LIFE - Nature Projects
Raised bogs and blanket bogs are priority restoration habitats for Coillte, as they are listed as priority habitats for conservation under the EU Habitats Directive. Coillte received funding for the restoration of these areas and for the restoration of priority woodland habitats from the EU LIFE-Nature Programme. For more information see below.
Bog Restoration:
In 2004, Coillte received funding from the EU LIFE–Nature Programme to actively restore 571 hectares of raised bog habitat on 14 midland sites in counties Galway, Roscommon, Longford, Westmeath, Meath, Cavan and Laois. The peatlands of the Irish midlands are among the most important raised bog systems remaining in Europe, and it is estimated that Ireland contains 50% of the intact oceanic raised bog systems in Europe. All 14 sites are candidate Special Areas of Conservation (cSACs) under the EU Habitats Directive and provide habitat for a range of rare plant and animal species.
Work has been completed since December end 2007, on Coillte’s EU LIFE-NATURE Blanket Bog restoration project which began in 2002. Various restoration techniques such as tree removal, felling of trees to waste, and blocking drains to re-wet previously drained areas were used. This project which was originally scheduled for completion by the end of 2006, and had a target to restore 1,212 hectares, extended beyond that period, having had approval from the European Commission to restore up to a further 776 hectares of blanket bog. This has now resulted in almost 2,000 hectares of blanket bog being restored. As well as the operational work, promotion of the project revolved around the organisation of information days, distribution of project brochures and the publication of a project results booklet.
Blanket bogs are wild areas that cover the lowlands and uplands of the west of Ireland and Atlantic blanket bog is internationally recognised as a unique and valuable habitat for nature conservation. Blanket bog surfaces are extremely diverse and contain a variety of habitats including flushed fens, swallow holes, pools, lakes, hummocks and ridges that gives a home to a great diversity of plant and animal species.
Priority Woodland Habitat Project:
At the end of 2005, Coillte received funding under the EU LIFE-Nature Programme for the restoration and conservation of over 550 hectares of priority native woodland habitats in the west and midlands that are recognised under the EU Habitats Directive as being extremely rare and restricted in their distribution, not just in Ireland, but across the EU. Because of their extreme rarity, these woodland habitats are given "priority" status under the EU Habitats Directive. There are nine sites included in this project, in which four rare woodland habitats are targeted for restoration, namely alluvial woodland, bog woodland, woodland associated with limestone pavement and yew woodland.
Over the course of four years the project aims to address the main ecological threats to these valuable forest habitats, namely the introduction and spread of exotic tree and shrub species, drainage, grazing and trespass. The project also aims to promote public awareness of the importance of priority woodland through the creation of three demonstration sites which will encourage visitors to enjoy the natural surroundings of these woodlands and learn about the restoration techniques undertaken. The overall aim is to establish conditions which will allow natural regeneration of priority woodland habitat. The project is the largest of its kind to be undertaken in Ireland.
Read more about the four years of LIFE Restoration at Coillte Woods
Coillte acknowledges the funding received from the EU LIFE Nature programme.
Visit the Irish Bog Restoration Website.
