DRAFT NATIONAL PEATLANDS STRATEGY National Parks & Wildlife Service 7 Ely Place, Dublin 2, Ireland t: +353-1-888 3242 f: +353-1-888 3272 e: [email protected] w: www.npws.ie Photographs courtesy of: NPWS, Bórd na Mona, Coillte, RPS, Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Friends of the Irish Environment and the IPCC. CONTENTS PART 1 4.9 Rehabilitation and Restoration 042 4.10 Public Awareness and Education 042 1 SCOPE & EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 002 4.11 Tourism and Recreational Use 046 4.12 Unauthorised Dumping 048 2 INTRODUCTION: THE CHANGING 4.13 Research 048 VIEW OF IRISH PEATLANDS 004 2.1 Traditional Uses and Values 005 PART 3 2.2 A new understanding 005 5 IMPLEMENTATION STRUCTURE 050 2.3 Ecosystem Services – Seeking balance between traditional and hidden values 006 APPENDIX I: GLOSSARY 054 2.4 The Extent of Peatlands in the State 008 2.5 Objective of the Strategy 010 APPENDIX II: SUMMARY OF 2.6 Turf cutting controversy - FIRST PUBLIC CONSULTATION 060 a catalyst for change 011 APPENDIX III: EU DIRECTIVES 3 VISION AND VALUES 012 REFERRED TO IN THIS DOCUMENT 068 PART 2 APPENDIX IV: CRITERIA FOR DESIGNATING 4 MANAGING OUR PEATLANDS: PEATLANDS FOR PROTECTION 072 PRINCIPLES, POLICIES AND ACTIONS 016 APPENDIX V: EXECUTIVE SUMMARY OF DRAFT NATIONAL RAISED BOG 4.1 Overview 016 SAC MANAGEMENT PLAN 076 4.2 Existing Uses 017 4.2.1 Turf cutting for domestic fuel 017 APPENDIX VI: RAISED BOG 4.2.2 Agriculture 018 NHA REVIEW 088 4.2.3 Peat extraction for horticulture 020 4.2.4 Energy policy and peatlands 020 APPENDIX VII: SUMMARY OF 4.2.5 Forestry 022 PRINCIPLES AND ACTIONS 092 4.2.6 Management of public lands 023 4.2.7 After-use of industrial cut-overs 024 APPENDIX VIII: SCREENING 4.3 Peatlands and Climate Change 025 FOR SEA PURPOSES AND FOR 4.4 Nature Conservation and Peatlands 027 APPROPRIATE ASSESSMENT 102 4.5 Legal Action against Ireland in relation to EU law regarding peatlands 032 APPENDIX IX: FOREST SERVICE 4.6 Turf Extraction, Planning and GUIDELINES 108 Environmental Protection 034 4.7 Requirements for Integrated Pollution Control (IPC) Licences 038 APPENDIX X: TRANSFER OF BORD NA MÓNA LANDS TO STATE 4.8 Water Quality, Water Framework FOR CONSERVATION PURPOSES 110 Directive and Flooding 038 PART 1 002 1 SCOPE AND EXECUTIVE SUMMARY In April 2011 the Government made a number of key decisions relating to the conservation and management of Ireland’s peatlands, particularly those sites nominated for designation as Special Areas of Conservation and Natural Heritage Areas. A commitment was made to draw up a national strategy part of this strategy. The future use of Ireland’s peatlands on peatlands conservation and management, in will also be influenced by national, EU and international consultation with bog owners and other stakeholders, to legal considerations and obligations. deal with long-term issues such as land management & development, restoration, conservation, tourism potential, The objective of the Peatlands Strategy is to set carbon accounting and community participation in down a vision, values and principles which will guide managing this resource. Government policy in relation to all peatlands. These will be applied through their incorporation into the more The independently chaired Peatlands Council was detailed sectoral plans, policies and actions adopted and established to assist the Government and stakeholders undertaken for each policy area. regarding certain issues related to the management of Ireland’s peatlands and was specifically requested to The Strategy applies to all peatlands, including peat soils. oversee the drafting of a National Peatlands Strategy. This stretches to 1.47m hectares. The strategy is aimed at peatland owners, users and the broader community The Strategy is required to give direction to Ireland’s which benefits from the services that peatlands provide. It approach to peatland management and how to optimise is also aimed at policy and decision makers. the benefits derived from our vast peatland resource over the coming decades. The term Eco-system services is used The choices that are made in peatland management to describe the range of benefits that peatlands provide can contribute to or detract from the achievement of for human well-being. Some of these are obvious and objectives and obligations for the common good entered others less so. Some are traditionally recognised benefits into by the State under International agreements, EU and others are emerging. Gaining a sense of the true value and national law. Water quality, flood control, fisheries, and potential of our peatlands requires consideration of a rivers streams and lakes, protected wildlife, air quality wide range of issues including current and possible land- and climate change will be affected in different ways, uses and the implications of such uses. depending on the choices that are made. This Strategy aims to ensure that the relevant State authorities and The direction Ireland takes in managing its peatland state owned companies that influence such decisions resource will