Bog Restoration

Community involvement

Turf cutting

• Yyyyypppppppp - Use of Machines 1990s• - made turf cutting possible• - Eu Directive

Not Easy

• -Majority of rural dwelling• ff depend on turf for fuel.• - Radical change required• Nothing offered to off set family costs• A political hot potato

Valuable?

• - Turf over wild life• - Communities interests• - National Interest• - wetland and bogs as• places of heritage• biodiversity• Long term valuet to community

Education

• - The community• - Families• - Fuel Poverty• - benefits in the long term• How to inform • Different approaches from Government

Community involvement

• - Ownership• - Informed• - A vision of what might be.• Understanding of sacrifices which must be

made.• Structure that is respected by stakeholders• Room for problem resolution

Wetlands Forum

• 11 local networks.• These include Abbeyleix, Corlea, Cabragh,

Laois Offaly Wildlife Trust, Cloughjordan, Kenagh, Boora, Clara, Kerry, Meath, Westmeath and Kildare.

• Aim To foster community involvement in wetlands and bog restoration

Activities• The identification of potential wetland sites in communities and

communities who wish to evaluate their own areas.• The co-ordination of targeted event, seminars on community

involvement.• The provision of direct assistance to groups who wish to explore

new projects.• The attendance at events to promote the network and attract new

members. • The organisation of Forum meetings including identifying expert

speakers and recording minutes.• Organisation of training workshops based on membership

demands

The 20-20-60 ruleChrys Uys

• 20% hold extreme views against • 20 hold extreme views in favour• 60% are open minded and will examine the

practical implications

Issues

• Alternative fuel• Compensation• Benefits of conservation• Community ownership• Community capacity

The future

• Bogs and Wetlands with a different purpose• New benefits to communities• Imaginative ideas from communities

Finally

•

• Lets us start here in 2015