AQW 19885/17-22

Mr John Blair
Alliance Party
South Antrim

Tabled Date: 03/06/2021
Answered On Date: 17/06/2021
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs for his Department’s assessment on the condition of peatlands in Northern Ireland.

Answer:

Most peatland here has been modified by man and is considered degraded and in poor condition, emitting significant amounts of stored carbon. Pressures and threats include fires, over and under grazing, and drainage. These habitats are also highly sensitive to air and water pollution which can damage or kill the peat-forming plant species, limit biodiversity and interfere with the peat’s carbon storage capacity.

The last Habitats Directive report to the EU contains Northern Ireland-specific details on our habitats, including those associated with peatlands, and can be accessed at:-

Article 17 Habitats Directive Report 2019 (Habitats) | JNCC - Adviser to Government on Nature Conservation