Irish Fen Inventory - Results

Patrick Crushell has been working for the IPCC since April as Conservation Officer. He has been co-ordinating our campaign on Fen Habitats which has been generously supported by Friends of the Bog and the Heritage Council.

An IPCC Fen Inventory is needed because the full extent of fen habitats in Ireland remains unknown.

There has never been a National Survey undertaken of this habitat in Ireland by Dúchas, the competent authority.

Of the three peatland types that occur in Ireland fens have the lowest protected area, and yet are among the most wildlife rich habitats in the country.

They are also one of the most threatened habitats in Ireland and have undergone widespread destruction as a result of land drainage and reclamation.

The principal aims of the project are:

* To identify the different types of fen found in Ireland.
* To produce an up to date list of sites worthy of conservation.
* To prepare a report for Government to highlight the need to protect more fen sites.

Fen Classification
After much background research and consultations with experts a fen classification system was drawn up whereby six different fen types that occur in Ireland were identified. Type sites for the fen types identified were visited during a two week field survey. Full species lists were recorded for each fen type which will allow for a detailed description of each habitat to be made.

Fen Inventory Survey
The survey involved writing to wildlife experts and enthusiasts around the country asking them if they knew of any fen sites that, in their opinion, merited conservation and why.

With each letter we enclosed the IPCC fen site inventory from our data bank plus a key to the different types of fen that occur in Ireland. In this way we ensured that we only received sites that were previously unknown to us. A survey form was also included which asked for details of each site such as location, area, habitat features, conservation values, rare species and fen type.

Over 300 survey forms were distributed. The form was also made available through our website. The exercise has been very worthwhile. Information has been obtained on 110 new sites.

New Fen Sites
Each of the 110 new fen sites has been located on a map and as much additional information as possible has been gathered. Sites that IPCC considered to be worthy of conservation have been entered into the IPCC data bank of conservation worthy fens.

Though sites are still being processed we are reaching the final stages of the project and a report will be drawn up and published by December of this year. This report will include information on the origin, occurrence and ecology of fens in Ireland, conservation value of fens, classification of fens and an inventory of conservation worthy fen sites in Ireland. This is the first time any group has attempted to compile a detailed inventory of Irish fens. All of the information will be incorporated into IPCC's new Peatland Conservation Plan which is being compiled in 2001.

Fen Inventory Results

*Six different fen types occur in Ireland.

*Local hydrology, pH and vegetation composition are important factors in the classification of fen sites.

*the total area of fen habitat in the Republic of Ireland is 19,607ha in 307 sites. In Northern Ireland there are 55 fen sites of conservation importance.

*A total of 110 new conservation worthy fen sites were received from the survey including 30 sites that occur in Northern Ireland.

*There has been a 79% loss of fen habitat in the Republic of Ireland.

*Irish fens are primarily threatened by reclamation, drainage and infilling.

*Only 3,659ha of fen is protected in the Republic of Ireland.

44 fen sites are protected in Northern Ireland as ASSI's.

*The rarest fens in Ireland are petrifying springs, valley and basin fens.

*80% of the country's fens are less than 100ha in extent. The habitat is fragmented in Ireland.

*Alkaline fens, petrifying springs with tufa formation and calcareous fens are listed in the EU Habitats Directive for protection across Europe.

Report by Patrick Crushell reproduced from IPCC's Members Magazine Peatland News 30

The Irish Fen Inventory was supported by The Heritage Council.

Irish Peatland Conservation Council Registered Charity Number CHY6829