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November 13, 2008

New Exhibition: Bogland a Future in Ireland

The Irish Peatland Conservation Council are delighted to announce the completion of a new exhibition on Irish Peatlands.  The exhibition is currently on display in the ENFO offices on St. Andrew Street in Dublin City.  The ENFO offices are open to the public Monday –Saturday from 10am to 5pm and all are welcome to visit the display. 
 
Ireland originally had over 1.2 million hectares of peatlands, today less than 17% of the original area remains.  Bogland a Future in Ireland takes in all aspects of Irish peatlands.   It highlights the diversity of flora and fauna on peatlands sites nationwide .  49% of all endangered birds in Ireland occur on peatlands, 23% of all endangered plants are peatland species and 26% of our mammals depend on peatlands in some phase of their life cycle.  However, still today we generate electricity from peat in our power stations, we use it as a soil conditioner in our gardens and we burn peat in our fires.  These uses are not the only threats that face Irish peatlands.  Alien Species such as the pitcher plant, rhododendron and giant rhubarb are some of the non-native species invading peatlands throughout the country.  The planting of trees, overgrazing, visitor trampling, water enrichment and illegal dumping also cause damage to our fragile peatland sites.
 
The exhibition highlights what each and every one of us can do to ensure the survival of our peatland habitats.  Some easy ways we can help include, volunteering at workcamps to protect peatlands in our local area, composting at home to reduce the dependency on peat moss compost in our gardens, conserve electricity, support conservation organisations that help protect Ireland’s peatlands and when visiting peatlands sites stay on designated walkways.
 
Bogland a Future in Ireland will go on permanent display at the Bog of Allen Nature Centre in Lullymore, Co. Kildare in December.  So if you don’t get to take time out and visit the exhibition currently in ENFO there will be opportunity to visit the exhibition in the coming months at the Bog of Allen Nature Centre.  For now, why not take ten minutes out from the hustle and bustle of your daily routine and drop in to the ENFO centre and visit the exhibition.