National Raised Bog SAC Management Plan / Peatlands Strategy/ NHA Review

The National Raised Bog Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) Management Plan 2017 - 2022* sets out a roadmap for the long-term management, restoration and conservation of protected raised bogs in Ireland. This Plan was published on 21 December 2017.

The Plan strikes an appropriate balance between the need to conserve and restore Ireland’s raised bog network and the needs of stakeholders and gives recognition to the important role that communities have to play in the conservation and restoration of raised bogs.

The National Raised Bog Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) Management Plan 2017-2022 is part of the measures being implemented in response to the on-going infringement action against Ireland in relation to the implementation of the EU Habitats Directive, with regard to the regulation of turf cutting on the Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) and on foot of the recommendation of Mr. Justice Quirke that a National Raised Bog SAC Management Plan be drawn up, arising from the Peatlands Forum (2012). Subsequently, Dáil Éireann unanimously supported the recommendation for a national plan to be put in place for Ireland’s protected raised bogs.

In 2014, following approval by Government, the then Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, published three documents, a draft National Peatlands Strategy a draft National Raised Bog Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) Management Plan and a Review of Raised Bog Natural Heritage Area Network. This was followed by a period of consultation on these documents from January, 2014 to April 2014, during which over 1,500 submissions were received. 

The National Raised Bog Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) Management Plan 2017-2022 has been developed taking account of the various viewpoints and offers a way forward by outlining how a representative network of raised bogs will be conserved, restored and managed.

The Wildlife (Amendment) Bill 2016 has been presented to Dáil Éireann and published. It provides for the implementation of a reconfiguration of the raised bog Natural Heritage Area Network arising from the 2014 Review of Raised Bog Natural Heritage Area Network. The Bill is proceeding through the necessary stages in the Houses of the Oireachtas.

The National Peatlands Strategy was published in 2016.

Irish Wildlife Manual No. 99: Best practice in raised bog restoration in Ireland: 

The publication of the Irish Wildlife Manual No. 99: Best practice in raised bog restoration in Ireland is one of the commitments of the National Raised Bog Special Areas of Conservation (SAC) Management Plan 2017-2022. It has been prepared in consultation with groups and individuals that have been involved in carrying out restoration on raised bogs in the past.  It is intended that this document will provide sound practical guidance to anyone interested in the restoration and management of raised bogs such as landowners and land users, community groups, environmental NGOs and any practitioners involved in undertaking restoration measures.

Consolidated links (all documents are pdfs):

Associated documents:

For further information please contact the Peatlands Management Unit of the NPWS of the Department at: Email peatlandsmanagement@npws.gov.ie, Telephone: +353-53-9117384/ 9117456

* Since the plan went live on 21st December 2017 some slight edits have been made:

  • Addition to text on inside cover
  • Insert of figure A5.1 (b)- page 224
  • Change to text on first paragraph - page 53