A mountain in Co Leitrim that once hosted one of the largest coal mining sites in the west of Ireland has become a European case study for large-scale wetland restoration.
Bencroy Mountain was once the most significant coal mining site in the Connacht coalfield, supplying the ESB Arigna power station until 1990.
The mountain forms part of the Cuilcagh-Anierin Special Area of Conservation (SAC), one of Ireland's largest upland blanket bogs.
Pressure stemming from erosion and drainage have damaged the SAC site that encompasses 9,735 hectares,11 habitats and seven protected species.
Approximately 40 rural farmers and other stakeholders are working together on Bencroy to identify best practices in wetlands restoration that may be rolled out across Europe.
The site is part of a five-year EU Horizon wetlands conservation project being delivered in Ireland by NPWS through the WaterLANDS programme, which is assisting farmers.
The Bencroy restoration project includes three main actions - erosion control, drain management and invasive species removal.
Coir logs and geotextile mats made from coconut fibre are being used to slow water flow, trap sediment, and stabilise soil.
This is enabling vegetation to grow on the bare peat, helping to reduce carbon loss and restore the natural habitat.
The clearing of invasive conifer trees, particularly Sitka spruce, is expected to improve the ecological integrity of the peatland and drain management is expected to reduce erosion.
Project Manager and Agronomist John Gallogly said 38 local shareholders are involved in the programme.
They have contributed to the project design and agreed to the work.
"There's been a two-year lead in of consultation, design, pre-assessment surveys and baselining to see what's required to demonstrate that this is effective," he said.
"The overall objective is to restore the blanket bog habitat, ultimately reducing carbon loss, improving water quality.
"Eventually, it will benefit farmers by helping them improve their ACRES score, leaving them with more money in their pocket long term.
"Long term, you’d like to see this rolled out nationwide. Hopefully, some of the lessons learned here will enable upscaling nationally and further afield," Mr Gallogly added.
Scientific research has shown that peatlands cover 3% of the global land surface but store twice as much carbon as in all the world's forests.
Restoration actions on the Bencroy Mountain are being driven through a results-based agri-environment payment scheme (RBPS), where farmers receive funding in exchange for improving habitat quality and biodiversity.
The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) RBPS programme is delivered through the Common Agricultural Policy by locally based ACRES CP teams.
Gerry McGourty, a sheep farmer on the commonage, said farmers have bought into the project as they see multiple benefits, describing it as a "win-win" and a learning process.
"It’s helping the climate, and it's also helping farmers in the fact that the score for the ACRES programme will be increased by this restoration work.
"It's going to leave a legacy for the generations coming behind us that this mountain will be preserved in its natural habitat."
Programme Manager of LIFE IP Wild Atlantic Nature with the National Parks and Wildlife Service, Dr Derek McLoughlin, said the Bencroy project is seen "as a lighthouse site".
Dr McLoughlin said the programme demonstrates what can be achieved within commonage owner arrangements - land privately owned by a number of shareholders.
He said the NPWS is examining, where possible, how to restore blanket bogs nationwide in Special Areas of Conservation - work that involves collaboration across NPWS, DAFM, and other government organisations.
"Ultimately, this restoration reduces our carbon emissions. We know that bare soil emits huge amounts of carbon.
"We know that intact peatlands sequester carbon, as well as providing wider nature benefits. It’s absolutely moving in the right direction on several different fronts."
Dr McLoughlin said that as bogs depend on water, the objective is to ensure that the soil is constantly damp, but not dry and cracking.
"The planning of that is extremely important, (identifying) where the works will be done, the resources needed, the finance that's needed and who needs to do it.
"The farmers here (on Bencroy mountain) are bringing our country's emissions in the right direction.
"It also creates a resilience to climate change in future. We're very much looking for collection of landowners and farmers that are interested in this work," Dr McLoughlin added.
The NPWS has some similar initiatives ongoing along the western seaboard from Donegal to Kerry and in other upland areas.
From 2026, EU member states must record emissions in managed wetlands and forestry.
The EU hopes to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 90% by 2040, relative to 1990, with a domestic target of 85% and up to 5% of international carbon credits, with the overarching aim is of reaching climate neutrality by 2050.
Andrew Boyle, a sheep farmer who grew up in Bunrevagh at the foot of Bencroy mountain, worked in the coalmine site from the age of 15 until extraction ceased in 1990.
He believes the benefits of the ongoing conservation programme are already visible.
"Grass is starting to grow. They (geotextile mats) were brought up this year, and you have growth already."
His son, Matthew Boyle, who farms with his father, has carried out much of the restoration.
"The geotextile mats will degrade in about five years' time. Hopefully by then, it will be covered in grass and moss.
"There’s great satisfaction in coming back up every so often and seeing the difference," said.
