News
Minister O’Sullivan announces over €1 million to support community conservation projects
Date Released: Monday, March 2, 2026
- €1.1 million allocated to 53 community projects under the Peatlands and Natura Community Engagement Scheme
- Projects include research on endangered species, peatland restoration and removal of invasive species
Minister of State for Nature, Heritage and Biodiversity, Christopher O’Sullivan TD, has today announced over €1 million in funding for biodiversity conservation projects throughout Ireland. This funding will support 53 community initiatives in 20 counties under the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) Peatlands and Natura Community Engagement Scheme 2026.
The Peatlands and Natura Community Engagement Scheme aims to encourage community-led and volunteer groups to conserve and restore Natura 2000 Special Areas of Conservation (SAC) and Special Protection Areas (SPA), as well as all peatland habitats, in order to promote awareness of and engagement with our natural heritage.
Making the announcement, Minister O’Sullivan said:
"Through this €1m investment, we are helping communities all across the country to take action to support local habitats and wildlife in some of our most important places for nature. The 53 successful projects this year include research on whales and porpoises in Kenmare Bay and Donegal Bay, woodland restoration in counties Meath, Wicklow and Clare, alongside measures to protect Marsh Fritillary butterflies in the Burren, a turlough survey in Co Kilkenny, removal of rhododendron in Co Dublin and peatland restoration on sites all over the country. I’d like to congratulate the community groups and volunteers who put their time, energy and expertise in to making these valuable projects happen, and I’m delighted to be able to increase the amount of funding available this year so that the scheme can have an even greater impact."
Niall O’Donnchú, Director General with the National Parks and Wildlife Service said:
"Investing in local initiatives not only preserves biodiversity but also strengthens community ties and fosters a shared sense of responsibility for nature. The National Parks and Wildlife Service is committed to this approach which is key to tackling the biodiversity crisis."
The approved projects for this year cover a wide range of activities, including:
- Conducting surveys to inform management plans for Natura 2000 and peatland sites.
- Engaging the public through targeted outreach initiatives.
- Educational programs aimed at raising awareness about the importance of conservation efforts.
Projects funded under the Scheme represent a collective commitment to preserving Ireland's unique natural landscapes and biodiversity, showcasing the essential role of communities in fostering environmental stewardship.
Further Information
The Peatlands and Natura Community Engagement Scheme is designed to enhance public engagement and awareness of Ireland’s rich natural heritage and environment. A list of projects is available here
|
Group Name |
County |
Description |
Amount |
|
St Kilian’s Heritage Trust |
Cavan |
St Kilian's Heritage Centre |
€15,960 |
|
Killyconny Bog Project |
Cavan |
Killyconny Bog Project – signage and bog day events |
€38,883 |
|
Irish Whale and Dolphin Group |
Clare |
IWDG Citizen Science Learning Series: Monitoring, Welfare and Best Practice |
€20,000 |
|
Hometree Charity Ltd. |
Clare |
Hometree Cnocán Bán Restoration Project |
€39,539 |
|
Hometree Charity Ltd. |
Clare |
Hometree Oolagh West Restoration Project |
€37,646 |
|
Hometree Charity Ltd. |
Clare |
Cleandra Community woodland restoration |
€40,000 |
|
Hometree Charity Ltd. |
Clare |
Hometree Gleneasky Restoration Project |
€19,995 |
|
The Common Knowledge for Sustainable Living (Common Knowledge) |
Clare |
Peatlands in Practice: Empowering Community Action for Peatland Conservation |
€20,000 |
|
Clonlara Development Association |
Clare |
Sheedy’s Bog – Marsh Fritillary Project |
€8,573 |
|
Connolly Tidy Village |
Clare |
Cloontabonniv Bog Walk |
€3,800 |
|
StreamScapes CLG |
Cork |
Kenmare Bay: Stories, Science and Stewardship |
€30,612 |
|
Nature Network Ireland |
Cork |
Visions for Peatlands – Youth programme and climate workshops |
€40,000 |
|
GREEN SKIBBEREEN CLG AT CECAS |
Cork |
Myross Wood SAC and Beyond |
€18,000 |
|
Irish Whale and Dolphin Group |
Cork |
Tracking porpoise movement in Kenmare Bay |
€36,841 |
|
Donegal Bay Trust |
Donegal |
