Help Identify Knowledge Gaps in Irish Peatland Research – (opens in a new window)Take the survey
We all have a stake in the future of Ireland’s peatlands
Sustainability is a key concept in peatland management. As with any concept or framework, the meaning of sustainable management has changed over time. We now know that peatlands are a finite resource and that they provide many more functions and benefits for society than economic services such as peat burning for fuel. Although the concept of 'sustainability' is sometimes considered vague and problematic, the idea of meeting human needs while preserving the life-support system of our planet continues to be a pressing and central concern in the world today.
Sustainable peatland management involves societal responsibility to optimise the social, cultural, environmental and economic contributions that peatlands make to the well-being of this and future generations. This may have different meanings and areas of emphasis in different research disciplines (ecology, hydrology, archaeology, social science, arts) and sectors (agriculture, forestry, industry). However, a commonality across these domains is the recognition of peatlands as valuable ecosystems in their own right as well as for their crucial role in supporting human health and well-being when they are restored and rewetted or rehabilitated (). Conversely, research has shown the impact that degraded peatlands have on water quality, air quality, flora and fauna, flood risk and climate (through greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions), as well as the impacts on cultural heritage and the communities that live and work in these landscapes.
Sustainable Peatland Management provides many benefits for people and peatlands
Peatlands were at the heart of the first ‘sustainable development’ project funded by the EPA in 2006, which culminated in the (opens in a new window)BOGLAND report, a country-wide peatland assessment that delivered 58 recommendations, which formed the backbone of the 2015 (opens in a new window)National Peatland Strategy. This protocol for sustainable management of peatlands was one of the first in Ireland to recognise the importance of the relationships between people and peatlands and sought to understand the different types of values relating to peatlands across social, ecological, cultural, economic and institutional dimensions. This (opens in a new window)integration of diverse types of knowledge and values develops a holistic understanding that is essential to balance the needs of both peatlands and people and to improve outcomes for a range of ecological, social, and cultural benefits.
Peatland research has expanded rapidly in the last two decades encompassing a diverse and often complex evidence base, as countries seek to manage this resource sustainably and meet climate and biodiversity targets. In this context, it is important to synthesise existing knowledge and provide a roadmap for the future. The broad aim of the Peat Hub Ireland project is to identify how much progress has been made in Ireland in sustainably managing its peatland resource and to highlight knowledge gaps that may exist.
In order to do this successfully and represent the wide evidence base involved in peatland management in Ireland, we invite you to participate in this research project via this (opens in a new window)survey. Please share your knowledge and expertise to tell us what is missing from research on the sustainable management of peatlands in Ireland and how we can better support the transition to sustainability for this iconic Irish landscape.
The table below provides an overview of research themes, by no means an exhaustive list. Although we have separated these dimensions of Sustainable Peatland Management to demonstrate possible areas of focus for research, we support an integrated approach and recognise that peatlands are complex systems with feedbacks between all these dimensions.
Research areas for Sustainable Management of Peatlands in Ireland
We all have a stake in the future of Ireland’s peatlands
This project is funded under the EPA Research Programme 2021-2030 and co-funded by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. The EPA Research Programme is a Government of Ireland initiative funded by the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications.
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