Socio-economic impact assessment of Green Restoration Ireland’s “Farm Carbon” E.I.P. project

Green Restoration Ireland (GRI) is a co-operative that “supports community development through initiatives that restore natural heritage, fight climate change and restore biodiversity and ecosystem services to Irish landscape”. “Farm Carbon”, one of these initiatives, is a result-based project that works with landowners of farmed peatlands. Participating farmers are rewarded for improving the environmental services of their farms by regenerating their farmed peatlands through water table management. GRI has worked for two years on this project with farms in the catchment area of the Camcor, Little Brosna and Silver rivers in Offaly/Laois/North Tipperary. “Farm Carbon” is supported under the EU’s European Innovation Partnership for Agricultural Productivity and Sustainability (E.I.P. Agri). 

Our study focuses on evaluating the socio-economic impacts of the “Farm Carbon” project and exploring lessons for the future. The study explores how the changes made on participating farms have had an effect both economically and socially. Examples of the economic benefits to be explored include increased income from subsidies/incentives, improved productivity and cost savings. In relation to social impact, themes include knowledge transfer, farmer-to-farmer learning, network building, increased well-being and farmer empowerment. Broader community impacts may also be explored such as environmental awareness within communities, strengthened community ties and contributions to community development.

Team members: Dr Bridget Carroll, Charlotte Norton

Contact: Dr. Bridget Carroll, b.carroll@ucc.ie