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THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION has announced that it is finally taking Ireland to court for the State’s failure to stop peat mining in Special Areas of Conservation (SAC).
It comes fully 13 years after issuing its first warning so no one can accuse the EC of moving with undue haste! The SACs form a small fraction of all the bogs in Ireland and are those that are nearest to their original condition.
They are ‘priority habitats’, meaning that they were identified as warranting the strictest level of protection in the EU’s Habitats Directive, which was agreed in 1992.
Broadly speaking, we have two kinds of bogs: raised bogs that started life as lakes at the end of the ice age and are mostly found in the midlands, and blanket bogs which are a product of high rainfall and are mostly found in upland areas and the Atlantic coastline. Both types have been extensively damaged due to drainage for agriculture, afforestation with conifer monocultures, industrial-scale mining by Bord na Móna and private companies, fires, wind farms and grazing by throngs of free-roaming sheep. Protecting the last remnants of these unique habitats in SACs was to have at least provided a barrier to their total destruction.
Over a decade ago a National Peatland Strategy was to have signalled a final closing out of all the contentious issues surrounding peat and its uses, including an end to all turf extraction on the raised bog SACs. This didn’t happen, however, and figures in recent years show that illegal use of heavy machinery has continued on anywhere from a third to a quarter of all sites. The State has been monitoring this closely but has done very little about it.
On blanket bogs, the situation is even worse as no regime has been put in place for controlling damaging practices, e.g. by providing compensation schemes for those affected. The scale of the damage on blanket bogs is not known although the last time there was an assessment by the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) in 2019, they were labelled as ‘bad status’ and deteriorating.
Decades of can-kicking have forced the European Commission, which has contributed millions of euros towards restoration measures, to take this court action. Although we need to protect and restore peatlands everywhere, this move is only in relation to the SACs.
Unfortunately, the European Court of Justice is a familiar place for the Irish authorities. In recent years the country has been referred there for failing to implement the Water Framework Directive, failure to implement measures to control the spread of alien invasive species as well as for having elevated levels of toxic chemicals in drinking water. Last year, the Court found that Ireland had roundly failed to implement the Habitats Directive generally, not just the bits designed to protect bogs.
Over a decade ago, a serious effort was made to enforce the law and end peat extraction on raised bog SACs. It led to rancorous scenes that are no doubt fresh in the memories of many politicians, few of whom had any interest in peatland conservation. Turf remains a contentious issue and, against a backdrop of farmer protests and a general backlash against the meagre attempts that have been made to address our environmental problems, it seems few politicians today have any appetite to take this issue on.
The vacuum created by State inaction comes at a high price. Criminal activity carried out under the noses of the authorities sends a message that environmental crimes will not be treated as crimes at all, so encouraging other kinds of law breaking. It’s also a slap in the face for local communities who are deprived of healthy natural environments.
When the State has chosen to act in a considered way with local people and ecologists, conservation has been remarkably popular. A new relationship with these bogs has flourished, one that is based on pride in connections with nature and local heritage. This is absent where the State has chosen not to live up to its duties.
Politicians are not afraid of fines from the EU, and there is probably hay to be made from thumbing their noses at Brussels. But it is not Brussels that suffers the remorseless degradation of our natural environment. It is the very people that the same politicians claim they are representing.
Pádraic Fogarty is an environmental campaigner.
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The state is collecting green taxes hand over fist for years now but STILL the people have no alternative energy sources. Yes, we have wind mills etc but it’s not enough.
Improve the alternatives and the bogs will be left alone. It’s as simple as that.
@David Corrigan: Got your like fishing rod out I see. The issue has nothing to do with alternatives – there are plenty of alternatives to peat. It’s a cultural issue, and an issue of the Irish state not meeting its obligations, as usual
@SYaxJ2Ts: it’s a budget issue, cheap turf verses an expensive retro fit.
@SYaxJ2Ts: Like fishing rod? The truth gets approvals. Deal with it.
Plenty of alternatives? Where? Tell us all about them. I’ll put on the kettle.
@David Corrigan: I don’t burn turf: haven’t burned it for a long, long time. Most people in Ireland don’t burn turf. So you can’t claim that there aren’t alternatives.
