Northern Ireland launches first peatlands protection strategy

Northern Ireland has unveiled its first peatland protection strategy, a landmark move to restore degraded landscapes and bolster climate resilience. The plan sets a target of returning all semi-natural peatlands to functioning ecosystems by 2040 through 26 actions across five objectives.

It seeks to protect and restore all semi-natural peatlands in Northern Ireland to functioning ecosystems by 2040, through a series of 26 actions to meet five objectives. Key measures include a consultation on restricting retail peat sales, a wildfire strategy, and a comprehensive register to identify at-risk sites. 

Funding to date includes £7.8m from the Environment Fund and Shared Island Fund to 2028, alongside €40m through PEACEPLUS for wider nature projects, of which peatland restoration is a central element.

Peatlands are vital natural assets. Covering 12% of Northern Ireland, they store over half of the soil carbon pool. When healthy, they capture carbon, filter water, and reduce flood risks. Yet 86% are degraded, releasing emissions instead of locking them away. Restoring them is seen as one of the most effective climate interventions.

Minister for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs Andrew Muir called the strategy a “game-changer,” emphasising benefits for biodiversity, water quality, and decarbonisation. 

Stakeholders welcomed the plan, though some voiced concern that it fell short of designating new peatland areas for protection. With only 10% of peatland habitats currently safeguarded, gaps in protection remain.

The strategy also commits to phasing out horticultural peat use by 2030, aligning Northern Ireland with steps already taken in the Republic of Ireland, England, Wales, and Scotland. Research, monitoring, and recognition of peatlands’ cultural value form part of the long-term plan.

By investing in peatlands, Northern Ireland is leveraging a natural solution to climate and water challenges while preserving a critical global ecosystem.

Read the full strategy to explore the restoration roadmap, policy commitments, and funding landscape shaping Northern Ireland’s environmental future.