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Project title

Fen conservation, restoration and ecosystem services

Primary Funding Agency

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

Co-Funding Organisation(s)

n/a

Lead Organisation

University of Dublin, Trinity College (TCD)

Lead Applicant

Laurence Gill

Project Abstract

The overall aim of the FENCES (FEN Conservation, restoration and Ecosystem Services) research project is to provide a framework by which the ecosystem services (ES) of fens in Ireland can be rigorously evaluated in parallel to the development of effective restoration guidelines for those fens deemed to be at risk from water quality and/or quantity pressures. The main focus will be on carrying out field research on a range of different fen ecosystems across an ecological gradient of different states of degradation to gather hydrological and biogeochemical data which can be used to investigate the water, nutrient and carbon budgets. This will be analysed to gain evidence-based insights, helped by the use of appropriate modelling outputs, to feed into achieving the project aims. A further activity will develop a methodology based on remote sensing for continued monitoring of the ecohydrological condition of fens which can help with the assessment of restoration progress or reveal ongoing degradation. The research project, FENCES will be completed by an interdisciplinary team between Environmental Engineers and Natural Scientists in Trinity College Dublin (TCD) in collaboration with the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS). The concept is to carry out baseline field research on fens across a gradient of different pressures with which the team have previous research experience in order to leverage the previous long-term data and insights. These sites will be / have been instrumented to link the wetland hydro(geo)logy and associated ecology with wider catchment hydrological, carbon and nutrient dynamics. The field studies will be designed to collect the necessary baseline data in order to quantify these key ES. The data will allow differences to be studied and compared, not just across the different wetland types and across degradation gradients, but also across different temporal scales (long term changes vs inter-annual (seasonal) differences). Catchment models and integrated wetland models will then be developed to evaluate key variables, from which different future pressures and scenarios related to projected hydroclimatic extreme events can be modelled. This project will study additional sites of interest, one threatened by a flood alleviation scheme and two newly formed fens created as part of the PCAS (Peatlands Climate Action Scheme) raised bog restoration activities by Bord na Mona over the past few years. The project will also collaborate with the NPWS to dovetail in with their Wetlands Restoration Scheme co-funded by the European Union through the Just Transition Fund Programme to monitor before and after conservation efforts on a selected number of fens in the Midlands counties. The project is divided into four key workpackages as areas of focus: WPB Ecohydrology of fens WPC: Nutrient cycling in fens, WPD Carbon fluxes and budget of fens, WPE Synthesis (Ecosystem Services and Restoration guidelines).

Grant Approved

€659,820.00

Research Hub

Protecting and Restoring Our Natural Environment

Research Theme

Implementing effective protect and restore solutions

Start Date

01/03/2025

Initial Projected Completion Date

28/02/2029