The closing date of the open call for a new locally-led scheme for rewetting farmed peatlands is Friday (November 6).
Minister of State for land use and biodiversity Pippa Hackett launched the open call in August. As part of the Rural Development Programme, the focus of the open call is on drained peatlands in the midlands region.
It seeks proposals for development and implementation of a scheme to “target climate action on peatland under agricultural management”, according to minister Hackett.
Minister Hackett said previously that the locally-led schemes are “community-based, have brought farmers together for common causes and have delivered real environmental gains across the country”.
“Payments are results-based and are in recognition of environmental benefits that farmers provide for biodiversity and climate action,” she said.
“At a time of climate and biodiversity crisis, these schemes are providing important deliverables in supporting nature.”
The scheme will look for sustainable land management options for farms at catchment level which will meet some or all of the following objectives:
- Protect the carbon stock and restore sequestration associated with drained peatlands under agricultural management;
- Maximise other eco-system service co-benefits such as: protection of biodiversity; water quality; and water regulation;
- Build resilience to the impacts of climate change at catchment/landscape level.
“How we manage our peatlands can play an important part in removing carbon from our environment and assist us in tackling climate change,” minister Hackett said.
‘People from Cavan to Clare are sick and tired of flooding along the Shannon’
In other news, “people from Cavan to Clare are sick and tired of flooding along the Shannon,” according to Sinn Féin TD Martin Browne.
Speaking as the River Shannon Management Agency Bill is debated at second stage in the Dáil today (Tuesday, November 3), the Tipperary TD said that people are “sick and tired of the flooding”, and “sick of politicians coming out and getting photos and hand wringing, yet the cycle continues”.
“They’ve had enough. What were once winter floods are now summer floods,” deputy Browne continued.
This year alone there were floods in February, floods in July and as we speak, there are areas along the Shannon under water and more under threat.
“Data shows that the risk of flooding is increasing and has unfortunately become a regular occurrence along the River Shannon.
“These floods are devastating to homes, farming lands and businesses and communities along the Shannon are living in fear of the next flood hitting.”