Girley Bog included in funding for special conservation projects

COUNTYWIDE NOTES - GIRLEY

Girley Bog Funding

Malcolm Noonan TD., Minister for Heritage and Electoral Reform today, 4th September, announced that he has approved grant funding of just under €107,000 to eight local community groups and organisations for a variety of projects focused on the conservation and revitalisation of raised bog Special Areas of Conservation, Natural Heritage Areas and other peatland areas.

Girley Bog is announced amongst the beneficiaries to the tune of €3,581.98 with the “Girley Bog Carbon Project” at Girley Bog Special Area of Conservation/Natural Heritage Area, which incorporates characterising peat stratigraphy and size of carbon sink and monitoring sphagnum transfer restoration plots.

Announcing the funding the Minister stated that he was delighted to see the diverse range of initiatives put forward by these active community groups and environmental organisations under the Peatlands Community Engagement Scheme in 2020 during challenging times and had decided to award over double the original allocation of funding of €50,000 after seeing the level of interest in the scheme and the quality of applications.

Minister Noonan went on to praise the work done on a voluntary basis by local community groups in nature conservation. “During this current pandemic we have seen people reconnecting with nature and the outdoors. It is encouraging to see such sense of place and community spirit and the championing of conservation benefits for their local peatlands,” he said.

Minister Noonan wished to remind local community groups and organisations that the 2021 Peatlands Community Engagement Scheme is open for applications for funding until 20 November 2020.

Full Countywide Notes appear every Tuesday in the paper.