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 RTÉ; along with 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. 

Despite huge progress in delivering restoration works on peatlands across Ireland in recent years, it is estimated that 80% of Irish peatland is still in a degraded state and a source of carbon emissions.

Restoring these landscapes is therefore critical for tackling climate change, along with restoring nature, improving water quality and reducing flood risk. 

The PEAT+ Project will also help recover threatened species closely associated with peatland habitats, including golden plover and the large heath butterfly. 

The event brought together Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs Andrew Muir, SEUPB CEO Gina McIntyre, Deputy Mayor of Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council Jessica Johnston, and PEAT+ project partners to mark the official launch of this important, multi-site peatland restoration programme. Minister of State for Nature, Heritage and Biodiversity Christopher O’Sullivan also provided a video message for the launch event.