Local bog preservation group presents at COP26

COP26 took place at the start of the month and saw leaders and officials from around the world gather in Glasgow to seek solutions to the world's climate crisis, with a local peatland preservation group getting the opportunity to present its work.

While members of Ballydangan Bog and the Red Grouse Project in Roscommon chose not to attend the conference in person, ecologist David Fallon presented virtually, showing the work that the group has carried out since its establishment in 2009 as part of the 'Peatlands Pavilion' programme of events.

"There was a large crowd of people from over 100 countries in attendance," David said. "We were even told that Michelle Obama was there, but I'm not sure how much knowledge she would have had about peatlands!

"I spoke about how we got started in 2009 when there was a real risk of extinction of the Red Grouse on the bog. At the time there was a lot of top-down directions from government about how farmers and organisations were to stop cutting bogs, and it kind of backfired.

"Our project was a community-led, ground-up project, which got local people involved and that's why it succeeded. We worked with Bórd na Móna to restore the bog by blocking all the drains, and since then the project has grown so much."

There are now people employed to work on the bog, with some focusing on predator and invader management to preserve certain species of wildlife.

David said education on the importance of bogs to local people and children is also a key area for the group.

"Education gets people interested in what we're doing. We really try to get children out on to the bog and show them the animals and wildlife, because they go home and tell their parents and that gets the conversation on the importance of peatlands started."

Projects related to peatlands were also presented from other countries, ranging from the Congo to Germany and Argentina.

"We have had links with countries and peatlands across the world, but it was great to expand that and see how other countries are working to preserve them," David said. "Even Australia has peatlands, so we all have a lot in common.

"Peatlands only cover about 3% of the world’s land surface, but store more carbon than forests around the world, which are obviously important sas well."

David believes that COP achieving mainstream media attention this year is an important step in the right direction for the world's climate crisis.

"This was the first year it was making top of the news, even my daughter was watching coverage of it in school.

"There were some negatives, like China not attending, but they did then make deals with America. There will always be more work to be done."

With regards to the Ballydangan Bog and Red Grouse Project, the group is in the process of applying for further funding, with the aim of expanding its work into peatlands located 4km away from Ballydangan Bog.

"The Ballydangan Bog is about 660 hectares. We originally started work to protect the Red Grouse, but protecting the Curlew and other birds which used to be so common is a focus for us now too.

"We have a responsibility to keep going to preserve our bogs because they are a real solution to the climate crisis," he finished.