Local bogs included in €108m rehab scheme
The Ballivor, Bracklin and Carranstown bogs are included in Bord Na Móna’s new €108 million Rehabilitation Scheme.
The cabinet has approved funding for the large-scale peatlands restoration project, which will create 310 jobs and will contribute to Ireland’s target of being carbon-neutral by 2050.
Cllr Noel French welcomed the inclusion of the local bogs in the scheme.
"The Scheme will deliver a range of climate action benefits from greenhouse gas mitigation through reduced carbon emissions, carbon storage and accelerated carbon sequestration.
“The Scheme is expected to be completed by the end of 2025 and is estimated to result in sequestering greenhouse gas emissions of 3.2 million tonnes of carbon out to 2050, with continued savings beyond that point," he said.
Bord na Móna's licence for its peat production requires the company to prepare and implement a rehabilitation plan. A significant proportion of the Bord Na Móna estate and its internal resources will be available for rehabilitation and decommissioning by 2021.
The re-wetting, revegetation and colonisation of significant areas with raised bog, wetland and woodland habitats will make a significant contribution to achieving the State’s carbon emission reduction targets.
The Scheme will be administered by the Department of the Environment and regulated by the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. It will involve many other diverse stakeholders including, Bord na Móna, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), relevant NGOs, local authorities, representative organisations and importantly the local community.
According to Bord na Mona the improvements will include more intensive management of water levels through drain-blocking and bunding; wetlands management; re-profiling to deliver suitable hydrological conditions for development of wetlands, fens and bog habitats;seeding of targeted vegetation and proactive introduction of suitable peatland areas with Sphagnum moss to optimise climate action and associated benefits.
The scheme will cover an area of approximately 33,000 hectares of Bord Na Móna peatlands previously harvested for peat extraction for electricity generation.
Under the Scheme Bord Na Móna will submit a rehabilitation plan to the NPWS for each bog to be rehabilitated. During the preparation of the individual Rehabilitation plans for each of the identified 82 bogs covered by the Scheme, Bord na Móna will actively engage with a broad range of stakeholders.