Peat Bogs

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Peat Bogs
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Blanket Bogs

• Called Blanket because of the way they cover the
  ground
• Found near high rainfall
• Western Ireland and Mountainous areas
• Peat used for fuel and gardening

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Development of Blanket Bogs

• Forest
• Land cleared
• Became unusable
• Build up of peat
• Harvested

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• 50 of Northern Ireland has been destroyed from
  cutting
• Ireland has the lowest percentage of forest in
  European Union
• Conifers are being planted to resolve the problem

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Raised Bogs

• Found almost exclusively in central Ireland
• The Peat is higher quality on Raised Bogs
• Form naturally

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Development of Raised Bogs

• Small lakes formed by glaciers
• Peat was deposited in lake by reeds
• The peat eventually came to the surface
• Water table rose until no water ran into the lake
• Environment became wet, bogs chocked out plants

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• This peat was a great source of cheap fuel
• Throughout the years more and more of these bogs
  are being destroyed
• The European Union is already over producing
  food, so they dont need more room for agriculture

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Why do we need bogs?

• They help to maintain reliable supplies of clean
  water to rivers
• They are used by archeologists and biologist for
  research because they are acidic and low in
  nutrients
• Peat is rich in Carbon taken in by plants over
  the years, this keeps carbon dioxide levels safe

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Why do we need bogs?

• They also house many animals and plants
• Over 3000 species of insects have been found on
  one peat bog
• If we start destroying these bogs we could be
  causing some species to become extinct

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What is being done?

• Only 10 of the original bogs are protected
• Permission has already been granted for companies
  to cut peat and the local government doesnt have
  enough money to compensate them

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Resources

• http//www.wesleyjohnston.com/users/ireland/geogra
  phy/bogs.html
• http//www.forestry.gov.uk/forestry/Uplandbog
• http//www.peatalert.org.uk/peat/takingthepeat.htm