For peat's sake get it right

Tuesday, 26 April 2011 11:56

0 Comments

The establishing of an independent non-statutory Peatlands Council to formulate a national strategy on the conservation and management of our bogs should result in a comprehensive blueprint for the future of turf cutting. The council will work in consultation with bog owners and other stakeholders to deal with long-term issues such as land management,restoration, conservation, tourism potential, carbon accounting and community participation in managing this resource.
The setting up of the council has been brought about because of the requirements of the EU Habitats Directive, which required Ireland to protect and conserve important peatland habitats.

Mr. Conor Skehan, a former director of Bord na Móna, has been appointed as chair of the council.
Other members are being invited from the IFA, the Irish Peatland Conservation Council, the Turf Cutters and Contractors Association, the Irish Rural Link, a representative of the Irish Environment Network, Bord na Móna and the National Parks and Wildlife Service.
The European Commission has been critical of Ireland's approach to the protection of peatland habitat and initiated infringement proceedings against Ireland in January this year.
By this time next year the council's findings should be brought before government.
The tradition of turf cutting is engrained in Irish society and has been revived somewhat by the recession and a return to family self-sufficiency.

A ban on turf harvesting in designated areas was a hot topic in the recent general election with Luke 'Ming' Flanagan from Castlerea being elected to the Dáil on that ticket.
The previous government decided that turf cutting should end on 31 raised bog SACs from 2010 and on a further 24 raised bog Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) from the end of this year.
In the light of that decision, and the requirements of the Habitat's Directive, the Peatland Council will be tasked with advising the Government on a number of key actions surrounding the future of our bogs.

This will not be a simple task as there are complicating factors that will have to be ironed out.
One of the pitfalls will be how to square the situation where a person owns the bog but is prohibited from cutting turf in it, despite the fact his family have done so for generations.
While a compensation scheme has been announced, it is not clear if it will satisfy those who have relied on these bogs for their fuel needs down through the years.