Cetacean Distribution Monitoring and Community Engagement Events in Donegal Bay Natura 2000 Sites |
€30,000 |
|
Cairde na hEaragaile CLG |
Donegal |
Errigal Community Volunteer Ambassador Programme |
€40,000 |
|
An Taisce Dun Laoghaire Association |
Dublin |
Booterstown Nature Reserve Grey Poplar Removal and Cord Grass Project |
€7,198 |
|
Dodder Action |
Dublin 24 |
Glenasmole Rhododendron Ponticum Control Project |
€19,400 |
|
Peatland Finance Ireland CLG |
Dublin 3 |
Baseline hydrological data collection for Lismanny Bog restoration project. |
€6,652 |
|
Burrenbeo Conservation Volunteers |
Galway |
Actions for conservation of Marsh Fritillary Euphydryas aurinia butterfly habitat and community engagement in the Burren |
€2,672 |
|
Green Sod Ireland |
Galway |
Baseline ecological surveys and management recommendations for a heath and bog site in West Cork |
€3,200 |
|
Galway Telework Co-Operative |
Galway |
Galway's Living Bog |
€32,000 |
|
Galway Telework Co-Operative |
Galway |
Galway's Living Bog - School tours |
€20,000 |
|
Irish Whale and Dolphin Group |
Kerry |
Hook Head to Rosslare Cetacean Surveys |
€30,375 |
|
Kerry West Cork/South Kerry Development Partnership CLG |
Kerry |
Peatland Restoration Training |
€5,000 |
|
Lauragh Community Council |
Kerry |
Community Action for Rhododendron Management |
€13,242 |
|
Irish Peatland Conservation Council (IPCC) |
Kildare |
Access for observing, identifying and recording butterflies at Lullymore West Bog Nature Reserve |
€4,966 |
|
Irish Peatland Society (IrPS) |
Kildare |
From Peatland Agriculture to Post-Industrial Opportunity: Exploring Agriculture, Peatlands & Renewable Energy Transitions |
€20,000 |
|
Nore Vision : Nore River Catchment Trust |
Kilkenny |
The Loughans – Survey of Loughans Turlough |
€21,177 |
|
Drogheda Tidy Town |
Louth |
Study of the Marshland and Alluvial Woodland along the River Boyne at Drogheda Co Louth/ Co Meath |
€2,600 |
|
Friends of Ardee Bog |
Louth |
Restoration works and Community Education and Engagement in Ardee Bog, County Louth |
€7,680 |
|
Upstate Theatre Project |
Louth |
Bogland Hero |
€13,500 |
|
The Great Yellow Bumblebee Project / Belmullet Tidy Towns |
Mayo |
Mullet Machair Wildflower Seed Futures |
€18,000 |
|
CALL Climate Action Louisburgh Locality |
Mayo |
Charraig Bhán Bog Restoration Project (phase 2) and Scoping new engagement opportunities |
€13,100 |
|
Mayo IWDG – Irish Whale and Dolphin Group |
Mayo |
Cetacean Presence and Activity Patterns in Blacksod Bay, with Contextual Analysis of Live Stranding Events |
€12,771 |
|
Oldbridge Tidy Towns |
Meath |
Where the River grows a Forest |
€1,781 |
|
River Blackwater Catchment Trust |
Monaghan |
Sliabh Beagh Restoration Phase 5 |
€25,610 |
|
River Blackwater Catchment Trust |
Monaghan |
Cor Bog Restoration Phase 3 |
€20,000 |
|
Muineachán le Gaeilge |
Monaghan |
Sé do Bheatha ar Shliabh Beatha: Comhshaol agus Cultúr |
€2,450 |
|
Tydavnet Group Water Scheme Ltd |
Monaghan |
Lough Antraicer Catchment Peatland Restoration Phase 2 Scope & Budget |
€31,941 |
|
RE-PEAT |
Nationwide |
Bog Academy |
€40,000 |
|
RE-PEAT |
Nationwide |
Restoration Academy Ireland |
€33,122 |
|
Clara Heritage Society & Clara Town Centre First Team |
Offaly |
Bog Trotters Festival & Summer Solstice |
€11,700 |
|
Karst Farming Network CLG |
Roscommon |
Invasive species community awareness and control program at Killeglan SAC and Castlesampson SAC |
€31,545 |
|
Cornafulla Micro Reserve |
Roscommon |
Cornafulla Bog: Community-led Monitoring and Peatland Conservation |
€5,000 |
|
Sea Éire |
Sligo |
Community Biodiversity Project – Sligo |
€15,500 |
|
Cabragh Wetlands Centre CLG |
Tipperary |
Stimulating Environmental Behaviour Change – series of awareness building workshops |
€16,000 |
|
Cloughjordan Community Development Association |
Tipperary |
Increasing engagement through knowledge and infrastructure |
€10,000 |
|
Tramore Tidy Towns |
Waterford |
Tramore Local Wildlife and Marshes |
€20,593 |
|
Milltownpass TidyTowns |
Westmeath |
Discover Milltownpass: Signposts to Nature & Augmented Adventure |
€2,500 |
|
BirdWatch Ireland |
Wicklow |
Habitat condition assessment of, and impacts on, Annex I and other habitats at the East Coast Nature Reserve, Co. Wicklow |
€19,680 |
|
BirdWatch Ireland |
Wicklow |
Assessing the response of breeding bird communities to raised bog restoration |
€22,400 |
|
Wicklow Uplands Council |
Wicklow |
Glensoulan Upland Gully Woodland Planting & Engagement |
€40,000 |
Peatlands and Natura Community Engagement Scheme Awards 2026