MikekallyAmazing day yesterday with An Taisce's #ClimateAmbassador Programme, learning about peatland restoration from the NPWS rangers in the #wicklowmountainsnationalpark We spread bracken and heather brash that had been airlifted to the top. Over the next year we'll hopefully see some mosses and heather start to grow in the brash and stabilise the surface a bit more. We also built dams to slow runoff and prevent the deepening of water channels through the peat.
The peatlands in this area never recovered from a summerlong fire in the 70s and heavy grazing by deer and sheep ever since. Now the peat is completely exposed, drying out and blowing away in summer, and washing down the mountain. The peat also degrades when exposed to air, releasing its carbon store as CO² along with other greenhouse gases, adding to the impact of global warming and climate change.
This restoration work is invaluable and very, very necessary. Although we barely made a dent yesterday, every little is a step forward. The wonderful work by the rangers, supported by volunteer groups like Mountain Rescue Ireland and ReWild Wicklow (and now, the Climate Ambassadors!), will hopefully make a real difference to this desolate landscape over the coming months and years.
#climateaction #peatlands #restoration #climateambassador #climatechange #wicklow
@natureworks some more pics added here
Jake Rayson@Mikekally
Please can you add alt text & then I'll boost? Thank you 🙏
Please can you add alt text & then I'll boost? Thank you 🙏
@natureworks sure sorry, not very good at descriptive text hope that's OK now
@Mikekally thank you so much, that's brilliant ☺️