DAERA Highlights Environmental Importance On NI's Peatland

The Department of Agriculture, the Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) has highlighted the benefits of Northern Ireland's peatlands for reducing carbon emissions and helping nature recover.

As June contains World Environment Day (5th June), World Oceans Day (8th June) and Clean Air Day (20th June), DAERA has highlighted how its Environment Fund has over recent years helped multiple councils and not-for-profit organisations to restore local peatland sites. This includes Ulster Wildlife who have worked with DAERA's Forest Service, Northern Ireland Environment Agency and others to protect and enhance these vital habitats. Following the launch of a new £3m Peatland Challenge Fund to help protect our peatlands, Environment Minister, Andrew Muir, said: "Our peatlands are of enormous importance to our environment, affecting our water quality, conserving biodiversity and in mitigating climate change by storing carbon, so I am delighted to announce the opening of this £3 million competition fund. It provides a great opportunity to support local not-for-profit organisations and councils to help improve the conditions of our peatlands, many of which are sadly in poor condition.

"Councils and voluntary organisations can now apply to the Fund Competition which offers a minimum grant of £50,000 for projects that will protect and improve habitats and the quality of our water."