Leave No Trace, Deloitte and Bord na Móna join forces to support accelerated peatland restoration in Ireland’s Midlands 

 

September 2024:  

Leave No Trace Ireland are collaborating with Deloitte and Bord na Móna to announce the launch of a new Hot Spot project at Killaranny Bog, located near Lough Boora Discovery Park in County Offaly. This innovative initiative is a unique model for peatland rehabilitation, biodiversity enhancement, cross-sectoral collaboration, and meaningful climate action. It sets a new standard for how similar environmental projects can be envisioned and developed in the future. 

To date, the planning of activities, coordination, and collaboration among the involved parties has been extensive and will culminate in days of action at Killaranny Bog and Lough Boora. The purpose of the Leave No Trace Hot Spot Project is to educate people on making responsible decisions when engaging in outdoor activities and to promote a sense of stewardship for the natural world. Each Hot Spot receives a unique blend of education, outreach, and rehabilitation efforts tailored to the specific needs of the site. By applying Leave No Trace Principles, these sites selected for Hot Spot Programmes can be restored and thrive again. 

Collaboration for Change 

Deloitte Ireland is joining forces with Leave No Trace Ireland to drive the restoration of peatlands across Ireland’s Midlands. This initiative builds on the ongoing work of Bord na Móna’s Peatlands and People initiative, which focuses on sustainable peatland management and the transition towards a low-carbon, sustainable future. This collaborative project is an opportunity to accelerate peatland conservation, improve biodiversity in the area, and take meaningful climate action that will reduce carbon emissions from peatlands. It also demonstrates the potential for systemic change when diverse stakeholders work together. 

Project Phases and Long-Term Vision 

The project will unfold in several phases, covering education, programmed peatland rehabilitation and restoration activities, and ongoing monitoring and measurement of project impacts. It is divided into three distinct elements: 

• Educational (Phase A): Orientation to peatlands and Leave No Trace Principles workshops, with the potential for future biodiversity enhancement projects such as bird nesting platforms, bat boxes, and biodiversity trails. 

• Action (Phase B): Greening peatland for rehabilitation, restoration, and carbon sequestration through Sphagnum planting. 

• Observation (Phase C): Carbon storage and biodiversity enhancement measures over the long term. 

 

Announcing the new Leave No Trace Hot Spot Project, Leave No Trace Ireland CEO Maura Kiely said: “We are delighted to be working with Deloitte and Bord na Móna in this exciting site-specific project that builds on ongoing work being undertaken by Bord Na Móna (BnM) through its Peatlands and People initiative and aligns with Deloitte’s aims of reaching Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) as part of their global sustainability strategy, WorldClimate.”  

“The project will involve the planting of sphagnum moss at Killaranny Bog owned by Bord na Móna close to Lough Boora Discovery Park. It will also include educational walks and talks with Leave No Trace activities at Lough Boora. Bord na Móna will be working closely with the Deloitte volunteers and Leave No Trace Team in the planting of the sphagnum moss at Killaranny.”  

Arthur Devine, Bord na Móna, Technical Project Manager for LIFE IP Peatlands and People, emphasises the importance of this project: “Peatlands are important for the carbon cycle as they contain 25-33% of global soil organic carbon, but they only cover 3-6% of land surface. Peatlands store more carbon than any other terrestrial ecosystem, so by preserving them, we ensure there is less carbon entering the earth’s atmosphere.”  

“The transition to more sustainable practices is best captured by Bord na Móna’s move from a peat-harvesting business model to renewable energy and peatlands conservations projects,” explains Dave Whelan, Hot Spot Project Manager, Leave No Trace Ireland. “It’s part of a broader narrative across the public and semi-state sector to help reduce Ireland’s greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs). This transition away from fossil fuel dependence is increasingly associated with nature-based, renewable, and more environmentally benign solutions. Our peatlands-based project with Deloitte, Leave No Trace and Bord na Móna, has created a best-practice model for how similar initiatives can be developed in the future.” 

Caitlin Flanagan, WorldClimate lead, Deloitte, commented: “Deloitte’s collaboration with Leave No Trace and Bord na Móna on this innovative project is an incredible opportunity to support the restoration of the peatlands and ultimately contribute to reducing Ireland’s greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs). Around 200 of our staff, including our CEO Harry Goddard, will visit the chosen site at Killaranny this September to learn about the restoration of Ireland’s peatlands and will plant Sphagnum moss. Empowering individuals is a critical part of our WorldClimate strategy so involving the Deloitte team is fantastic.”  

