Communities in bog-rich areas, such as Offaly and Laois, have an extended opportunity to avail of the Peatlands Community Engagement Scheme.
A fund of €200,000 – double the fund of 2020- is being made available in 2021 to support initiatives with community benefit that promote awareness, conservation and revitalisation of Irish Peatlands.
This scheme seeks to encourage local peatland communities, local groups, local schools and individuals to engage with the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht in relation to the conservation and revitalisation of raised and blanket bog Special Areas of Conservation, Natural Heritage Areas and other peatland areas and to promote public engagement with and awareness of our natural heritage.
Each year applications are invited for a diverse range of initiatives from events, education programmes, conservation management plans, public amenity and recreational measures to invasive species and fire control measures near/within raised and blanket bog Special Areas of Conservation/Natural Heritage Areas or other raised bog/blanket bog areas and peatlands areas.
This will encourage communities to enhance their natural surrounding areas and raise awareness of environmental issues and concerns.
Successful applicants will be awarded funding to support a maximum of 75% of the project eligible costs with a maximum grant of €25,000.
Minister Pippa Hackett has welcomed the extension for applications to Friday, 4 December 2020.
She said: “The scheme will allocate €200,000 to initiatives with community benefit that promote awareness, conservation and the revitalisation of Irish peatlands.
“Under the Peatlands Community Engagement Scheme in 2020, a diverse range of initiatives were put forward by active community groups and environmental organisations, so I hope to see more applications from Offaly and Laois this year.
“We have a wealth of bogland in this county and this is our opportunity to protect its biodiversity. The best initiatives for this come from the community and will ultimately give the community a sense of connection with their bogland.
“There are many wonderful examples of bog rehabilitation, and it is important that we continue to support such work.”
In order to apply, you can click here.
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