research
Healthy Ecosystems
Restoring biodiversity to secure resilient ecosystems and a sustainable bioeconomy.
Our Mission
Building Healthy, Resilient Ecosystems
At BiOrbic, we understand that thriving ecosystems are the backbone of a sustainable bioeconomy in Ireland. Our Healthy Ecosystems pillar focuses on protecting and restoring biodiversity, ensuring natural systems remain productive, resilient, and able to support climate adaptation and human well-being.
By enhancing biodiversity and ecosystem services, we safeguard the natural capital that underpins Ireland’s bioeconomy while meeting global conservation and sustainability goals.
Research Programmes
What Research is BiOrbic Doing?
Our Healthy Ecosystems research focuses on restoring habitats, recovering biodiversity, and strengthening ecosystem services to support Ireland’s bioeconomy, agriculture, forestry, and fisheries.
Healthy Ecosystems
Recovering Biodiversity
This challenge restores biodiversity across Ireland to support a sustainable bioeconomy. BiOrbic unites ecology, economics, and social science to advance native forestry, peatland recovery, and ecosystem management, delivering measurable gains, informed policy, and socio-economic impact.
key research areas
Promote native forests for balanced growth.
Assess biodiversity and ecosystem services to inform policy.
Restore peatlands with data insights.
active Projects
Assessing and Rewarding Biodiversity Recovery: Farm Credit
To develop metrics for assessing Biodiversity Recovery that are applicable at multiple scales from individual businesses to regional and national levels. An effective framework to downscale progress towards global commitments on biodiversity recovery to national and sectoral scales is urgently needed to close the gaps between commitments, implementation and impact. This work will also provide new insights into the bioeconomy as it will explore new potential land uses for wetland areas to encourage more sustainable land management practices.
Investing in Nature Restoration to Tackle Biodiversity Loss: ReFarm (Initial Groundwork)
To address challenges of financing biodiversity recovery in an integrated multi-disciplinary way, using Farming for Nature as a model system to develop and test innovative approaches, including financial investment, payment for ecosystem services, natural capital accounting and stakeholder engagement.
Quantification and qualification of the impact of peatland rehabilitation on biodiversity, water and climate
Deliver a data driven platform to assess the success of peatland rehabilitation on ecological health (biodiversity recovery), water quality and climate mitigation potential and to identify the role that degraded peatlands can play in the bioeconomy in Ireland. Researching and publishing on peatland rehabilitation approaches, compiling evidence for success and identifying alternative land uses within the Irish bioeconomy. Links to indirect implications for other industries (e.g. water treatment). We will provide a platform for wider community groups and industrial partners to protect biodiversity, offset emissions find new/novel ways to sequester carbon in these ecosystems and contribute to enhanced water management and quality at catchment scales.
ReFarm+
Over-arching aim: To engage in highly impactful research bringing together experts and researchers in the natural sciences, agriculture and business, to investigate how best to design a funding structure that: 1) provides the most efficient means for corporates to fund nature-positive action on farms. 2) provides the funding needed for farmers to undertake nature-positive actions on their farms. 3) leads to the most ecologically advantageous outcomes (up-scaling from the successful Burren Programme to improve farmland biodiversity in Ireland).
Restoring pollinators in Irish landscapes: RestPoll
To determine the effectiveness of pollinator restoration measures in Irish agricultural landscapes, both for pollinators and for other biodiversity and ecosystem services. To use a living labs approach to ensure effective stakeholder engagement and transfer of knowledge. To develop rapid assessment evaluations to measure pollinator restoration, and develop transferable approaches for different actors at a range of scales
impact
Why This Research Matters
Healthy ecosystems underpin the Irish bioeconomy. Our research finds ways to restore biodiversity, support climate action, and create social and economic benefits.
Restore Habitats
Rebuild native forests and peatlands to strengthen biodiversity and ecosystem function.
Measure Value
Quantify natural capital to guide sustainable management and policy decisions.
Support Communities
Ensure restoration benefits are socially just and economically viable.
Inform Policy
Provide evidence for effective biodiversity strategies at local and national scales.
Strategic Alignment
Aligned with Key EU Targets
Our research aligns with EU targets, which set measurable goals to restore degraded ecosystems. Our research provides practical approaches to ecosystem restoration, enhances biodiversity stocks and flows, and reinforces Ireland’s climate and environmental commitments.
