Drainage of wetlands Drainage reclamation and infill of wetlands is subject to planning permission under planning law. Wetlands include lakes reservoirs and ponds rivers canals floodplains peatlands wet woodlands salt marshes and other waters. Planning permission is required where the area impacted by the works exceed .1 ha by the works may have a significant effect on the environment. Works in this context include installation […]
Early Conservation Steps In 1977 all bogs and lands not in act of production were declared wildlife sanctuary. The board presented three bogs for the state for preservation for ecological interest. In the 1970’s, an inventory of Irish peatlands was compiled for national heritage purposes. The 1980s sat the first significant movement toward conserving peat land. The European Parliament passed a resolution calling for a […]
Turf Development Board In 1934 the Turf Development Board Limited was established as a state-owned company. Engineering staff were taken over from the civil services and organising staff from the IAOS. The Turf Development Board was organised along the lines of the ESB with the mandate to develop and improve the turf industry in the Irish Free State by the introduction of improved methods of […]
Types of Peatlands There are three principal types of peatlands in Ireland. Fens have their origins in lakes and swamps left behind after the end of the last ice age. From about 7000 BC, plant remnants accumulated in the wetlands. The organic remains did not decompose and grew into fen peat. Layers of peat grew thicker and plant roots could no longer reach the mineral subsoils. […]