Named after the ancient paths, or toghers, that crisscrossed the bogs of Ireland, Tóchar will offer participants the opportunity to contribute to nature restoration and learn about the importance of wetlands. The project is part of the EU Just Transition Fund Programme and seeks to create a positive impact on the environment and local communities.
Those interested in joining the Tóchar project are encouraged to express their interest and learn more about how they can get involved.
Welcoming the launch of the call for Expressions of Interest, Malcolm Noonan, the Minister for Nature, Heritage and Electoral Reform, TD, said: "The restoration of wetlands is part of the just transition journey towards climate neutrality, a journey where nature can play its part in the provision of a wide range of ecosystem services including nature-based solutions for climate change adaptation and mitigation. But nature also provides solace, health and recreational benefits, particularly for those who live in the vicinity of nature and wetland sites that are in good condition. Restoring wetlands as part of the Just Transition is essential and community participation in this type of activity has numerous benefits. I am delighted to announce the call for Expressions of Interest for the Tóchar Wetlands Restoration scheme and I look forward to its outcomes over the next number of years."
Cllr Catherine Fitzgerald, Cathaoirleach of the Eastern and Midland Regional Assembly said: "This call for expressions of interest is a great opportunity for individuals, landowners, and communities to play an active role in making a difference. By restoring nature and our peatlands together, we can build climate resilience and a more sustainable future for ourselves and generations to come."
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Clare Bannon, Acting Director of EMRA said: "EMRA has been working closely with the NPWS team over the last number of months, and we are looking forward to the next stages as people across the region get involved and engaged with wetland restoration. Restoration of peatlands is one of our key deliverables as we work to bring the community through a just transition loosening the dependency on peat as a fossil fuel."
Overall the project will spend €12m during its lifetime.
Niall Ó Donnchú, Director General with NPWS said: "Engagement and co-operation are the principles on which we depend as we develop initiatives for nature restoration. Tóchar Wetlands Restoration is in the early stages of implementation in the midlands and the Just Transition territory. The National Parks and Wildlife Service wants broad participation in this scheme, to ensure the investment in wetlands and their stakeholders makes a positive impact in as many communities as possible."
Shirley Clerkin, Tóchar Project Manager said: "We hope that people will get involved in Tóchar, so that we can co-operate and build relationships together with the land and its wetlands. Restoration of nature goes hand in hand with improving the resilience of communities, particularly important during this time of climate change. We need to care for the land and its keepers, and this includes the wetlands and their users in the EU Just Transition area."
In order to start the process, Tóchar have opened an expression of interest call to landowners, communities and groups to become actively involved in nature restoration for wetlands across the EU Just Transition area. The EU Just Transition Area includes municipal districts in the counties Laois, Longford, Offaly, Westmeath, Roscommon and the Municipal Districts of Ballinasloe (Co Galway), Athy, Clane-Maynooth, (Co Kildare) and Carrick-on-Suir and Thurles (Co Tipperary).
Wetlands are areas where water covers the soil, or is present either at or near the surface all year or for varying periods of time during the year. The wider midlands hosts a broad diversity of freshwater wetlands such as marshes, fens, bogs, callows and ponds, each playing a crucial role in ecology, climate change mitigation and adaptation, water quality, healthy environments, local communities and economies. With support from Tóchar, nature in the heart of communities across the EU Just Transition territory can be restored with these associated benefits.
To support participants on this restoration journey, Tóchar have created a straightforward step-by step expression of interest form. The Tóchar team will follow up with the necessary assistance to progress projects, whether that be through survey work, restoration planning, interpretation and education or restoration actions on the ground.
Monica Byrne, Project Administrator of the Tóchar project team, added: "The author Robin Wall Kimmer once wrote 'We restore the land, and the land restores us', and this project takes inspiration from the idea that ecological restoration is inseparable from reconnecting people and the landscape. We believe hope and positivity comes from action, and we wish for many communities in the Just Transition areas to get involved in meaningful action on the ground."
She indicated the first step any interested community should take is to contact Tóchar. "We ask interested groups (or individuals) to get in touch with us, fill out the expression of interest form, give us whatever information you have, so that we can start connecting and co-operating"
The project is managed by the the National Parks and Wildlife Service with a project office in Birr, Co. Offaly. The Eastern and Midland Regional Assembly (EMRA) , who are the Managing Authority for the EU Just Transition fund.
