Bog restoration - Changing times on the bogs

THE announcement that Bord na Móna will no longer harvest energy peat and that the company will move to a sustainable business within 15 years is very welcome and recognises that we need to do far more to reduce our dependence on imported energy — we still import around 90% of our fuel needs. It is disappointing, however, that a more ambitious timeframe was not announced.

The company plans to restore tens of thousands of acres of bogland. It also plans renewable energy development, including wind and solar projects, domestic fuel, biomass development, resource recovery, horticulture and ecotourism on rejuvenated boglands.

Bord na Móna was one of the companies that helped turn an impoverished and newly independent colony into something approaching a modern economy and that must always be remembered. However, it is unlikely that today’s environmental awareness would allow it begin to harvest peat as it has for decades. It is profoundly good news that our bogs will be restored and host a sustainable, energy business.