New project launched to protect and restore Tyrone peatlands

A new project has been launched to protect peatland areas in Tyrone.

Fermanagh and Omagh District Council, in collaboration with Cuilcagh Lakelands Geopark, has secured almost £271,000 for the Cross Border Peatlands Project.

The project, which has been funded by the Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) through the Shared Island Peatlands Challenge Fund, aims to enhance peatland restoration across the Fermanagh, Tyrone and Cavan areas.

The sites at Gortin Lakes in the Sperrins and Cuilcagh Mountain and Cuilcagh Anierin in west Fermanagh and west Cavan, are areas of blanket bog – which is a specific focus for the project.

The funding will enable Fermanagh and Omagh District Council and Cavan County Council to commission scientific surveys at each of the three sites and identify peatland restoration opportunities.

The resulting Peatland Restoration plans will include arrangements for ongoing and future monitoring at all three sites.

Innovation and knowledge sharing will be key components of the work at Gortin Lakes, which will be developed as a Peatland Restoration Demonstration Site, showcasing a range of peatland restoration techniques.

The Shared Island funding will enable both councils to support community engagement and education, volunteering and ‘citizen science’ opportunities on a cross border basis, deepening the understanding of the critical role these unique landscapes play in tackling the climate emergency.

Fermanagh and Omagh District Council said they are committed to protecting and restoring peatlands on its estate and across the district in partnership with others.

Peatlands are important carbon sinks as they store significant amounts of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

Peatlands also provide important habitats for various species helping to encourage biodiversity conservation.