Restoring raised bogs for a greener future
Returning thousands of hectares of raised bogs to their natural state will help Ireland's nature restoration objectives.
A new way of managing our precious peatlands
In the past, some peatlands were drained for cutting but never harvested. Today, we’re blocking drains to rewet bogs and return them to peat-forming conditions. This stops further release of carbon dioxide and, in time, enables the bog to absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
More about peatlands and climateWe’re on track to restore a total of 8,125 hectares of bog to re-wetted deep peat.
8,100
+
Hectares to be restored in total
We’re on track to restore a total of 8,125 hectares of bog to re-wetted deep peat.
7,200
+
Hectares of bog restored to date
We’ve successfully restored 7,273 hectares of bog to re-wetted deep peat to date.
A focus on protection and preservation
Drains are blocked by using specially adapted low-bearing pressure excavators to install dams made of peat. In areas where the ground is too wet for machinery, plastic dams are installed by hand.
More about bog restoration best practice