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Action 16. Peatland Biodiversity Protection

Biodiversity is the variety of life covering all genes, animal and plant species, ecosystems and landscapes. Ireland's biodiversity is under threat due to habitat loss, pollution, introduced species, disturbance and other factors. A national biodiversity plan has been in preparation since 1997 by the Department of Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands to meet the requirements of the International Biodiversity Convention at Rio de Janeiro in 1992. The Biodiversity Plan will eventually be implemented by Dúchas - The Heritage Service in the Republic of Ireland.

In Ireland, the ecological and regional diversity of peatlands both in terms of species and of habitats is high. At the level of individual sites the diversity is exceptional. Clear east-west and altitudinal gradients can be distinguished in which seven major peatland types occur: midland raised bog, western raised bog, Atlantic blanket bog, mountain blanket bog, montane wet heath, poor fen and calcareous rich fen. Irish peatlands have a distinctive selection of oceanic-loving species due to their location at the Western edge of Europe.

More than fifty vegetation types have been described from Irish peatlands. Six of these are regarded as threatened (most of them being different types of raised and blanket bog vegetation) and one is regarded as extinct. Approximately 44% of Ireland's total Natural Heritage Area resource is peatland, represented by 680 Natural Heritage Areas and covering an area of 207,464ha. Approximately 15% of our original flora consists of peatland plants, approximately 23% of endangered plants in Ireland are peatland species, while some 59 species of birds are dependent on peatlands for all or part of their lifecycles. Approximately 49% of all endangered birds in Ireland occur on peatlands most as breeding species. 26% of our mammals are dependent on peatlands in some phase of their life cycle. Six plants, two mammals, one amphibian and three bird species of peatlands are rare or even endangered in other parts of Europe (Curtis & McGough 1988, Whilde 1993).

To date progress on the compilation of the Biodiversity Plan for the Republic of Ireland has been unacceptably slow. There has been inadequate consultation between non-governmental organisations and the Department of Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands. There is incomplete information on peatland habitats and species which needs to be addressed by the plan. An holistic approach is needed for the whole island of Ireland. Already the Environment and Heritage Service for Northern Ireland have completed their biodiversity plan (EHS 2000) in consultation with both NGO's and Government bodies in the Republic of Ireland. Reciprocal actions are necessary and active and inclusive consultation must be considered a priority.

General Objective
To protect peatland biodiversity in Ireland.

In 1997 IPCC made a submission to the Department of Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands which identified the main features of peatland biodiversity in Ireland and factors affecting that biodiversity. The submission proposed measures to support the conservation of peatland biodiversity. IPCC is actively promoting a public awareness and information campaign on the importance of peatland biodiversity to our heritage.

Actions
3.16.1 The first priority for the Department of Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands should be to complete the production of a National Biodiversity Plan.

3.16.2 The Biodiversity Plan should be produced following adequate consultation with NGO's and other interest groups.

3.1.6.3 The Government should embark on an awareness plan to promote knowledge and understanding of the Biodiversity plan, its contents and consequences.

3.16.3 Dúchas should develop a conservation area network of peatlands representing the full range of peatland habitats and species biodiversity in Ireland.

3.16.4 Dúchas should develop species and habitat action plans to adequately protect Irish peatland biodiversity.

3.16.5 Dúchas should set land area targets to protect the biodiversity of each peatland type occurring in Ireland.

3.16.6 Dúchas should liaise with the Environment and Heritage Service, Northern Ireland in producing their biodiversity plan since wildlife shares the geography of the whole island of Ireland.

3.16.7 Dúchas should develop management and restoration programmes on peatlands to enhance biodiversity.

3.16.8 The biodiversity plan should have as its guiding principle both the protection and the sustainable use of biodiversity.

3.16.9 Measures should be proposed within the biodiversity plan to strengthen education and increase awareness of peatland biodiversity and encourage wider participation in conservation work.

3.16.10 Dúchas should establish a National Records Centre to develop a biodiversity information bank and monitoring system for peatland habitats and species in Ireland.

3.16.11 Dúchas should complete surveys and make provision for research into those peatland habitats and species for which information is incomplete or absent.

3.16.12 Dúchas should undertake a review of the effectiveness and efficiency of current legislation in protecting peatland biodiversity and, if necessary, take measures to strengthen weaknesses.

3.16.13 The Government should ensure that agri-environment schemes are improved and targeted to enhance and protect biodiversity in peatland areas subject to farming activity.

3.16.14 Local authorities should propose measures to ensure that biodiversity concerns are fully addressed in all aspects of County Development Plans, to ensure that future development does not affect biodiversity.