Provision of services for management and operation of Shared Island Fund peatland restoration project at Cuilcagh – Anierin Uplands SAC

Description

National Parks and Wildlife Service via Wild Atlantic Nature LIFE IP has secured funding under the Shared Island Programme for a programme with a focus on peatland restoration in Ireland, Northern Ireland and Scotland. In addition, Wild Atlantic Nature LIFE IP via WaterLANDS is implementing restoration across Cuilcagh – Anierin Uplands SAC with an increasing success on engagement with local communities requiring additional resources to implement restoration and to monitor the actions took in the ground. The Shared Island Peatland Project involves the development of lighthouse demonstration sites in Ireland, Northern Ireland and Scotland to deliver practical peatland restoration, build capacity for long-term peatland management, undertake research and monitoring, exchange knowledge, and address socio-cultural issues across a range of restoration scenarios. These include the restoration of private and public lands, demonstration of restoration of erosion impacts, reactivation of drained peatlands, forest to bog restoration, control of alien invasives, addressing grazing pressures, improving community engagement and increasing education and awareness. Cuilcagh – Anierin Uplands SAC has currently additional opportunities to address these objectives. The owners and users of the project sites will be at the centre of any planned activities and participation will be voluntary. The programme is funded through the Government’s Shared Island Fund (€10m) and the National Parks and Wildlife Service (€5m) with additional funding from the Northern Ireland Environment Agency and Nature Scot, and through the contribution of direct personnel. The initiative is led by a partnership of the LIFE IP Wild Atlantic Nature (WAN) project, National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) with the Northern Ireland Environment Agency and Nature Scot and Peatland Action and is overseen by a Steering Group. This contract includes plan, implement and deliver restoration on peatlands, monitoring and evaluation of restoration actions and create a community-led training programme across Cuilcagh – Anierin Uplands SAC. Please see CfT documents attached for more detail.