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Key peatlands facts
3% of the world is peatlands
16% of Ireland is peatlands (CSO, 2018)
Kildare has 10,390 hectares of peat bogs ( CSO, 2018)
it takes 1000 years to create one meter of bog
bogs are between 4000 and 9000 years old
oak trees over 4000 years old have been found preserved under deep peat
sphagnum moss is the keystone bog building plant
sphagnum moss holds 20 times its own weight in water
bogs hold up to 10 times more carbon per meter than rain forests
intact active bogs are a carbon sink
exposed bare peat is a carbon source

Start in Kildare: National Peatlands Park
Check the Kildare County Development Plan latest draft published in March 2022. The National Peatlands Park has been included in the Plan and also in proposals for a Local Just Transition Plan for West Kildare sponsored by Kildare County Council, also published in March. We are working with Transport services and our Council to ensure that the Peatlands Park areas are public transport friendly or accessible by bicycle or on foot. The direct link to the plan is below.
