DAERA publishes first Peatland Strategy Delivery Plan for Northern Ireland
Date published:
The first Peatland Strategy Delivery Plan for Northern Ireland has been published by the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs on Earth Day.
The Northern Ireland Peatland Strategy to 2040, published in September 2025, contains five strategic objectives and 26 actions which set Northern Ireland on the pathway to meet climate and environmental commitments by aiming to restore 150,000 hectares of degraded peatland by 2050.
The first Delivery Plan sets out 14 short-term targets to help deliver peatland conservation, restoration and management to December 2027 and provides a foundation for future plans. It is intended that each subsequent Peatland Delivery Plan will cover a five-year time period to align with the NI Climate Action Plan cycle.
Key actions include collating data to work towards a comprehensive Peatland Asset Register, consulting on restricting the retail sale of peat and peat products and achieving 4,500 hectares of peatland that are ‘on the road to recovery’ through current funding as well as identifying further potential restoration sites by December 2027.
Cross-cutting departmental strategies including wildfire management, Farming with Nature and Ammonia Strategy will also contribute to the delivery of this plan.
Publishing the Peatland Strategy Delivery Plan, Minister Muir said: “Setting out how my department and other delivery partners will progress and scale up the recovery of our peatlands over the next two years is another milestone in turning around these valuable habitats that are not in good condition at the moment.
“Good work is already underway in areas like the Belfast Hills and Antrim Hills by National Trust and RSPB as well as in Co Tyrone where Ulster Wildlife are restoring Haughey’s Bog and Black bog with support from my department, as well as Shared Island and Peace Plus programmes.
“We must embrace the power of peatlands as a nature-based solution to the climate crisis, improving water quality and reducing flooding. The value that well managed peatlands can bring to both people and nature must not be underestimated.”
The Peatland Strategy Delivery Plan is available on the DAERA website at: Northern Ireland Peatland Strategy to 2040.
Notes to editors:
- Photo caption: Cuilcagh Mountain SAC, Co Fermanagh. Photo: Simon Gray.
- Follow DAERA on X formerly called Twitter and Facebook.
- All media queries should be directed to the DAERA Press Office: pressoffice.group@daera-ni.gov.uk or telephone: 028 9016 3460.
- The Executive Information Service operates an out of hours service for media enquiries only between 1800hrs and 0800hrs Monday to Friday and at weekends and public holidays. The duty press officer can be contacted on 028 9037 8110.