Expression of Interest Form for Tóchar Wetland Restoration Project

Tóchar is a three-year wetlands restoration project, co-funded by the Government of Ireland and the European Union through the EU Just Transition Fund Programme. Taking its name from the hundreds of ancient paths or toghers laid across the bogs by our ancestors, the project will serve the community, bringing participants on a nature restoration journey.

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)
• Carrick-on-Suir, 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.

Complete the expression of interest form or for further information please email: monicambyrne@npws.gov.ie

Expressions of interest should be returned by email to tocharwetlands@npws.gov.ie or post to:

Please return your completed Expression of Interest form by 31st October 2024

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.