Active raised bogs face extinction

ACTIVE raised bog is facing extinction in Ireland, the Irish Peatland Conservation Council (IPCC) has again warned.

It claimed the remaining 0.6% of active raised bog (2,000 hectares) is under threat from turf cutting.

The IPCC called on Environment Minister John Gormley to end turf cutting on all special areas of conservation and Natural Heritage Areas.

In the past 10 years more than a third of active raised bog (1,000 ha) has been lost due to turf cutting within conserved peatlands, the IPCC said.