership, NI Water has already restored 28 hectares of peatland in the Lough Bradan drinking water catchment area, which had previously been under Forest Service management for over six decades.

Roy Taylor of NI Water explained, “By working collaboratively with RSPB NI, NI Water have been able to restore 28 Ha of valuable peatland in Lough Bradan drinking water catchment area… NI Water’s Catchment Team have carefully negotiated the removal of trees and have obtained consents and licences to enable this restoration.”

Taylor highlighted the broader environmental significance of peatland restoration, stating:

“Occupying just 3% of the Earth’s land surface, peatlands are our biggest carbon store on land. Whilst the key target is to improve the water quality through natural filtration and flood attenuation, the restoration will also enhance biodiversity, reduce carbon losses from the land and provide a habitat for many rare and endangered species.

“NI Water are grateful for the funding under the Peatland Challenge Fund to enable this project which will benefit water quality, as well as providing a home for wildlife for many years to come.”

Welcoming the announcement, DAERA Minister Andrew Muir praised the project as a model for collaboration in tackling environmental challenges:

“Restoring Northern Ireland’s Peatlands will need a collaborative approach and, the RSPB Upland Bog project demonstrates how successful this approach can be in delivering significant outputs.

“The Department is confident that over the lifetime of the Peatland Challenge Fund this, and similar peatland restoration programmes, will contribute to healthier and more resilient peatlands in Northern Ireland, benefiting the wider environment through biodiversity gains and meeting Net Zero challenges.”

For nearly six decades, RSPB NI has played a key role in conserving wildlife and natural landscapes across Northern Ireland. The charity continues to manage and restore peatlands on reserves, working with farmers and landowners to enhance biodiversity and climate resilience.

To learn more about peatland restoration or to support RSPB NI’s work, visit:

www.rspb.org.uk/northernireland