@Brendan O’Brien: Turf, timber and coal is burned by A LOT of people in Ireland simply because there is no alternatives in their area. Also, upgrading homes i.e. improved insulation etc is beyond most people financially.
It’s not as easy as clicking ones fingers and everything is fine. Our betters have collected more than enough taxes under this guise and it’s simply not being used to create alternatives or options.
@David Corrigan: There are alternatives in all areas, e.g. Willow Warm and logs. They should be developed more and better, as Louis has said, but nobody can honestly claim that there is no alternative. Even coal is preferable, as no habitat/unique area is destroyed by its production.
You are advocating the destruction of a unique environmental resource that we can never get back, out of sheer contrarian bloody-mindedness. I hope it makes you feel good.
@Brendan O’Brien: Here we go again. Your fake tantrum kicks in. I never said we should destroy the bogs. You need to calm down and stop what you are doing before you make yourself sick.
@Brendan O’Brien: You have been missing for a few days, probably on the junket to Brazil with cabbage head
@David Corrigan: You are giving those who destroy bogs a free pass by stating that they only do it because there are no alternatives – “improve the alternatives and the bogs will be left alone”. There are plenty of alternatives to burning turf, and this is demonstrably true as only 5% of the population actually burns turf.
@SYaxJ2Ts: That suits everyones pocket? People are not going to go into debt to save the planet mate.
We need cheap, easy to access alternatives.
@David Corrigan: And there, in a sentence, is the problem. “People are not going to go into debt to save the planet.” People don’t care about the future. People don’t care about their grandchildren’s world. Most people just don’t care.
While Eamon Ryan is in Brazil, can he tell them to stop clearing Rainforests? They cleared forests the size of Cork and Kerry -10,000 km² – in 2022 alone.
And Eamo, don’t even dream of giving them any of our money!!!
@Finn Barr: 10,000 km² EVERY year since 2019 even. I’ll keep burning turf as long as they keep burning timber
@Finn Barr: So you think we should destroy our bogs because Brazil destroys its rainforest? Maybe we should also work harder on polluting our waterways, just to really show them?
@Brendan O’Brien: there was a Global response to covid in 2020.
Countries all over the world locked down almost simultaneously to deal with it.
I’m hearing about Global warming since I was in school. If its such a big deal, why isn’t there a global response to deal with it?
I’ll take it seriously when the rules are the same for everyone
@Finn Barr: There isn’t a global response because of people like you.
@Brendan O’Brien: Take a rest
How can it be better for the environment to stop using our bogs and import peat? Surely the imported pest comes from bogs too and then the extra emissions from transport! Never mind importing woodchip from abroad.. nuts..
@shep tobin: We shouldn’t import it, and we shouldn’t destroy our bogs.
@shep tobin: Globalisation
@Brendan O’Brien: but we do and we have Greens in government so it goes to show that they are as useful as an ashtray on a motorbike.
Native trees like Alder and Willow grow very quickly. Alder makes lovely firewood. Willow makes better briquettes than turf with less ash waste. We currently have the lowest tree coverage in Europe at 11%. The EU average is 33%. Our agricultural department is obsessed with cattle headage, which is a well funded and well oiled machine. We should be making a massive switch to planting crops for firewood. I’ve land myself and have been trying to get onto a good scheme for a few years. It’s so complicated that you have to hire a specialist consultant to research it. Currently I’m being told that I need a hearrd number to get on the scheme that suits me. To get a heard number I have to get 2 grazing animals and put them on the land. I don’t want to keep grazing animals. I want to plant trees and I’m ready to go. I already plant them scheme or no scheme. The alternative schemes all involve heavy involvement from the various agencies, which most landowners don’t want for many reasons. Currently I’m completely bogged (excuse the pun) down in it. And it’s getting worse. There are currently landowners all over the country ready to make the change. All they need a small bit of encouragement and assistance.
@Louis Jacob: That was supposed to be a response to David Corriganon my other comment thread
@Louis Jacob: That’s interesting. I didn’t know that about the Alder and Willow. It’s a pity you are seeing so much red tape with trying to do the right thing and getting things up and running.
