Delegates flock to athlone for biodiversity plan review

OVER 200 delegates were present in Athlone earlier this week to review the Bord na Móna Biodiversity Action Plan. The meeting, which was entitled ‘Wetlands for our Future’ took place in the Hodson Bay Hotel.

It highlighted the progress made throughout 2014 and the ongoing commitment of the company to the current Plan. Launched for the period 2010 – 2015, the Biodiviersity Action Plan sets out specific projects and activities the company has in train in order to ensure the optimum use of the peatlands under its care.

Opening the conference, Gerry Ryan, Company Secretary and Head of Land and Property, said: “2014 was quite a significant year in terms of work carried out on the Biodiversity Action Plan. In October, we launched the Lough Boora Discovery Park, which shows what a devoted number of people working together can achieve, and demonstrates how a well-structured and planned rehabilitation programme can be applied to a cutaway area to provide a haven for biodiversity, including flora, fauna, insects and wildlife.”

The meeting also highlighted the Bord na Móna Raised Bog Restoration Project. The main objective of the project is to restore raised bog habitats at several locations throughout the country, including Roscommon, Laois and Galway.

Speaking at the review, Dr Catherine Farrell, Senior Ecologist at Bord na Móna, said: “Raised bogs are threatened habitats. They contain a wide range of different species, many under pressure and dependent on habitats like raised bogs. The current restoration initiatives underway will aid Ireland meet its biodiversity objectives including commitments under the EU Habitats Directive. To date, over 1,000ha of raised bog has been restored and Bord na Móna will continue re-wetting of other sites with a further 1,000ha of bog identified for future work. The average cost of carrying out this rehabilitation is €400ha and all of the sites restored are being considered for designation as part of the NATURA 2000 SAC network and/or as part of the national conservation network as NHA’s (National Heritage Areas).”

The review also highlighted tgat Bord na Móna has carried out an Ecology survey of over 78,000ha of bog in Ireland, and that over 1,000ha of raised bog has been restored by the company. In conjunction with Birdwatch Ireland and Bord na Móna, ten potential breeding sites for Curlew have been identified which will help preserve the species, the meeting heard.

The Bord na Móna Biodiversity Action Plan is available to at www.bordnamona.ie/our-company/biodiversity/