Giving a Voice for Peatlands within the Use of Peat in Horticulture Working Group

The Irish Peatland Conservation Council have campaigned for an end to the use of peat in horticulture for over 35 years and welcome the opportunity to give a voice for peatlands within the Use of Peat in the Horticulture Working Group.   The Irish Peatland Conservation Council needs to see an end to the use of peat as a growing medium as it has destroyed vast areas of unique habitat, the carbon released through peat extraction is fuelling climate change and the biodiversity loss imposed on Ireland and our future generations is immense. The planning and industrial licensing regimes have failed to protect a sufficient amount of intact peatland habitat and now we are in a position if we continue to extract peat for horticulture the future prospects for Ireland’s peatland habitats are disheartening. However, today, we know that restoration of these sites can help to reverse some of the damage caused but to start we must work together for the ecosystem services of Irish peatland habitat to be realised.  We look forward to working with the other organisations as we see this working group as a step in the right direction for nature conservation in Ireland. The end to the extraction of peat for horticulture products will put Ireland on the right path to a sustainable economy, sustainable jobs and a stable environment.