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Peatland Restoration:the Irish experience
Catherine A. FarrellCatherine A. FarrellBord na MónaBord na MónaCLAD, Glasgow 2011CLAD, Glasgow 2011
Extent:• Original 17.2%
(1.18Mha)• DIPM 2007
14.96%• 20% original
(220,000ha) in conservation areas
• Where’s the rest?
Raised Bog:
18,424haNear-intact
and Degraded; acrotelm
mires
• Mountain and Lowland blanket bog 184,000ha
• Percolation mires
Fens: 20,000ha
Threats: turf-cutting (loss of 544,000ha of original area)
Industrial Extraction (100,000ha)
Afforestation(6,400ha RB; 218,000ha BB)
Overgrazing: 7%?
Climatic erosion; Wind farms
Irish Restoration (Rehabilitation) ProjectsTotal 12,500ha +
• 1990s+: NPWS: Clara Bog, Raheenmore, etc. (18)• 2002+: Coillte restoration projects (35; 2,000ha)• 1980s: Bord na Móna cutaways (14; 10,500ha)• 2002+: IPCC & BirdWatch & BCI (5)• Other (6)• Northern Ireland (5)• Not including commonage framework plans
NPWS: Restoration of SACs
Clara Bog: 31% loss of active area 1994-2004
Coillte Life Projects
Blanket Bog
Techniques
Raised Bog
Peat dams
Brash removed
Ready forwindrowing
Biodiversity Objective: To promote the role of Bord na Móna
in enhancing biodiversity and to create awareness of the values of cutaway bogs through wise-use
management for biodiversity and carbon
Biodiversity – baseline, cutaway rehabilitation/restorationCarbon – understanding, restoring and/or retaining carbon pools and
sinks Communications – creating awareness internally and externally
Abbeyleix Bog:Degraded RB
Mayo: 336ha ABB
Industrial cutaway: biodiversity network, range of peatland habitats (not restoration..)
ABB cutaway: restoration of peat-forming vegetation
Carbon MeasurementRehabilitated Mayo bogs: carbon sink
Reed-beds: carbon sink?
Are we creating carbon sources or sinks?
Cutaway Bog habitats: birch scrub to open water
Restoration of Abbeyleix bog:
carbon store and sink?
Carbon measurement (GHG)Peatland type Location Years of study Carbon sink/source
Lowland blanket Bog Glencar, Co. Kerry 5 SINK
Montane blanket bog Glenlahan, Co. Laois 1 SOURCE
Raised Bog Clara, Co. Offaly 1 SOURCE
Cutaway (bare peat) Turraun, Co. Offaly 2 SOURCE
Afforested cutaway Lullymore, Co. Kildare 2 SINK
Naturally regenerated cutaway(Birch scrub)
Turraun, Co. Offaly 2 SOURCE
Rewetted cutaway Turraun, Co. Offaly 2 SOURCE
Restored cutaway Bellacorick, Co. Mayo 2 SINK
Reed on cutaway 0 ?
Policy and Management
• Turf-cutting: compensation, stop cutting before you can restore? Clara degrading continually..
• Industrial: energy policy, co-fuelling, IPPC Licensing; licensing small operators?
• Afforestation: no further planting of peatland sites? more restoration in biodiversity areas?
• Overgrazing: Commonage framework plans• Climatic erosion?• Other: dumping, ‘bad planning’ wind farms
Barroughter Bog SAC: active RB decreased by 91% 1994-2004 due to turf-cutting (24.35ha to 2.38ha); area of high bog decreased from
84.09ha to 80.17ha; bogs less than 100ha more vulnerable
Results and Observations• Will Degraded RB will get better? – restored
within 30 years? Turf-cutting and the futility of efforts..
• Afforested: sites do get wetter; active peat formation?
• Industrial: restored for biodiversity or carbon?• How to restore industrial sites for carbon and
Sphagnum – flooding vs. mosaic habitats and biodiversity
• Role of monitoring to advise on future planning for restoration
Policy Issues and Information Gaps
• Restoration (positive management) essential everywhere; need strategic national plan and funding!!!
• State funding or EU funding?• The role of public engagement and education e.g. Abbeyleix
Bog• Future role of Strategy Responsible Peatland Management and
Peat Certification (standard requirements for restoration and rehabilitation plans)
• Need to evaluate results; identify info and research gaps Wise After-Use of Peatlands Guidelines
• Biodiversity vs. Carbon…or Biodiversity and Carbon• More research…more funding…recognising the value of
ecosystem goods and services..