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IPCC Invite Submissions to the Irish Fen Inventroy

For Release 1 June 2000

The Irish Peatland Conservation Council today called on wildlife experts and enthusiasts throughout the country to provide information on fens in their locality which have a conservation value, so that these can be designated as Natural Heritage Areas.

The Irish Fen Inventory which is supported by The Heritage Council is being initiated by IPCC to try and find out where these unique and wildlife rich areas are located. A number of Irish fen types are a priority for conservation under the European Habitats Directive including flood plain fens, reed swamps, valley and basin fen, flush fens, petrifying springs and turloughs.

"We are asking anyone with information on important sites to contact us with information" said Mr Patrick Crushell, Conservation Officer with IPCC. "We have no alternative but to call on people nationally to help with the survey as Dúchas, the state agency responsible for conserving these areas, have still not undertaken a national survey of these wetlands - although they have been repeatedly urged to do so before more sites are damaged".

He added "We have already identified 20 new fens worthy of conservation, since the start of the project in February this year, and hope that the national survey to be undertaken in the next few months will uncover many extra sites which merit Natural Heritage Area designation".

The threats to these wetlands continues apace throughout the country. Fens are particularly sensitive to damage from drainage, and in the last few years have been targeted as areas suitable for dumps, road schemes and once infilled, as cheap building land.

Pollardstown Fen in Co Kildare, perhaps the finest example in the country of this type of habitat in Ireland, and internationally important, is seriously threatened by the by pass proposed for Kildare town, although a simple change in the construction plans could avoid any damage. "Fens are just looked on as wet wastelands that don't merit conservation - and not as species rich wildlife areas that clean our water and are among the last wilderness areas we have left" says Patrick.

Anyone wanting further information on fens, or on IPCC's Fen Campaign can contact Patrick Crushell at 119 Capel Street, Dublin 1. Tel & Fax 01 872 2397 and via the IPCC's website at http://indigo.ie/~ipcc

ENDS