be informed by best scientific knowledge. contribute to meeting cross-cutting objectives and Extensive research on the role and functioning of obligations in their policies and actions. peatlands has been undertaken and further work is ongoing. Further areas of research have been identified as The strategy recognises that Ireland’s peatlands will continue to contribute to a wide variety of human needs NATIONAL PEATLANDS STRATEGY DRAFT FOR CONSULTATION 002/003 and to be put to many uses. It aims to ensure that Ireland’s management. The Strategy contains some specific actions peatlands are sustainably managed so that their benefits to this end but additional actions will emerge through can be enjoyed responsibly. It aims to inform appropriate further sector or issue-specific considerations, plans or regulatory systems to facilitate good decision making strategies that are required. An implementation structure in support of responsible use. It also aims to inform the is proposed involving an inter-departmental Peatlands provision of appropriate incentives, financial supports and Strategy Implementation Group, which will work under disincentives where required. the Chair of the Peatlands Council. Turf cutting by citizens for their own domestic fuel needs Responsible management of peatlands will require is a valued traditional activity across many peatlands. In collaboration and partnership between land-owners, many areas, such activity can continue into the future. communities, public authorities, commercial organisations However, where turf cutting conflicts with conservation and non-governmental organisations. This Strategy aims objectives and obligations on the State, it will need to be to ensure that appropriate supports, structures, funding curtailed. This Strategy aims to ensure that where this is mechanisms and regulatory frameworks are in place to necessary, in the interests of the common good, the rights allow such partnerships to develop. of turf-cutters are fully addressed through compensation or relocation. The importance of responsible peatlands management and how it can impact on the wider community is A proportion of Ireland’s bogs are protected within not widely understood or appreciated by the general Special Areas of Conservation. A deterioration of these public. This strategy aims to increase awareness and sites since they were nominated for designation and understanding by the public, by land owners and by infringement action being brought against Ireland require decision makers of the value of peatlands and the more effective protection and regulation of potentially implications of good and bad management practices. damaging activities. A way forward is provided for as part of this Strategy. The draft National Raised Bog SAC A draft screening report for SEA purposes and for Management Plan has been published along with this Appropriate Assessment is set out in Appendix VIII. Strategy. Share your views A comprehensive review of raised bog Natural Heritage Views were previously sought on the scope of the Areas (NHAs) and undesignated raised bogs has informed Strategy. Over 400 submission were received and these a radical reconfiguration of our network of NHAs. This will have been considered in its drafting. A summary of provide for significantly improved conservation outcomes the substantive submissions received are outlined at while avoiding areas that are subject to significant turf- Appendix II. cutting. It will markedly reduce costs for the taxpayer. A number of Bord na Móna owned bogs which have been We are now seeking your views on this draft. Does the subject to focused conservation and restoration effort by draft Strategy adequately address all relevant issues? the Company, will be included in the NHA network. Other Is there more that could be included or are certain sites of conservation value where there is little or no turf- elements not relevant? Are there issues that you think cutting pressure will also be included. It is anticipated that should be addressed or prioritised as the Strategy is being many sites that are currently raised bog Natural Heritage implemented? Areas will be de-designated as part of this process. This will also assist in underpinning protection of raised Written submission will be accepted up to 18 April, 2014. bog SACs. And can be sent to: Peatlands Policy Unit The strategy aims to provide a framework for determining Department of Arts, Heritage, and the Gaeltacht and ensuring the most appropriate future use of cutover 7 Ely Place and cutaway bogs. It also proposes a new direction for the Dublin 2 regulation of turf-extraction generally, which is currently subject to planning law and Integrated Pollution Control Or by e-mail to: licensing. [email protected] The Strategy aims to ensure that specific actions necessary for the achievement of its objectives are clearly identified THIS IS YOUR STRATEGY, HAVE YOUR SAY. and delivered by those involved in or responsible for peatlands management or for decisions affecting their Cuirfear fáilte roimh comhfhreagras i nGaeilge.