Ecologists Gather In Laois For Wetlands Conference

Thursday, 22 May 2025 at 07:56

Laois's Gearòid and Fiadh Maher in Abbeyleix Bog, as part of Tòchar's research launch on Biodiversity Week.

Findings at the conference show only 33% of people are aware of wetland restoration projects.

Ecologists across the Midlands are gathering in Laois today to explore the path ahead for wetlands.

It's as new research unveiled today at the Tóchar confernce in Abbeyleix shows only 33% of people are aware of wetland restoration projects.

This awareness is slightly higher in EU Just Transition areas.

Nearly half of respondents had a interest in wetland restoration, with 10% of those acknowledging that restoration may have potential impacts on turf cutters and bog contractors.

61% of Irish adults have visited a wetland area, with 72% ranking nature restoration as the most important benefit of restoring wetlands.

The stats were commissioned by the Tóchar Midlands Wetlands Restoration Project to get a better understanding of how people across the region percieve wetlands.