Newry, Mourne and Down District Council Supports Major PEACEPLUS Climate Project

Newry, Mourne and Down District Council has welcomed the launch of a major new cross-border climate initiative, recognising its key role in delivering the Coastal Monitoring and Adaptation Plan (CMAP) project.

The project was officially launched on Thursday 26 March at an event hosted by Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute in Belfast, alongside two other PEACEPLUS-funded marine initiatives. Together, the three projects represent an investment of almost €25 million through the Special EU Programmes Body PEACEPLUS programme.

Led by Ulster University, CMAP aims to help communities, policymakers and environmental stakeholders better understand and respond to the impacts of climate change along the Irish coast. The project will focus on key challenges including rising sea levels, coastal erosion, biodiversity loss and increased storm activity.

Newry, Mourne and Down District Council is a key delivery partner within CMAP, contributing both strategic expertise and practical, on-the-ground action. A central element of the Council’s role will be the delivery of an innovative mooring replacement programme in Strangford Lough, where up to 75 traditional moorings will be replaced with advanced eco-mooring systems.

These eco-moorings are designed to reduce damage to sensitive seabed habitats, particularly seagrass meadows, which play a vital role in supporting biodiversity, improving water quality and storing carbon.

In addition, the Council will support a range of wider project activities including coastal monitoring, community engagement, citizen science and the development of adaptive management approaches, helping to ensure strong local involvement and long-term environmental benefits.

Newry, Mourne and Down District Council Chairperson, Councillor Philip Campbell said, “We are proud to play an active role in the CMAP project, working alongside partners to address the growing challenges facing our coastal environments. Initiatives such as the eco-mooring programme in Strangford Lough demonstrate how practical, local action can deliver real environmental benefits.

“Our district is home to some of the most important and diverse coastal habitats on the island of Ireland. Through projects like CMAP, we can protect these valuable natural assets, strengthen climate resilience and support our communities to adapt to future change.”

CMAP is one of three major PEACEPLUS-funded projects launched at the event, alongside ACCLIMATISE and MOSAIC, which will collectively enhance understanding of marine ecosystems and support sustainable management of shared coastal waters across Ireland, Northern Ireland and beyond.

The CMAP project will deliver research, monitoring and restoration activities across 15 coastal sites in counties Antrim, Donegal, Down, Derry/Londonderry, Louth and Sligo, helping to build a stronger, more resilient future for coastal communities.