The herd number is handy for a few things. It helps with planning permission etc in case you were going to build more buildings on your land.
If they cut down on the red tape and focused on a few things instead of just chasing cattle herds around the place they might get places. The farmers patience will run out eventually dealing with them.
Bill Kenneally makes me physically sick.
@Donna Fallon: Well this won’t help,I can’t get over the pillars of state everywhere covering up for him ..
@Gerry Campbell: no I know Gerry… it must be so difficult for anyone who has to deal with him- in custody, legally or medically etc. They’re better people than I am.
@Donna Fallon: He’d make your skin crawl. A very sick and warped person. I have the utmost respect for the once teenagers, now men who were abused by this abomination masked as a human.
@Toyo Ke: hey Toyo you need to listen to the Crimeworld podcast on him x
Wheres the cheap alternative to cutting turf?? The answer there will never be a cheap alternative to anything whether its health, transport, housing etc cos this country has to have someone making money or a dodgy deal done. I mean jesus we have literally turned asylum and immigration into a for profit legal trafficking business. So again I ask this lad and all the wonderful folk who were so quiet in the comments during the weekend of the yes vote getting ripped too pieces, where and when can we expect cheap or affordable alternatives to turf cutting to happen….
Ireland is a rogue state when it comes to protecting our environment in toto. Hence, this country’s being repeatedly taken to court by the European Commission over a range of issues, the most recent being its failure to protect SACs. Given that Ireland has the lowest proportionate tree coverage in the EU, this writer rightly points out that our protected and restored bogs ( but the latter takes a very long time) are our present and future rainforests.
Good article Padraig. I think it’s sort of mad that we burn dried earth to keep warm, it’s so primordial and seems like the last resort of a desperate people, but then a lot of our history is about coping with oppression and poverty, I wonder what the current state of our bogs would be if all the forests hadn’t been cleared, etc. They should use the energy from these sites in a different way, maybe geotherm to support greenhouse crops or something. Be really great to see some future-proof innovation in this space that is so attached to ancient history.
@Thesaltyurchin: Absolutely. Even if the climate wasn’t in jeopardy, which it is, you’d think we’d want to be moving into a smarter age energy-wise anyway and put all our learning and technology to good use. I think at the end of the day, some people just love burning muck.
@Louis Jacob: the climate is not in jeopardy, The climate will be fine ,it doesn’t care about humans ,eventually the human race will disappear and be replaced by some other lifeforms and there will still be a climate, we are not important we are not striving for some great existence, we are just a moment in time ,live life as best you can and try not to be a nuisance to the people who through no fault of ther own have to share the moment in time with you
@J French: agreed, if people want to innovate they should be able to so. Humans are incredible engineers and innovators, people enjoy learning and solving problems as part of their passage of time, but alas the ‘money quest’ gets in the way of all this, the idea you have is great until someone puts their hand into your bank account and threatens that blissful first world existence.
The comments on here when it comes to this issues make it very clear that we will never solve the climate problem. Too much stupidly and ignorance.
@Louis Jacob: There is no climate problem,there will always be a climate ,the climate doesn’t care about humans, it was there before us, and it will be there long after we are gone we are but a blimp on the history of the planet it existed for millions of years before us and it will exist for millions of years after us ,stop worrying and enjoy life ,we are just a moment in time
@Louis Jacob: Give us the alternative energy sources then Louis. What do you want people to do? Sit in cold living rooms until our “betters” figure out what to do? They have had long enough to look at solutions and they definitely have collected enough taxes to do something about it also.
@Louis Jacob: You knew we would never fix it before the chat rooms tho. Too much change for people who are really well off in the current situation. Money stands in the way of everything.
@Louis Jacob: What is the ‘climate’ problem as you understand it?
@Tom L: the climate problem as he understands is ,he doesn’t want to run cattle on his land he wants the tax payer to pay him to plant trees and thusly save the climate from collapsing, what ever that means
@Louis Jacob: If you think Ireland going net zero is gonna solve climate crisis while the likes of murica, russia, china etc continue to build fuel guzzling bombers, tanks etc to play whos got the biggest along with billionaires and the rich flying round in private jets, owning lots of yachts and cars etc…..then you need to look up the word deluded cos thats exactly what the green bandwagon mob in this country are, especially listening to plebs like eamo and the greens. Its like someone in debt asking bertie ahern for advice about bank accounts or finances in general
@J French: blimp? Or blip, I think.
