Bord na Móna Biodiversity Action Plan 2016-2021 2018 Updates Mark McCorry 14 May 2018
Objective 1 To continue to carry out all works in line with best practice guidelines and relevant legislation across all Bord na Móna bogs Planning, Reporting, Policy, Compliance 2
Objective 1 Compliance Planning, Reporting, Policy, Ongoing advisory role to Bord na Móna BUs re regulation & planning applications New Peat Extraction regs North Timahoe Solar, etc Ongoing Input to National Peatland Strategy, Policy NBAP, Natural Capital, BITC Q Mark Ongoing compliance with relevant environmental legislation Non-Compliance? Continued internal and external training re ecological issues (Does and Don ts) 3
Objective 2: To survey and identify potential biodiversity areas within the Bord na Móna lands Marsh Fritillary Baseline ecology survey, Identify and fill information gaps, Identify network of core areas of high biodiversity value, monitoring 4
Objective 2: To survey and identify potential biodiversity areas within the Bord na Móna lands Continued updates to Baseline Ecological survey GIS maps: land use; current habitats; potential future habitats; potential biodiversity value maps for all sites surveyed 12 bog sites surveyed in 2017 Additional ecological surveys to inform planning projects Curlew Monitoring Narrow-leaved Marsh Orchid Finnamores Lough Boora Discovery Park 5
2000 Drinagh SE
2004 7 Drinagh SE
2009 8 Drinagh SE
2015 9 Drinagh SE
Marsh Fritillary sites on BnM land 14 different sites. so far New sites in 2017 Turraun Knockahaw 10
Objective 3: To promote and develop best practice in terms of rehabilitation plans for all Bord na Móna bogs to stabilise former peat production areas and enhance biodiversity Practical rehabilitation Rehabilitation trials Rehabilitation plans 11
Rehabilitation Plans Bi-annual review of draft rehab plans completed As required by IPC Licences All draft plans updated 132 individual site rehab plan reports! Several draft plans brought to final stage Ballysorrell Knockahaw Clonwhelan 12
Rehabilitation Projects/Trials during 2017 Bog Rehab type Status Comment Area (ha) Ballycon deep peat Ongoing 8 Daingean Rathdrum deep peat Complete Bog restoration 36 Lullymore wetland Complete Maintenance to outfall - 2017 95 Phased over several years - hydrological management - east side 145 Cavemount wetland Ongoing Cashel deep peat Complete Maintenance required 2018 39 Corlea wetland Complete Local issues - wetland maintenance 8 Clongawney deep peat Complete 28 Killeglan peat peat Ongoing Full time bog restoration - > 75% complete 200 Clooniff wetland Ongoing Ammonia trial direct water into wetland in 2018 8 Lough Bannow deep peat Complete Buffer area around Lough Bawn pnha 31 Former sod moss area adjacent to Coolnagun deep peat Complete River Inny 27 Baunmore wetland/ dryland Ongoing Rehab trial - dozing across field drains - 1 st phase 100 Ballysorrell deep peat Complete Bog restoration 100 Total 756 13
14
Cashel Bog, Co. Laois 15
Cashel Bog, Co. Laois 16
Cavemount Bog Co. Offaly 17
Cavemount Bog Co. Offaly 18
Lodge Bog, Co. Kildare re-wetting trial Joint project with IPCC 19
Lodge Bog, Co. Kildare re-wetting trial Joint project with IPCC 20
Lodge Bog Co. Kildare - re-wetting trial 21
Sphagnum BeadaMoss trial Bunihinly, Co Westmeath, May 2017 22
Sphagnum BeadaMoss trial Bunihinly May 2017 23
Blackwater (Co. Offaly) Reedbed trial 2011 24
Blackwater (Co. Offaly) Reedbed trial 2017 25
Japanese Knotweed Control Attymon (Co. Galway) 2017 26
Littleton Rehabilitation Lanespark Briquette Factory closure 10 bog units 4200 ha Continued peat production in Killeens Decommissioning and rehabilitation of remaining sites Cutaway re-wetting, where possible Bog restoration where possible 27
Littleton Rehabilitation Rehab plan drafted for Littleton Internal consultation Consideration of future land-use External circulation of plan Summer 2018 Bruckana Windfarm potential for further industrial development? Site visits? Timeframe 3 years Initial rehab trials/implementation Phased approach BAP Review Feb 2019 - Littleton 28
Knockahaw Bog, Tipperary/Laois Bog Restoration Biodiversity Area 29
Carrickhill Bog, Co. Tipperary Carrickhill Typical site Pumped drainage Bare peat Some deep peat Variable topography Re-wetting peat, where possible 30
Carrickhill Bog, Co. Tipperary 31
Ballysorrell, Littleton, Bog restoration Bog restoration at Ballysorrell Co. Tipperary High bog area 100 ha Overall area 190 ha Was in milled peat production in the past 32 De-commisioning
Bog restoration Two new 8 Tonne Kobelco excavators ordered in 2017 Currently being modified for bog works (track widening) One complete ready to start now at Clonwhelan Brings number of small Bord na Móna wide track excavators dedicated to bog restoration to 3 Projected progress - from 150 ha/year to 450 ha per year 33
Objective 4 To raise awareness and create a greater appreciation of the biodiversity and natural heritage of Bord na Móna cutaway bogs and associated lands Bog of Allen Wildlife Event 2018 Hosted by IPCC 34 Objective 4: Communications
Government Minister s visit to Ballydangan October 35
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Heritage Week August 2017 Body and Soul! 37 ONFC Finnamores - June
Midlands Science Festival Mountlucas - October NBDC Field Course at Boora - June 38 Irish Garden Plant Association - May
Bog of Allen Wildlife Awareness event Lullymore July 2017 39
Botanic Gardens Bog Garden supplied by Ballycon Signage at Lullymore Art Installation at Derries Bog, LBDP 40 Derrygreenagh not cutting the grass for pollinators
41 Thank you