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Dutch Award for Offaly Peatland Conservationists

For release 11th November 1998

Two Irish men - Mr. Liam Egan and Mr. Patrick Headon from Birr - are to receive an International Award for conserving Sharavogue Bog, Co. Offaly this week.

The Award will be presented at Groeneveld Castle in the Netherlands on November 13th by the Chairman of the Dutch Foundation for Conservation of Irish Bogs, Professor Matthijs Schouten, in the presence of the Ambassador of Ireland, Mr. John Swift and leading persons of Dutch and International nature conservation organisations.

Sharavogue Bog is one of the best remaining examples of a raised bog in Ireland. The site not only contains a pristine high bog, but also preserves important relics of the original lagg-zone, (the transitional zone between bog and surrounding landscape which contains species rich fen communities). Such lagg-zones are extremely rare in the Irish and International context, as they were lost in virtually every remaining bog site as a result of marginal drainage and peat cutting. For these reasons, Sharavogue Bog is of International conservation importance and it is listed as an SAC under the Habitat's Directive.

When the bog was threatened with (illegal) private development a couple of years ago, Mr. Egan and Mr. Headon immediately sought a court order to stop drainage operations. They tracked down the owner in England, who was not aware of the development and he agreed that it would be in the best interests of the site if it was owned by local people. They then entered a management agreement with Dúchas - the National Parks and Wildlife Service. Their quick intervention saved a site of major international importance and which is now managed as a nature reserve. By presenting the International Award for Nature Conservation Merit the Dutch Foundation for the Conservation of Irish Bogs acknowledges this outstanding contribution to peatland conservation.

The Dutch Foundation for the Conservation of Irish Bogs was set up in 1983 to give International support to peatland conservation in Ireland. It closely co-operates with the Irish Peatland Conservation Council. Between 1983 and 1987 the foundation raised funds in the Netherlands which were used for the purchase of four bog sites in Ireland which were handed over toDúchas in 1987 as nature reserves. Since 1987 the Foundation has been funding various projects in Ireland which contribute to peatland conservation The Foundation's International Award for Conservation Merit is presented to individuals and organisations who have given an outstanding contribution to peatland conservation in Ireland.

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