Extreme weather threatens native flora, fauna and peatlands

THE extreme weather conditions that caused nationwide flooding and the landslide in Kerry last month will occur much more frequently, meaning 40% of Irish peatlands could be lost by 2075.

According to the Royal Irish Academy’s committee on climate change, even small changes in summer water balance may be enough to threaten our peatlands and 20% of native Irish plant species are vulnerable to climate change.

The information is in the academy’s sixth scientific statement covering the impact of climate change on plants and wildlife in Ireland.