Peatlands are deeply woven into the history and culture of Northern Ireland, but they are under threat from irreversible destruction through peat extraction.

The latest Nature Recovery Strategy for Northern Ireland to 2032 sets out DAERA’s plan to save Northern Ireland’s peatlands for future generations – by ending peat sales.

What does the Nature Recovery Strategy for Northern Ireland mean for the campaign for peat-free?

Peat extraction for horticulture continues to be a growing issue across Northern Ireland, causing permanent damage to peatlands. These are important habitats that store carbon, support wildlife and help tackle climate change.

The best way to protect peatlands is through legislation to stop the ongoing and unsustainable commercial exploitation that’s been gradually destroying them for generations. So the Government and their departments play an important part of saving them.

The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) officially launched the Nature Recovery Strategy for Northern Ireland to 2032 in October 2026.

The strategy sets out a vision for a nature-positive future in Northern Ireland. This is a plan on how to protect and restore nature so that wildlife, habitats and ecosystems can recover and thrive, rather than continuing to decline.

Peatlands are a critical part of that picture.

Strategies like this, and the Northern Ireland Peatland Strategy, are not legally binding. However, they can help set the direction for future action and focus attention on important environmental priorities.

Northern Ireland currently does not have legislation that legally requires targets for restoring peatlands and the environment. This strategy is therefore a welcome starting point, and it is promising to see the end of peat use in horticulture included as an essential nature-positive action.

What did they say, and what does it mean?

The Nature Recovery Strategy repeats the commitment from the previously published Northern Ireland Peatland Strategy:

“By 2030: Phase out the use of peat in horticulture to ensure better management of peatlands.” 

This is a promising start – but legislation is needed to make this happen.

As well as Northern Ireland, governments in Scotland and Wales also have pledges to ban peat sales. Ministers from all four nations have pledged to take forward a joint approach to legislation – so any peat ban would apply right across the UK. But achieving this depends on legislation in Westminster.

Four years ago, the UK Government in Westminster committed to ending peat sales, but without setting a deadline for introducing the legislation needed to make this happen.

Four years on, we’re still waiting for parliamentary time. Meanwhile, peatlands continue to be destroyed, causing untold damage to our climate, nature and future generations.

Commitments are important, but they need to be backed up by legislation. Protecting our peatlands means making sure promises are backed up by legislation and action, before more of these irreplaceable habitats are lost.

Add your voice to our campaign to end peat sales.

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