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ILL WIND FOR LEITRIM BOGLAND

For release 3 December 2000

Irish Peatland Conservation Council (IPCC) were shocked at the recent An
Bord Pleanála decision to approve the windfarm development proposed for
Corry Hill, County Leitrim.

The site on which the development of six wind turbines is to take place is
on an area of pristine bogland on top of Corry Hill. The IPCC objected to
the development on the basis that the site is an intact area of upland
blanket bog, now a very rare and important habitat in Ireland and Western
Europe. Less than 10% of the habitat type is being protected for
conservation in County Leitrim. The rare orchid Listera cordata is present
on the site which indicates a very high conservation value.

In addition, the site is listed as a proposed Special Area of Conservation
on the recently published NGO shadow list.

Mr Patrick Crushell, Conservation Officer with IPCC said "it is a disgrace
in this day and age that such important wildlife sites are not offered the
full protection afforded by the European Habitats Directive".

Dúchas, the state agency responsible for nature conservation did not object
to this development despite the fact that they are obliged to protect what
remains of this habitat type in Ireland and are currently being taken to the
European court on the grounds of non-compliance with EU conservation
directives. Until such time as Dúchas carry out a national survey of upland
sites in Ireland and designate them appropriately this type of unsuitable
development will continue, and result in further loss of upland blanket bog.

There is, one small victory as a result of the IPCC objection, the developer
was forced to carry out a detailed survey of the habitat and draw up a best
practice management plan whereby, minimal damage will be caused by the
development. The Bord insisted that the developer must follow this plan and
carry out regular monitoring of the wildlife on the site for a five year
period. IPCC will be ensuring that the developer fully complies with these
conditions.

It is hoped that future developments of this type will take account of such
cansiderations in the contents of Environmental Impact Statements (EIS).

"IPCC are of course in favour of renewable energy sources such as wind power
but upland sites are a limited resource in Ireland that need to be surveyed
in order to identify which sites are most suitable for wind energy and which
should be protected." says Mr Crushell.

For further information please contact Patrick Crushell, Conservation
Officer, IPCC, 119 Capel Street, Dublin 1. Tel/Fax: 353 1 872 2397 E-mail:
bogs@ipcc.ie Website : www.ipcc.ie
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IPCC - Action for Bogs - Ag caomhnu na bportach

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