@Tom L: The belief that we are separate from nature.
But it’s our culture, we are bog trotters and we play bog ball.
Hon the Healy Raes!
Tis a greater pity Brussels doesn’t Fine/Sue the Political **PARTIES** themselves [registered&trading as Companies], rather than the Tax Payers. Especially those Parties who have overseen and facilitated inaction and criminal exploitation across 2 or more Terms in Government. That might get them to snap-to pretty sharpish.
Not that I am in favour of total and complete annihilation of Turf Tradition.
Back in 2013 I was firmly *with* Rural Ireland because all Political Parties definitely do have a City-centric, if not Dublin-centric, attitude and are immensely dismissive of Rural Ireland – especially Connaught. STILL!!! Long, long after Cromwell and his Fascist friends got their marching papers.
But I was with Rural Ireland because, desite being a Dub myself, both side of my family are from ‘the West’ and I wouldn’t want to see my Granny nor her peers nor her neighbours even 20 or 30 years younger, be forced to go without Turf. Especially Rural Homes in poverty, or elder homes that never installed Central Heating or Gas/Oil connections.
Obviously there are a few in the latter end of the “pensioner” age bracket who remain reliant upon Turf-fuelled Ranges that serve **TRIPLE DUTY** in older homes such as: Heating, Cooking/Baking/Roasting, Clothes drying etc. Especially in older homes or homes of those more elderly who are not likely to afford a full retrofitting, or be bothered with the necessary and highly disruptive deep renovations in the final decade or two or half decade of their lives. Such house gutting is barely tolerable for the Middle Aged with Teenagers to live in when the home is a building site of a house.
For the extremely rare pensioners without Central Heating installed, it is a totally different story.
And for them, and them alone among private citizens, access to Turf should be permitted.
After that, a rare few select businesses should be permitted a tightly limited and rationed Turf supply for open Turf fires IF it is, and has always been, central to their Business. Extremely rare exceptions, like Jonny Foxes, *UNTIL* they can source alternatives like Cider Pulp waste logs (and only if dried Cider pulp logs are safe for indoor air quality….and do not significantly alter the homely traditional smell of the Irish turf fire).
I don’t believe that is too much to ask, is it?
That surely won’t slaughter a bog into oblivion.
Especially if their supply of Turf is tightly regulated and restricted to Turf cut by single Sleán!!!
By hand.
And permanently prohibit all Turf Cutting by **MACHINERY**, all Commercial cutting, with immediate effect.
>:)
That will surely put a swift end to the looing and wailing out of Mattie ‘the fathead’ McGrath and his tribe of backward moany b@xterdz.
Limiting turf cutting and turf supplying to turf cut *only* by licenced hand cutters will put a swift end to this nonsense.
The EU haven’t got the first clue how to deal with non-WASPs like the Irish.
If a tiny pinch of private citizens, and 5 or less businesses ’round the Country, require a couple o’ bags of turf for the Winter, then it should be supplied solely from a Traditional cutter with a Sleán, not machinery.
Or supplied from Sleán competition waste IF we had Cutting competitions as part of the Ploughing Championships.
The blanket bogs are a result of burning and grazing by human introduced cattle and sheep.
They are totally degraded ecosystems compared to the forests they replaced.
Environmentalism in this country is just a joke, dominated by The Planet Ireland movement. They including Minister Ryan, believe Ireland to be on separate planet to Earth, to which we are joined by a few weak interconnectors, much like Paddy over there is wired to the Moon. All we have to do is get rid of the Data centres, kill half the cows and buy a million bicycles. Job done. There is already more methane boiling out of the Permafrost, than from a billio more dairy cows. !
About two years ago, I did out a totally integrated solution to the whole issue, which was then put up on the website of Salmon Watch Ireland. Link below.
https://salmonwatchireland.ie/2022/05/13/arather-unique-and-interesting-point-of-view-regenerating-our-salmon-and-rivers-by-nicolas-grubb/
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