Sir, – A bog is a wonderland, thousands of years in the making. Peat is formed in such a wetland and captures large quantities of carbon and water. This type of specialised environment hosts a unique collection of fauna and flora. In 1978, a Dutch research student, Matthijs Schouten, came to Ireland and was shocked at the extent of commercial development on Irish peatlands. He set up the Dutch Foundation for the Conservation of Irish Bogs. By 1987, the foundation raised enough funds to purchase three peatlands which were handed over to the Irish nation as a gift.
The Dutch had made the mistake of devastating their peatlands and realised what an error they had made. Today with the enhanced knowledge about the need to sequester carbon and combat the increased likelihood of flooding, it is imperative that we too wake up to the madness of obliterating this wondrous resource. – Yours, etc,
BRENDAN CHAPMAN,
Booterstown,
Co Dublin.