For peat's sake: We cannot afford to let the damage to our wetlands continue

Amid widespread calls for extensive peatland restoration, that horticultural peat mining is continuing unabated in Ireland is a baffling scenario and one which cannot be allowed continue, writes Anja Murray

The more we manage to restore and rehabilitate peaty wetlands, the more resilient our landscapes will be to flooding. Picture: iStock

The relentless rain of these past months has caused havoc across the country. But it might at least be a good thing for peat bogs. Waterlogged conditions are essential for bogs to be. Drainage and drought are their enemy, while water is their daily sustenance.

The essential ingredients of peat bogs are rain and sphagnum moss. Also known as bog moss, sphagnum moss comes in more than 20 different species, and that’s just those that are native to Ireland.