Enhancements to water storage and water quality are two of many benefits of a new Peatland Standard for Ireland, a pioneering certifications scheme designed to empower landowners and farmers in environmental best practice.

This voluntary certification provides landowners with the opportunity to unlock financial support to accelerate their peatland restoration efforts and showcase the environmental benefits of peatland restoration, including carbon reduction, biodiversity enhancement, increased water storage and improved water quality.

These efforts are vital for reducing carbon emissions and will play a significant role in achieving Ireland's climate and biodiversity targets. The initiative aligns closely with Ireland’s Climate Action Plan - which identifies peatland restoration as a key strategy for reducing emissions - and assists Ireland in achieving its National Biodiversity Action Plan targets.

Irish peatlands are essential for regulating water, supporting biodiversity and storing carbon. However, many have been severely degraded due to human activity.

The Peatland Standard for Ireland presents a scientifically grounded methodology to assess some or all of the full range of ecosystem service benefits from peatland restoration, including carbon sequestration, volumetric water benefit, biodiversity improvements, water quality enhancement, wildfire risk and impact reduction and flood risk reduction.

Following a public consultation at the close of 2024, Version 1.0 of the Standard has now been officially introduced for the pilot phase, giving landowners the chance to validate the environmental impact of their peatland restoration projects. By adopting the Standard, landowners can access funding from businesses and organisations committed to supporting environmental conservation initiatives.

Dr Shane Mc Guinness from Peatland Finance Ireland said, “This new certification recognises the diverse environmental, economic, and societal advantages of restoring our peatlands. It will facilitate the funding of vital community restoration efforts, driven by a blend of public, private and philanthropic investments.”

Developed over the last 15 months by Peatland Finance Ireland, a not-for-profit organisation, the Peatland Standard was created in collaboration with academic institutions, governmental bodies, semi-state agencies and civil society groups.

The certification adheres to international environmental principles and is fully in line with the EU Carbon Removals and Carbon Farming Certification Framework (CRCF). Independent third-party auditors will validate ecosystem improvement claims in accordance with ISO standards.

The development of the Standard has been made possible through the support of Amazon's Right Now Climate Fund, the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS), the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, and the Natural Capital Financing Facility (NCFF) of the European Investment Bank (EIB).

Landowners and organisations interested in adopting the Peatland Standard and unlocking funding opportunities for peatland restoration should visit https://peatlandfinance.ie/.