Why a Peat-Hub-Ireland?
Since the turn of the 21st century, there has been growing global interest in the role of peatlands in carbon and water cycles with more inter-disciplinary research applying the Ecosystem Services framework. This has been guided by the recognition that peatlands form important natural capital and by the growing apprehension that peatland degradation will lead to significant negative impacts to the global climate change. The same trends have also been experienced in Ireland with increasing research in peatland science, applied work on degraded systems via European and national funding (EU LIFE projects) and also participatory public interests (as seen by the popularity of peatland community groups). A holistic synthesis of all this work is required.