The Site, one of the last intact active blanket bog systems in Ireland and Western Europe, comprises over 13,000 hectares of Atlantic blanket bog and mountainous terrain. It is important for its peatland and upland habitats and for the river and pool systems which lie within and flow through them. The rivers and streams provide critical spawning habitat for Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar). The Site is known to support breeding red grouse (Lagopus lagopus) and golden plover (Pluvialis apricaria), which depend on its heather for feeding. Greenland white-fronted geese (Anser albifrons flavirostris) feed and roost in the blanket bog habitat; however their numbers have been declining in recent years. Two legally protected plants have been recorded: bog orchid (Hammarbya paludosa) and marsh clubmoss (Lycopodiella inundata). The Site is used for fishing and walking: part of the Bangor Trail lies within the site. It is part of the Wild Atlantic Nature project funded by the European Union’s LIFE programme, which aims to improve the condition of habitats through working with farmers and local communities. Major threats include disturbances from wind turbines and fires.