Unlocking Resilience: Solutions for Flood Mitigation and Paludiculture – BUFFER+ at The Rivers Trust All- Ireland Conference
Peatland Restoration and Paludiculture Project Officers Barry McLaughlin and Freya Connolly introduced BUFFER+ to the attendees of The All-Ireland Rivers Trust annual conference on Sunday 18th of May 2024 in the Boyne Catchment.
Photo credits: Dr Constanze O’Toole
They presented a joint talk “Unlocking Resilience: Solutions for Flood Mitigation and Paludiculture”. Their broad-ranging talk took attendees through the aims of the BUFFER+project, our partner's work and the progress in engaging with the peatland landowners made so far. The conference's theme of Resiliency offered a lens with which to view the work that BUFFER+ aims to facilitate in its partner regions. Interreg NWE and its objective to enhance climate change adaptation and mitigation in peatland areas in NWE regions and make peatlands function as carbon and water buffers, while at the same time restoring biodiversity and creating new revenue streams was introduced first followed by an explanation of the project.
Barry McLaughlin explained the Inishowen pilot and gave updates on the progress being made with community engagement among local farmers and landowners and securing a site. The potential of an Inishowen pilot in providing Natural Flood Management formed a central part of the discussion around the Inishowen peatland restoration pilot as flooding is a frequent issue for the community. The intersection of BeeODiversity’s monitoring work in the area as one of two cross cutting pilots in the BUFFER+ project was also spoken about by Barry.
Freya Connolly explained the work carried out so far on the Moy based pilot which focuses on Paludiculture trials alongside peatland restoration. Part of the early phase of the project focused on community engagement and giving landowners a concise summary of the project via media platforms that they listen to, read and presentations they attended through Agri advisor knowledge transfer events. The landowner engagement was much greater than expected and demonstrates the desire for farmers and landowners to buy into nature-based solutions. Freya also provided an explanation on Paludiculture and its potential for providing farmers with a new sustainable revenue stream for previously degraded peatlands. BioClear Earth’s role in monitoring the health of soil at the Moy pilot site as the second cross cutting pilot was illustrated by Freya.
Representing BUFFER+ to the wider Rivers Trust Movement in Ireland is important not just for informing stakeholders of the work of the project but also for demonstrating the co-benefits of peatland restoration such as providing blue services, increasing biodiversity, protecting water quality and tackling climate change through peatland restoration and its potential in creating resilient communities.
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