P r e s s R e l e a s e

FOR PEAT'S SAKE

For immediate release 17 October 1996

The Irish Peatland Conservation Council claims that the extraction of moss peat from bogs for use in horticulture and gardening is a major threat to the future conservation of raised bogs. Several privately funded moss peat extraction schemes are underway on raised bogs that are designated as Natural Heritage Areas.

A report entitled the Irish Peatland Conservation Plan 2000, published by the Irish Peatland Conservation Council (see Editor's Note 1) indicates that 1,643 ha of bogland in 9 Natural Heritage Areas are currently being damaged by moss peat extraction schemes in the midlands and one site in Westmeath is extinct (see Editor's Note 2).

The extraction schemes are financially lucrative due to the demand in Ireland and the UK for moss peat for gardening. Developers are seeking new on the last undisturbed raised bogs which have been declared Natural Heritage Area. Lease arrangements pay substantial amounts to the land owner. These developments are independent of grant aid, and with a threshold of 50ha required before an Environmental Impact Survey (EIS) is mandatory, they are largely not subject to any planning control. "

The development for moss peat of three sites in Cos Offaly, Longford and Kildare should have been assessed for their environmental impact due to the scale of the development which exceeds the 50ha threshold. In each case an EIS was not called for and the sites have now been severely damaged.

The IPCC has lodged a formal complaint with the European Commission about the lack of enforcement of the EU Directive on EIA. The EU feel strongly enough about this matter and are taking the Irish Government to the European Court.

The IPCC is calling on the Minister for the Environment to make all peat extraction schemes on Natural Heritage Areas (NHA's) subject to EIA, regardless of their size.

Ireland has given a commitment under Agenda 21 to the sustainable use of natural resources. The commercial extraction of peat at current rates is not a sustainable activity. "It is difficult to argue that peat extraction for horticulture is essential when peat free gardening products exist made from renewable resources including materials that would otherwise go to waste, and create landfill problems", says Peter Foss, peat-free gardener and chairman of the Irish Peatland Conservation Council.

"The damage to our raised bogs, the last of their kind in Europe will" added Dr. Peter Foss "take hundreds of years to reverse and will cost the taxpayer dearly."

EDITOR'S NOTE 1: The Irish Peatland Conservation Council is a national charity and is entirely supported by voluntary contributions. Conservation projects include: purchasing bogland nature reserves, providing resources and training for teachers and education groups, repairing damaged bogs, fostering a positive attitude towards bogs, and encouraging lifestyles in harmony with the environment. The IPCC can be contacted at: Capel Chambers, 119 Capel Street, Dublin 1. Tel: 01-872 2397. Registered Charity Number: CHY6829

EDITOR'S NOTE 2: PEATLAND SITES DEVELOPED AND/OR DAMAGED BY THE EXTRACTION OF HORTICULTURAL PEAT 1996

Sequence of information: Site, County, Natural Heritage Area Number, Total Site Area (ha) and (damaged area), Year damaged occurred.

All Saints* OY 566 300 (51) 1963; Ballykenny* LD 1818 185 (73) 1994; Carbury* KE 1388 224 (75) ---; Clonfinane* TN 641 187 (45) 1994; Clonydonnin OY/WH 565 100 ----; Nure/Lilliput* WH 1725 68 (28) 1994; Scohoboy TN 937 240 ----; Shankill West G 326 80 ----; Shrubbywood* WH NO 109 (81) 1995; Woodfield* OY 586 150 (4) 1994.

* indicates that extraction is on-going 1996

EDITOR'S NOTE 3: The work of the Irish Peatland Conservation Council is supported by the FÁS Community Employment Program.

Click on this symbol to get back to the IPCC Homepage