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20 Years Saving the Bogs

For release 21 October 2002

Stop anyone in the street and mention bogs and they will probably have heard
of Clara Bog or the fact that Dutch people have helped us save bogs here.

In Ireland the Save the Bogs Campaign run by the Irish Peatland Conservation
Council is celebrating its 20th birthday. In 20 years of IPCC's work it's no
surprise there are some stunning success stories to tell. Here are just a
few of them .....

1982 - IPCC starts working to save our endangered peatlands. The result: a
2,400 per cent increase in the area of protected peatlands in 20 years. One
of the greatest conservation achievements of the Save the Bogs campaign in
Ireland is in the area of peatland owned and managed for nature
conservation. In 1982 this was 1,794ha, and in 2002 this has been increased
to 42,884ha thanks to the sustained lobbying of the IPCC.

1986 - Clara Bog, Co. Offaly, the largest raised bog in the country
protected. The first major victory in the Save the Bogs Campaign came with
the protection of Clara Bog. The site was drained by Bord na Móna as part of
a plan for its development. IPCC fought alongside David Bellamy for its
protection and it was declared a national nature reserve by Minister Noel
Tracey T.D.

1987 - IPCC raised awareness of the links between people and peatlands. With
the Dutch-Irish travelling exhibition De Venen Geturfd-The Wild Beauty of
Bogs, IPCC and our sister organisation, the Dutch Foundation for
Conservation of Irish Bogs bring the message of peatland conservation to one
million people over a six year period. During this time the exhibition
visited 36 venues in Ireland and the Netherlands. It is now on permanent
display at Peatland World, Co. Kildare.

1989 - Peat-free sustainable living. IPCC in liaison with the Peatlands
Campaign Consortium launch a joint campaign aimed at eliminating the use of
moss peat from raised bogs in gardening and horticulture. The campaign
results in the development of a variety of peat-free growing media and
composts, the protection of raised bogs and a growing awareness among the
general public of the need to garden without peat and to compost the organic
material produced in their homes.

1990 - IPCC lobbying pays off as 2,000ha of raised bog is conserved. As a
testament to IPCC's determination, vigorous lobbying culminated in the
country's leading peatland developer - Bord na Móna - agreeing to sell
2,000ha of raised bog to Dúchas to be managed for conservation.

1992 - Education. IPCC achieves a landmark education goal with the
publication of the curriculum linked Peatland Education Pack. IPCC continues
to work directly with schools and the Department of Education and Science
providing resources and training on the conservation and wise use of
peatlands.

1995 - Major Connemara Bog Purchase. IPCC in liaison with the Dutch
Foundation for Conservation of Irish Bogs, Dúchas and the European Union
purchased 198ha of Clochar na gCon Bog in Co. Galway. Our action was a
stimulus to the local community and the semi-state development body Údaras
na Gaeltachta to designate a further 626ha of land for conservation in this
wonderful area of blanket bog.

1997 - Frogs. IPCC launches the Hop to It Irish Frog Survey, its first
national research project to raise awareness of wetlands. Frogs are
synonymous with wetlands and the national frog survey, conducted by school
children helped to identify habitats and breeding sites for this species.
Protecting the country's wetland biodiversity is a key objective of the
IPCC.

1999 - Fenor Bog. IPCC helps local people benefit directly from peatland
conservation. Working with the Móin Fhionnúrach Development Association,
based in Co. Waterford, IPCC provided funding for the purchase and
management of a 32 acre fen known as Fenor Bog, which was going to be
developed as a dump. As part of a management plan developed by the IPCC and
the local community group, information signs and a boardwalk are being
provided on the site.

2000 - Fens. IPCC initiate a major research project to devise a National
Inventory of Fens of conservation importance. The information gathered from
the work identified fens of international conservation importance which were
not previously recognised.

2001 - IPCC leads a visionary plan to save Irish peatlands. IPCC's action
plan will ensure that planning permission is refused for activities that
threaten to damage conservation sites; that Government will fund better
management and rehabilitation of peatland Natural Heritage Areas and that an
outreach education programme focusing on the value of peatlands to all
sectors in society is developed.

2002 Habitats Directive and Special Areas of Conservation (SACs). A
principal campaign objective of IPCC is to work with national Government and
the European Union to ensure that the Habitats Directive is fully
implemented in Ireland. Our work focusing on 12 different peatland habitats
has ensured that a representative sample of 200,000ha of peatland sites have
been given SAC designation. This activity provides a statutory basis for the
protection of our unique peatlands in perpetuity.

To mark the 20th Anniversary of the IPCC, they have published a book
entitled Celebrating Boglands, a unique blend art, prose, science, poetry
and music inspired by the boglands. International group of 36 contributors.

Copies of the book are available from IPCC, 119 Capel Street, Dublin 1 for
Euro 37 including postage and packing.

ENDS

Comments and Information from Dr Peter Foss, IPCC tel 01-8722397
____________________________________
Irish Peatland Conservation Council
119 Capel Street
Dublin 1
Ireland

Tel & Fax +353-1-8722397
Tel +353-1-8722384
e-mail: bogs@ipcc.ie
web: www.ipcc.ie

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