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..