IWT calls on Fine Gael to reverse its policy on turf-cutting

16th Feb, 2011

The Irish Wildlife Trust is calling on the Fine Gael party to reverse its policy of allowing turf-cutting on some of Ireland’s most valuable nature reserves (Special Areas of Conservation and Natural Heritage Areas). According to its manifesto Fine Gael says it “will allow an exemption for domestic turf cutting on the 75 National Heritage Area sites, which are designated under Irish Law”. This amounts to an assault on our wildlife and fails to recognise the value of our bogs for purifying water, storing carbon and alleviating floods.

Ireland’s raised and blanket bogs are unique habitats at an international level and after years of abuse only 18% of these areas remain of any conservation value#. It is these last few refuges that Fine Gael are proposing to ‘sell off’ for short-term political gain.

The chairman of the IWT, Pádraic Fogarty said “at a time when Ireland’s ‘green’ image is vital to creating jobs and returning to prosperity Fine Gael want to take us back to the bad old days of environmental abuse that benefits the few”. The IWT is calling on any new government to commit to our legal and moral obligations to protect our biodiversity and to acknowledge its value in a dynamic and prosperous Ireland.