WILD WESTERN PEATLANDS

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Funding was recently announced for a major project on Ireland's western seaboard. The Wild Western Peatlands project will see Coillte Nature restore and rehabilitate approximately 2,100 hectares of Atlantic blanket bog that is currently planted with commercial spruce and pine forests.

Our aim is to take an ecological approach to restoring and rehabilitating these sensitive landscapes. We’ll do this by rewetting bogs as much as possible and establishing pioneer native woodlands on edges and slopes where rewetting isn’t possible. These sparse pioneer woodlands will feature hardy species like birch and Scots pine that are native, of Irish provenance and ecologically appropriate for such exposed sites.

Welcoming the announcement, Coillte Nature Director, Dr Ciarán Fallon, said: 

“This area was planted at a time when the importance of peatlands for carbon and biodiversity was not well understood. This funding allows us to create real impact and restore a rare habitat of international importance. The learnings can be applied to develop a range of solutions for restoring our western peatlands”.