Why Help With Peatland Restoration In Ireland
- Healthy peatlands are carbon sinks
- Help with climate change
- Pull in twice as much carbon as all global forest mass
- Peatland covers 3% of the worlds land mass so restoration is achievable
- Reduces risk of flooding
- Place for wildlife and plants
- Great for people to explore
No.1 Carbon Sink in the World
Peatlands are incredible efficient at pulling carbon out of the atmosphere, square metre per square metre they pull more carbon out of the air in comparison to the Amazon rainforest.
When it is degraded and oxidizes the problem is it releases carbon dioxide but when it is thriving and alive it is incredibly efficient at pulling down carbon.
Spagnum moss is called the bog builder, it grows at the very tip and at partially decomposes at bottom and then it dies off and then other layers grow on top which forms peat. Furthermore this plant can hold up to 20 times its weight in water, peatland is great at absorbing water and releases it slowly which can help prevent flooding.
Benefits to Wildlife
The return of pioneer vegetation and species and help secure areas for many rare and endangered flora and fauna.
Red Grouse has experienced a 50% decline between the early 1970’s and 2008. This was partly due to changes in land use and habitat loss.
The grouse like young heather (Bell Heather) which is high in protein, they also need grit which is good for their digestive system.
Irish Bogland’s
“Once regarded as wastelands…
Bogs are actively growing 1-2mm each year and can grow up to 15 metres deep. When bogs are drained it lowers the water table, then air gets into the bog and oxizides and decay, wet, acidic conditions are essence for peatlands, the plants grow and die here but don’t fully decay instead form peat. All plants absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and normally when they die this is released back into the atmosphere but a living bog it absorbs carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and locking it away for 1000’s of years. As the bog grows more and more carbon is trapped and stored away.
Certain species rely on peatland to survive if their habitat is removed or destroyed then they will go extinct. By investing in peatland restoration by carbon offsets you can give a home to native wildlife and secure their future.
In comparison the difference between a peatland that is rewetted and one that is degraded is quite important.
Rewetted peatland is a carbon dioxide sink so more co2 is being taken in by the plants and microbes than is being released during photosynthesis and in drained peatland co2 is released.
Invasive species can have a detrimental effect on peatland, such as Rhododendron which has caused massive damage across Ireland.
Once the invasive species have been cleared, we shift our focus to re-wetting the peatland. We do that by installing peat dams in the drains, and often flipping stumps, and smoothing the ploughed ridges and furrows.
Frequently asked questions
Where does my contribution go?
We invest 100% of your contribution into peatland restoration techniques, this includes paying for machinery, materials in the construction of dam building and labour.
How much carbon does my contribution offset?
Basically 1 square metre of peatland stores approximately 1.1kg of CO2
What do I get for my investment?
You will receive a certificate displaying geo location, amount of CO2 stored.
What are Scope 1, 2 & 3
Scope 1 emissions
Scope 1 covers emissions from sources that an organisation owns or controls directly – for example a delivery company that burns fuel from it’s fleet of vehicles
Scope 2 emissions
Scope 2 are emissions that a company causes indirectly and come from where the energy it purchases and uses is produced. For example, the emissions caused when generating the electricity that we use in our buildings would fall into this category.
Scope 3 emissions
Scope 3 encompasses emissions that are not produced by the company itself and are not the result of activities from assets owned or controlled by them, but by those that it’s indirectly responsible for up and down its value chain. An example of this is when we buy, use and dispose of products from suppliers. Scope 3 emissions include all sources not within the scope 1 and 2 boundaries.
Offset your carbon today!
securing a future for all….
1000
Of tonnes of Co2
Stored and locked away….
