7.12.7 Peatlands
The CDP includes the following objectives:
- EC O51 Support Bord na Mona in the preparation of a long-term strategic plan for the former industrial peatlands.
- EC O56 Support the implementation of the ‘Local Just Transition Plan for West Kildare’ which identifies actions to support and advance sustainable, social, economic, environmental development in the transition to a low carbon future in the West Kildare region.
The Draft CDP lists a number of objectives and specific projects that can be undertaken in County Kildare to help achieve a low carbon climate resilient and environmentally sustainable economy. Some of these objectives are aligned with the objectives of the ‘Strategic Framework for the Future Use of Peatlands’[1] document and our ongoing transition to diversify into new sustainable business areas in order to strengthen the company and support jobs in the midlands into the future.
Central to this sustainable transition is the use of Bord na Móna’s land bank for a range of beneficial commercial, environmental and social uses such as renewable energy, industrial uses (including but not limited to data centres), biomass cultivation, ecosystem services and biodiversity as well as recreation and tourism. In many cases these uses can be co-located thereby providing enhanced benefits to the areas in which such developments are located.
[1] Bord na Móna Strategic Framework - Future Use of the Peatlands is under review and to be published in 2022