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Symbolic Share Certificate Appeal

For hundreds of years people dug peat by hand, dried the sods and then burnt them as a fuel for cooking and warmth. This was a slow process, which allowed the bogs wildlife a chance to regenerate and little damage was done.

In recent years new uses for peat and the bogs have been developed such as in horticulture, energy production, forestry and more intensive agriculture. This has resulted in the destruction of 85% of Ireland's bogs, forever.

The Irish Peatland Conservation Council strives to prevent these losses. Our plan of action is to ensure the conservation of at least 4% (50,000 hectares) of the different peatland types found in Ireland. Over the last 15 years we have brought more than 30,000 hectares under protection.

Why Irish Bogs are so Important

Peatlands, together with their unique collection of plants and animals, are a seriously endangered European habitat. Most countries have exploited all their peat resources for fuel. In Holland, the bogs vanished a long time ago - and the peat from Dutch bogs was the energy source that fuelled their "Golden Age" in the 15th century.

The Dutch now appreciate the treasure that they lost - must we wait to be in the same situation before we act?

The Dutch have done more than just lament their loss - they have acted to save what they valued so much in Holland. But because they have no bogs left at home they turned to Ireland and raised funds to buy four bogs. This project was led by the Dutch Foundation for Conservation of Irish Bogs and is being sponsored by the World Wide Fund for Nature (NL). The Irish Peatland Conservation Council are the national organisation active on the ground in Ireland in the acquisition programme. Scragh Bog, County Westmeath was the first bog bought by the Dutch and given as a gift by Prince Bernhard of the Netherlands to the Irish people in 1987.

Ireland is among the last countries in Europe where a wide range of peatlands still exist in their natural state. The importance of conserving some of the best examples of Irish boglands cannot be overstated. We are custodians for future generations - we must not deprive them of their inheritance!

Some Frightening Statistics!

Peatlands originally covered 17% of the land surface of Ireland, a higher proportion than any other European country, with the exception of Finland. Today less than one quarter of the original peatland area remains in a relatively intact condition.

Only 1/5th of the original area is still of scientific and conservation importance - the rest has been degraded by different activities.

Exploitation was concentrated on the deeper peat of the midland raised bogs at first, and conservationists predict that if exploitation continues at present rates, these will be the first bogs to disappear in this century.

Blanket bogs, which characterise the renowned scenery of the west of Ireland are also under increasing threat. Only a few extensive wilderness areas of the highest conservation value remain due to the effects of fragmentation caused by sheep overgrazing, repeated burning, patches of forestry and other badly located developments.

How you can Help to Save Irish Bogs

To raise the money needed to save Irish Bogs we are offering you the chance to become holders of an individual Symbolic Share Certificate in an acre of Irish Bog.

Every donation is vital and every pound is put to good use. Boglands and their wildlife once destroyed, can never be recreated.

We would like to invite you to become part of this vital work by purchasing an acre of bog now.
To thank you for your generous support of our campaign to save threatened Irish bogs we will send you a personalised Symbolic Share Certificate endorsed by wildlife photographer and film maker Éamon de Buitléar commemorating the number of acres you have sponsored.
Every Share holder will also receive a free copy of the IPCC's own book the "Guide to Irish Peatlands" illustrated in full colour as a special thank you from us. This will allow you to learn more about the magical boglands and visit them.

What Will Your Support Achieve

We have already shown what can be done to save the bogs of Ireland through this conservation initiative. Scragh Bog is a haven for wildlife in Westmeath, Clochar na gCon in Conamara is home to rare wildlife, Fenor Bog in Waterford was saved from being drained and Cummeragh River Bog in Kerry is one of the most intact southerly bogs in Ireland.

With your help we will be able to start the acquisition of another threatened bog. These peatland nature reserves will be managed for conservation to ensure that their rich wildlife, history and their inspirational value is preserved for everyone to enjoy in the future.

Your support will also allow the IPCC to continue to lobby national government and the European Union to ensure that as many bogs as possible are purchased, managed and preserved for conservation.

Unless we stop the destruction of bogs in the near future, they will remain only as a memory - and areas which are now so abundant with life will be turned into barren dusty deserts.

The purchas eof Fenor Bog in County Waterford by IPCC in 1999 was suported by 500 individual members

To apply for your own Symbolic Share Certificate now, simply fill out the appeal form today. Only a limited number of share certificates will ever be issued - so that, in years to come, they will mean something very special.

I will be so pleased if you decide to be among the first to join our initiative to purchase another wild bogland.

And you will have the satisfaction of being able to say, in future years, that you not only cared about life on our planet, but you did something practical and lasting to rescue it.

With sincere thanks,
Catherine O'Connell, Chief Executive, IPCC.

P.S. When you see the photographs of Irish bogs on these web pages, I think you will understand why my colleagues and I are totally dedicated to save such areas. Please help to protect as large an area as you can. Your support will make a lasting difference.

P.P.S. If you have any further queries about this symbolic share certificate scheme or would like a copy of our free leaflet giving information about the appeal why not e-mail IPCC your name and address by clicking here bogs@ipcc.ie and we'll get back to you as soon as possible with a reply.

Yes I would like to help Save Irish Bogs, please show me the application form