Boglands & Wetlands : Our Natural Protection

Introduction

We are writing this report to highlight how important of bogs and wetlands, and protecting them.

A bog, quagmire or mire is a wetland that accumulates acidic peat, a deposit of dead plant material—often mosses or, in Arctic climates, lichens.

Bogs occur where the water at the ground surface is acidic, either from acidic ground water, or where water is derived entirely from precipitation, when they are termed ombrotrophic (rain-fed). Water flowing out of bogs has a characteristic brown colour, which comes from dissolved peat tannins. Bogs are very sensitive habitats and are of high importance for biodiversity.

 

The problem in Ireland

 

Ireland only has about 10% of our original bogs left, and they are still being actively destroyed.
We have heard from many things that are getting affected by (or affecting) climate change, but I have not yet heard one of the wetlands. We want to put our attention to something we didn’t know we were losing. “Peatlands are being destroyed at a rapid pace. Although drainage and fires lead to huge CO^₂ emissions, the problem is still largely ignored in climate mitigation strategies.”

 

Brazil: The Pantanal: World's Largest Wetlands

The Pantanal is a tropical wetland. It is one of the world's largest wetlands of any kind. Most of it lies within the Brazilian state of Mato Grosso do Sul, but it extends into Mato Grosso and portions of Bolivia and Paraguay, sprawling over an area estimated at between 140,000 square kilometres (54,000 sq mi) and 195,000 square kilometres (75,000 sq mi).  The Pantanal region includes essential sanctuaries for migratory birds, critical nursery grounds for aquatic life, and refuges for such creatures as the yacare caiman, deer, and jaguar. 

Flood control is major value of the Pantanal. The Pantanal has a regulatory effect on the Rio Paraguay, extensively reducing and delaying the height of the flood peak and thus reducing the flood risk downstream.
About 80% of the Pantanal floodplains are submerged during the rainy seasons, nurturing an astonishing biologically diverse collection of aquatic plants and helping support a dense array of animal species.

Pantanal preservation

Although large areas of the Pantanal remain untouched, it is threatened by expanding human settlement, unsustainable farming practices, illegal mining, hydroelectric power plant construction and unregulated tourism.

When compared to other wetlands in the world, the Pantanal is regarded as the most preserved, but still less than 2% are under government protection.

How are Bogs and Wetlands Protected?

The Irish Peatland Conservation Council (IPCC), a non governmental organisation formed in 1982 aims to ensure the conservation of a representative sample of peatland types in Ireland. They work with Dúchas, the state agency responsible for nature conservation, to ensure that all blanket bogs of nature conservation importance are protected. This is the long-term goal of IPCC's peatland conservation strategy.

Dúchas protect blanket bogs in three different ways. Buying blanket bogs ensures full protection and Dúchas currently own 37,000ha of blanket bog. They survey blanket bogs and designate important conservation worthy sites as Natural Heritage Areas, which are protected under the Wildlife Act. Surveys have been underway since the 1980's and today most of the atlantic blanket bogs have been discovered and made into NHAs. Mountain blanket bogs have not been completely surveyed especially in the southern half of the country. This is something that needs to be done as a priority and IPCC are campaigning on this issue. 

Lastly, in meeting our European obligations under the Habitats Directive, Dúchas designate a representative sample of our blanket bogs as Special Areas of Conservation. To date Dúchas have designated 135,000ha of blanket bog habitat as SACs. With incomplete information on mountain blanket bogs, the number of sites being included by Dúchas in the SAC network is not representative. IPCC have undertaken independent research on blanket bogs and have shown Dúchas and EU officials in our Bogs and Fens of Ireland Conservation Plan that it would be possible for Ireland to designate another 12,500ha of blanket bog to include the full range of variation in the habitat in Ireland. This is a very important issue and it is one that must be resolved between Dúchas, IPCC and the EU.

Blanket Bogs to Visit in Ireland

• Connemara National Park, Co. Galway
• Glenveagh National Park, Co. Donegal
• Killarney National Park, Co. Kerry
• Mayo National Park, Co. Mayo
• Wicklow National Park, Co. Wicklow

Sources of Information

Dúchas - The Heritage Service, 7 Ely Place, Dublin 2. Telephone (01) 6472360 Web Site: www.heritagedata.ie
Irish Peatland Conservation Council, 119 Capel Street, Dublin 1. Telephone (01) 872 2397. Web Site: www.ipcc.ie