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Action 13. Palaeoecological Archive of Peatlands

Peatlands are archives of information about the past. They support distinctive animal and plant communities and are the only terrestrial ecosystems that lay down a continuous three-dimensional record of their own growth and developmental history, as well as that of the surrounding animal and plant communities.

Detailed studies of these faunal and floral remains allow the study of the formation of peatlands from inception to their present form. The archives also contain invaluable information on human impact on the environment, human activity in general and record the effects of climate change. The palaeoecological archive thus has immense scientific value and there are crucial links between peatland palaeoecology and the conservation of peatland ecosystems and their biota.

However, despite the immense scientific value of these archives, there is little legislative recognition of their importance and few mechanisms that seek to protect them (Vergne & Whitehouse 2000).

IPCC are concerned that the palaeoecological importance of our peatlands has been completely overlooked, even though the country has a long history of research in palaeoecology (Mitchell 1986, Mitchell & Ryan 1997). Indeed many of the sites that provided insights on the history of farming and the impact of man on the Irish landscape have already been destroyed by development. This has resulted in the loss of at least 22 valuable palaeoecological sites and their evidence, which cannot be re-created.

General Objective
To conserve a representative sample of peatland sites containing important palaeoecological archives.

In view of the importance of this issue, IPCC will campaign for the establishment of a palaeoecological unit within Dúchas to make an inventory of sites with a view to conserving this valuable archive. The unit should be holistic in its approach and include the various palaeoecological disciplines including dendrochronology, palynology, limnology, sediment analysis (tephra, charcoal, microfossils, macrofossils, faunal assemblages and stratigraphy) and other quaternary sciences.

Actions
3.13.1 Dúchas, in liaison with relevant academic and research groups should identify criteria which would enable peatland sites to be assessed and designated for their palaeoecological importance.

3.13.2 Dúchas should establish a databank of information on palaeoecological research from Irish peatlands.

3.13.3 Dúchas should allocate resources to set up a palaeoecological unit within the Heritage Service.

3.13.4 Exploitation or disturbance of important palaeoecological sites should be subject to environmental impact assessment and planning permission.

3.13.5 Dúchas should establish an inventory of peatland sites of palaeoecological importance and designate them as NHAs.

3.13.6 Information on Irish peatlands of palaeoecological importance should be included within the European Pollen database.

3.13.7 Dúchas should maintain a register of licenses granted for palaeoecological research undertaken within its properties.