Ireland is famous for its boglands, they are also a part of the culture and the heritage. The boglands are home to a unique group of plants and animals. Some examples of animals living in the Irish boglands are the hare (who like to eat bog plants), the red grouse, and also different species of the dragonfly and of the butterfly. Plants that you may find in Irish boglands are Heathers, Sundew and Bog cotton.
Peat bogs are build up of
Sphagnum mosses that are like sponges. What is so special about these peat bogs
is that they absorb water. These “sponges” can absorb up to 20 times their
weight, when they are dry. After, let’s say, heavy rain the peat bogs release
the water slowly so that the water have time to depart to watercourses without
causing problem. They help societies from flooding.
The Sphagnum mosses relay
on water to stay alive, they need to be wet most of the time to survive. So when the human’s drain the bogs, the
sphagnum mosses die and can no longer help us when that heavily rain comes.
Ireland has about 10% of
their natural bogs left. We need to stop draining peat bogs, otherwise water is
going to be our enemy because of our own actions.
To keep and protect those
bogs and wetlands that still remain is an important task. Something that several
countries already do is that they are creating new once. The wetlands are the
most useful and inexpensive way to prevent our societies from flooding.
Peat, also known as turf,
is used as fuel, therefore people are cutting the peat down. As they cut the peat
down, the bog gets pretty much useless.
Bogland covers about 15%
of Ireland and the peat used to be the source of heating and cooking for
centuries, it is still used for heating in some areas.
It is during the summer
time that the “turf” is cut and set in stacks to dry. When it is dry, the turf
burns very easily and with a smoky and pleasant smell.
The information comes from a few different sources, for more information go to the links below
By: Cathrine
No comments:
Post a Comment