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Fenor Bog NNR, Co. Waterford
Conservation Action Plan 2008

During 2008, the Irish Peatland Conservation Council (IPCC), in association with the Móin Fhionnurach Development Association (MFDA) are developing and publishing a Conservation Action Plan for Fenor Bog in Co. Waterford. The project is funded by the Heritage Council under the 2008 Local Heritage Grant Scheme and by Fota Wildlife Park.

The aim of this project is to create a Conservation Plan for Fenor Bog to ensure the long-term survival of its unique wetland biodiversity, habitats and water supply. The Conservation Plan will include drawing together all the information so far accumulated on the site, summarising the results of research and coming up with a series of management recommendations to work to over the coming years.

Project Background
IPCC purchased Fenor Bog in partnership with the MFDA in 1999 to save the site from being turned into a dump by the Local Authority. Since that time, IPCC and community action has involved research, education, wildlife and water level monitoring on the fen. The information gained and the work undertaken to improve visitor access to the site were successful in convincing the Irish Government to declare Fenor Bog a National Nature Reserve in 2004. The area of the nature reserve not only includes the land owned by IPCC and MFDA but also areas of land in private ownership in the buffer zone of the fen basin. Protected within Fenor Bog are 13 hectares of Fen, a peatland habitat which is fast disappearing from the Irish countryside. A Management Plan for Fenor Bog was produced by the IPCC and MFDA in 2000. All of the aims and objectives of this plan have been achieved to date. A new Conservation Plan to guide activities over the next five years is now required.

Fenor Bog is an alkaline fen. It is located in a depression overlooked by Ballyscanlon Hill which rises to an elevation of 148m. The bog is a storehouse of natural variety with wet woodland dominated by willow and alder, undulating greater tussock sedge vegetation and flat wet wild flower areas. Over 200 species of plant, bird, insect and animal have been recorded on the site. Fenor bog is located within the Copper Coast Geopark.

Conservation Importance of Fenor Bog
Fenor Bog is a fen habitat. Fen habitats are the most threatened peatland types in Ireland. Over 78% of fens in Ireland have been drained and reclaimed for agriculture. More recently fens are being used as illegal dumping grounds. In the county of Waterford in south east Ireland, because of their proximity to the city of Waterford they are being absorbed into ring roads and industrial estate developments. Fenor Bog is the only fen in the county of Waterford that is protected mainly because it is in private ownership and the owners are very vigilant about caring for it.

Conservation Management Plan Aim
To conserve the integrity of the habitats and their biodiversity and the hydrology of Fenor Bog.

Management Objectives
1. To enhance and maintain Fenor Bog so that it is a fully functioning, self regulating fen ecosystem
2. To maintain the use of Fenor Bog as an educational/tourism attraction, without detrimental effect on the ecology or hydrology of the bog.
3. To ensure the boundaries of Fenor Bog are visible to the farming community and the public
4. To prevent harmful human affects to Fenor Bog
5. To increase health and safety awareness for visitors to Fenor Bog
6. To monitor Fenor Bog to ensure the effectiveness of the Conservation Plan
7. To encourage further research on Fenor Bog and to maintain an archive of research findings.
8. Seek national and international recognition of the importance of Fenor Bog

Conservation Management Plan Progress
On the 12th July 2008, a meeting was organised in Fenor Village to review the information available about Fenor Bog and to have a round table discussion about management objectives for the future. This was attended by members of the MFDA, Irish Wildlife Trust, National Parks and Wildlife Service, IPCC, Dutch Foundation for Conservation of Irish Bogs, Waterford County Council Heritage Officer and a representative from the DFBA. The ideas put forward will feed directly into the Conservation Action Plan for the site which is being prepared at present.

International Conservation Merit Award for Móin Fhionnurach Development Association
Five members of the Dutch Foundation for the Conservation of Irish Bogs visited Fenor Village in Co. Waterford in July and presented the Móin Fhionnúrach Development Association community group there with an international award in recognition of their role in conserving Fenor Bog.

The Award was presented to Rita Byrne of the MFDA by Prof. Matthijs Schouten, the founder of the Dutch Foundation, who is also known as "the father of bog conservation in Ireland". It consisted of a bronze sculpture showing bog cotton and a bog landscape. In addition to the sculpture the Dutch Foundation presented the group with a conservation grant towards the on-going research work being undertaken on Fenor Bog.

Te work of the MFDA was brought to the attention of the Dutch Foundation by the Irish Peatland Conservation Council, who have been closely involved with the community group in conserving beautiful Fenor Bog. The MFDA Community Group is only the third group in Ireland to receive the honour of this award. They follow in the footsteps of others who were involved in saving Sharavogue Bog in Co. Offaly and Mullach Mór in the Burren of Co. Clare.

Rita Byrne of the Móin Fhionnurach Development Association with Prof Matthijs Schouten of the Dutch Foundation for Conservation of Irish Bogs. She is holding the bronze sculpture - the symbol of the International Merit Award - presented to the group in recognition of the work they have done in conserving Fenor Bog. Photo: C. O'Connell, IPCC

A grand daughter of Rita Byrne and a resident of Fenor Village presents Prof Matthijs Schouten of the Dutch Foundation for Conservation of Irish Bogs with a hand turned wooden bowl by Brendan Byrne as a thank you to him for recognising the work being done to conserve Fenor bog. Photo: C. O'Connell, IPCC

Fauna of Fenor Bog

Fenor Bog, Co Waterford Nature Trail

Fenor Bog Housing Development Threat 2008

Fenor Bog, Co Waterford Conservation Plan 2008

Fenor Bog, Co Waterford National Nature Reserve 2004

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