New data indicates that Irish peat soils cover 13% more area than previously estimated, making these updated peat soil maps essential for land use planning. Peat soils play a critical role in absorbing greenhouse gases (GHGs) and addressing some of Ireland's most significant environmental challenges.
The revised map now includes shallow peat soils, which also store significant amounts of soil carbon. Researchers from Trinity College Dublin, the University of Galway, and Queen's University Belfast have broadened the definition of peat soils, incorporating soil material with at least 8.6% organic matter that has accumulated to a minimum of 10 cm, in line with recommendations from the United Nations Global Peatlands Initiative.
Dr. Louis Gilet from Trinity, the lead author of the study, stated: “Our technique involves continually updating these peat soil maps as new data become available. This new IPSM can now be used confidently to more precisely identify the location of peat soils across Ireland. The IPSM can help accurately implement regulations concerning carbon-rich soils and climate change mitigation, while informing management decisions related to other key sustainability issues such as land use planning, biodiversity management, and water regulation.”
Historically, peat soil interest focused on economic productivity through extraction or conversion to agriculture or forestry. However, in recent years, their role in regulating environmental processes and providing recreational, educational, scientific, and cultural value has been increasingly recognized.
Dr. Terry Morley from the University of Galway, a co-author of the research published in the journal Geoderma, highlighted: “Peat soils are crucial for helping the country meet national and international GHG reduction targets and play a significant role in regulating stream flow, water quality, and providing habitats for ecologically sensitive species.”
Dr. Raymond Flynn from Queen's University Belfast, also a co-author, emphasised: “This map shifts our approach to mapping peat soils from a traditional agronomy focus to one that better addresses their role in environmental processes.”
Dr. John Connolly, a geographer at Trinity and one of the Global Peatlands Assessment authors, added: “Peatlands hold a significant percentage of Ireland’s total soil organic carbon stock but have been severely degraded over the past 200 years due to land use changes and associated human activity, resulting in increased emissions from both deep and shallow peat. Thus, accurate identification, mapping, and management of peat soils are essential for programs aiming to reduce global greenhouse gas emissions and improve biodiversity in the Irish landscape.”
Further details on this research can be found in the original paper on the publisher's website.
This research is part of the RePEAT project, funded by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, and the Environmental Protection Agency.