Bord na Móna recently launched the new Biodiversity Action Plan 2016-2021. This plan explains why biodiversity is important to Bord na Móna and how it intends to build on the wealth of peatland management, rehabilitation, restoration and conservation that it has built up since its establishment in the 1940s. The Biodiversity Action Plan will be integral to our transition towards sustainable and renewable businesses, reinforcing biodiversity development as a core value of the company.
The Biodiversity Action Plan 2016-2021 is an essential component of Bord na Móna’s sustainability strategy which stands on the three pillars of people, profit and planet. This means whenever we are developing or delivering business solutions we ensure they are supported by all three sustainability pillars.
The Biodiversity Action Plan 2016-2021 is an essential component of Bord na Móna’s sustainability strategy which stands on the three pillars of people, profit and planet. This means whenever we are developing or delivering business solutions we ensure they are supported by all three sustainability pillars.
The first review of our Biodiversity Action Plan 2016-2021 took place in Lullymore, Heritage Park, Kildare. Work on delivering the objectives of the plan is progressing well. Dr. Mark McCorry, Senior Ecologist, said: “Bord na Móna is fully committed to progressing our bog restoration programme across our landholding and building on the successful initiatives taken to date. We expect to significantly increase our restoration activity in the coming years as outlined in our action plan.”
Biodiversity contributes to climate stability, protects water resources, forms and protects soils, stores and recycles nutrients, and maintains a healthy ecosystem. Bord na Móna has made a commitment to nurture biodiversity wherever possible. The next infographic featured on this page outlines just some of the Biodiversity work Bord na Móna is doing.
From gardens and hedgerows on our doorsteps, to woodlands and wetlands, bogs, rivers and coastlines, birds in trees, fish in rivers and bats in the roof, biodiversity is all around us. The conservation of biodiversity and natural heritage is an integral part of good environmental management and essential to continued survival of human beings on Earth.
Projects: Rehabilitation of Oweninny bogs (2001-2005); Rehabilitation planning and land use mapping (2006-2009); Head of Bord na Móna Ecology (2009 to present) – role includes co-ordination Biodiversity Action Plan and delivery of Ecology objectives
Best part of the job? “Since I started 15 years ago, biodiversity has come to the fore in Bord na Móna. That is a very positive result!”
The term ‘bog’ is widely used in Ireland to describe a variety of peatland areas. All of these peatlands or bogs are characterised by a naturally occurring layer of accumulated organic dead matter (i.e. peat). The principal peatland types in Ireland include fens, raised bogs, atlantic blanket bogs, and mountain blanket bogs. Most of the peatlands owned by Bord na Móna are either cutaway bogs or raised bogs, with a small percentage of blanket bogs.
Biodiversity is just one aspect of natural capital and is important to all of us. The success of the Bord na Móna businesses relies on the ecosystem goods and services provided by nature. We are re-investing in nature to ensure those goods and services can be there for future generations and for the future businesses.
Round-leaved Wintergreen, a rare plant, was recorded for the first time in Mountlucas Bog, Co. Offaly, in 2015.
Bord na Mona’s ecology team helped rehabilitate 6,500 hectares of cutaway blanket bog in North West Mayo
Kilmacshane bog saw the biggest single site flock of Whooper Swan in Ireland for the 2015 census
