Bobby, Author at The Living Bog

2023 Call for applications

A fund of up to €500,000 is being made available to support community-led projects as part of the Peatlands Community Engagement Scheme 2023.

Key Dates

Following a successful call in 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022 the Peatlands Community Engagement Scheme, is now open for applications for 2023.

This is a competitive fund which is administered by the Peatland Conservation Unit of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage with a fund of up to €500,000 available in 2023.

This Scheme seeks to encourage local peatland communities, groups, schools and other interested parties to play a part in the conservation and revitalisation of raised and blanket bogs – particularly protected bogs and fens – and to promote public engagement with and awareness of our natural heritage and environment.

Applications are welcomed across a diverse range of peatland initiatives that offer a community benefit, including events, education programmes, conservation management plans, restoration measures, feasibility studies, public amenity and recreational projects, plans to deal with invasive species, and fire control measures.

Successful applicants for this year’s assistance will be awarded funding to support a maximum of 80% of the project’s eligible costs, with a maximum grant of €40,000 for designated sites and up to €20,000 for undesignated peatland or fen sites.

How do I apply?

You can apply and obtain more information via the NPWS Website.

The National Parks and Wildlife Service of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, and the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine have today published a report exploring the need for increased pan-European collaboration on peatlands restoration, conservation and sustainable management. The report summarises the findings of an exploratory study to discover how a European network could help overcome action and policy barriers for peatlands.

The European Peatlands Initiative exploratory study involved over 150 stakeholders from the peatlands sector across Ireland and Europe. The aim of the study was to discover the key needs of Europe’s peatlands and to investigate if there were potential benefits that could accrue from cross- country collaboration on peatlands management.

European Peatlands Initiative Report – English – PDF

European Peatlands Initiative Report – Gaeilge – PDF