Leave No Trace Ireland envisions this Hot Spot Project as a multi-annual initiative that builds year-on-year on peatland rehabilitation, restoration, and conservation work. The sites identified at Killaranny and the vicinity of Lough Boora Discovery Park offer ongoing opportunities for carbon sequestration and storage activities to achieve significant scale and impact over the medium-to-long term.  

Monitoring and Measuring Impact 

Scientific measurement and reporting are key considerations in achieving the project’s objectives. An Eddy-Covariance flux tower and weather station or similar equipment may be deployed to provide ongoing monitoring and measurement of the land, and to demonstrate overall project impact. 

Media Contacts: Derek Cunningham 086 2430535  

Note to Editors:  

What do we mean by peatland rehabilitation? In simple terms it’s a two-step operation. Firstly, the peatland drainage is reversed, bringing the water level back just to the surface of the peatland. This minimises the carbon emissions from the peatland and secures the carbon storage value of the residual peat. Secondly, the peatland is recolonised by sphagnum moss and other bog species, reestablishing the living layer and supporting its transition to a fully functioning natural habitat. Once water levels are optimal and the peat is fully covered by sphagnum-rich vegetation, the peatland can sequester carbon and operate again as an effective carbon sink. Peatland rehabilitation is something Bord na Móna is engaged in across its landbank through the Peatlands Climate Action Scheme, with almost 4,000 hectares of peatlands restored over the past year. This scheme is not only returning these peatlands to areas of great natural beauty and thriving biodiversity, but it is also harnessing the power of the peatlands to secure a store of around 100 million tonnes of carbon upon the scheme’s completion.   

An Eddy Covariance Flux Tower (‘Flux Tower’) continuously measures gas exchange between the land surface (soil and vegetation) and the atmosphere. It can continuously monitor greenhouse gas movement over extensive ranges, from hundreds of square meters to tens of square kilometres. Flux tower data let us track greenhouse gas regulation by ecosystems and find out how different land management practices affect emissions (Source: Tern.org) 

 

About Deloitte 

At Deloitte, we make an impact that matters for our clients, our people, our profession, and in the wider society by delivering the solutions and insights they need to address their most complex business challenges. As the largest global professional services and consulting network, with approximately 457,000 professionals in more than 150 countries, we bring world-class capabilities and high-quality services to our clients. 

In Ireland, Deloitte has approximately 3,000 people providing audit, tax, consulting, and financial advisory services to public and private clients spanning multiple industries. Our people have the leadership capabilities, experience and insight to collaborate with clients so they can move forward with confidence. 

In this press release references to Deloitte are references to Deloitte Ireland LLP. The information contained in this press release is correct at the time of going to press. Deloitte Ireland LLP is the Ireland affiliate of Deloitte NSE LLP, a member firm of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited, a UK private company limited by guarantee (“DTTL”). DTTL and each of its member firms are legally separate and independent entities. DTTL and Deloitte NSE LLP do not provide services to clients. Please see www.deloitte.com/about to learn more about our global network of member firms.  

About Bord na Mona 

Bord na Móna is an Irish, semi-state climate solutions company helping lead Ireland towards a climate neutral future. Bord na Móna provides employment for approximately 1500 people and manages a land holding of over 80,000 hectares. Bord na Móna measure our work on this landbank over long-term timescales. Our ambition is to create the right conditions to store carbon and protect biodiversity, while helping to deliver ongoing sustainable energy security for Ireland. 

The Peatlands and People LIFE Project is a 7-year EU-funded initiative aimed at supporting Ireland’s transition to a carbon-neutral, climate-resilient, and environmentally sustainable country by restoring peatlands in the Midlands, establishing a business accelerator program, and creating an immersive visitor experience, while collaborating at all levels to promote solutions aligned with Ireland’s Climate Action Plan. 

About Leave No Trace Ireland 

Leave No Trace is Ireland’s only outdoor ethics programme, which promotes the responsible use of the outdoors. Through education, research and partnerships, Leave No Trace Ireland enables and supports individuals, communities, organisations and companies in reducing the environmental impact of outdoor activities.