Also known as bog moss, sphagnum moss comes in more than 20 different species, and that’s just those that are native to Ireland. Peat bogs’ vast stores of carbon are a major player in climate mitigation, and their role extends to adaptation too. The rain of late can serve as a reminder that we depend on peat bogs and other wetlands for flood attenuation. That horticultural peat moss is a product for which there are many alternatives makes it all even more perverse. Both the Citizen’s Assembly on Climate Change and the Citizens assembly on Biodiversity Loss called for extensive peatland restoration.

Source: Irish Examiner March 18, 2026 13:33 UTC