DAERA has published its first Peatland Strategy, a 15-year plan to conserve and restore some of Northern Ireland’s most threatened landscapes.

Launched by Andrew Muir, the Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs Minister, the strategy has been endorsed by the Stormont Executive and will run until 2040. It is designed to tackle the dual crises of climate change and biodiversity loss, while setting out a framework for sustainable management of peatlands.

The plan outlines five broad objectives supported by 26 detailed actions, ranging from large-scale restoration in priority areas to improved policy coordination across government. It also promises to support creation of new governance structures and funding to help landowners restore peatlands, alongside investment in research and knowledge-sharing.

Peatlands cover about 12 per cent of Northern Ireland’s landmass, yet an estimated 86 per cent are in a degraded state, releasing carbon into the atmosphere rather than storing it. The loss of healthy bogs has also placed pressure on iconic upland species, including the hen harrier, golden plover and curlew, as well as vulnerable plants such as sphagnum moss and sundew.

Mr Muir said the strategy should mark “a turning point” in how these habitats are viewed. “We must embrace the power of peatlands as a nature-based solution to tackle the nature and climate crises and improve water quality,” he said.

The initiative has been welcomed by environmental groups and by the Minister’s colleague and Alliance Party Environment spokesperson, John Blair MLA, who described the Executive’s approval as “a significant milestone for Northern Ireland on the road to restoring our vitally important peatland habitats.”