€20.8 million major cross-border nature restoration project ‘PEACEPLUS Nature’ launches.
A landmark €20.8 million cross-border conservation initiative, PeacePlus Nature, has been officially launched, marking a significant environmental investment for nature. The programme, led by RSPB NI, creating 49 new roles, was inaugurated at the Lough Neagh Discovery Centre by Andrew Muir MLA, Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs and Christopher O’Sullivan TD, Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage with special responsibility for Nature, Heritage and Biodiversity.
This major project, which aims to reverse the decline of key priority species and habitats across 23 sites in Northern Ireland and border counties of Ireland, is supported by PEACEPLUS, a programme managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB).
The project is designed to deliver major gains for nature by uniting nine partner organisations to deliver this much-needed nature recovery. The partnership, led by RSPB NI, brings together the collective expertise of BirdWatch Ireland, Butterfly Conservation, Monaghan County Council, River Blackwater Catchment Trust, Truagh Development Association, Lough Neagh Partnership, NI Water, and An Taisce – National Trust for Ireland.
By working across borders, the programme aims to create a resilient landscape where nature can thrive, ensuring the long-term survival of some of our most iconic and threatened wildlife while fostering shared environmental stewardship.
Andrew Muir MLA, Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, said:
“Nature does not recognise borders, and neither should our efforts to protect and restore it. The launch of the €20.8 million PeacePlus Nature programme is a powerful example of what can be achieved when we work collaboratively across Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland to tackle the shared challenge of biodiversity loss.
“This significant investment will help reverse the decline of some of our most threatened species and habitats, while supporting communities, creating new jobs and building a more resilient natural environment. It directly supports the delivery of my department’s Environmental Improvement Plan and our wider ambition to halt and reverse nature’s decline.
“I commend RSPB NI and its partners for their leadership in bringing together environmental expertise, local knowledge and cross border cooperation. Programmes like PeacePlus Nature demonstrate that protecting our natural environment is not only essential for wildlife, but fundamental to the wellbeing, prosperity and shared future of our communities.”
Minister for Housing, Heritage and Local Government, James Browne TD said:
“The PEACEPLUS programme continues to bring people together, fostering understanding, and collaboration. This €20.8 million investment in PEACEPLUS Nature is a positive signal of our ambition to support communities to thrive, connect and shape lasting peace and their natural environment for generations to come.”
Minister of State for Nature, Heritage and Biodiversity, Christopher O’Sullivan TD said:
“This wide-ranging project drives a coordinated, cross-border approach to restore vital peatlands, secure the future of threatened wader birds, and manage critical habitats for our butterflies and moths. By taking targeted action for threatened wader birds and iconic species like the Hen Harrier, we are safeguarding a landscape that defines our shared natural heritage. Healthy ecosystems are not only home to precious wildlife, but are also essential to our collective health, wellbeing, and economic resilience.”
SEUPB Chief Executive Gina McIntyre said: “Investing in environmental protection plays a part in nurturing peace. It strengthens the places where people live, creates shared spaces for connection, and reminds us that renewal is possible. Through PEACEPLUS, we support projects that bring communities together with a common purpose, and nature restoration does exactly that. It improves wellbeing, encourages cooperation between agencies across the island, and reflects the wider vision of PEACEPLUS: a future that is healthier, more resilient and shaped by communities working side by side.”Joanne Sherwood, RSPB NI Director, shared:
“For the last 60 years, RSPB NI has worked tirelessly to ensure our home is richer in nature, and we are proud to be leading this game-changing €20.8 million PeacePlus Nature project. Together with our eight partners, this programme represents a major step forward in supporting iconic and endangered species such as the Corncrake, Curlew, Hen Harrier and Merlin across Northern Ireland and the border counties. We’re particularly excited about the acquisition of Inishcreenry farmland in County Fermanagh, which will play a vital role in breeding wader recovery. The creation of 49 new jobs including a dedicated Community Engagement team who will be empowering young people to act for nature, proves that investing in nature is also an investment in people. It’s inspiring to see this shared vision becoming a reality.”
To find out more, visit: www.peaceplusnature.org.uk
