Councillor’s queries on commercial turf cutting on local bogs has butterfly effect
The future of a rare butterfly – the marsh fritillary – could be under threat if commercial turf cutting is allowed to continue at a Co Meath bog, a councillor has claimed.
The butterfly (also known as Euphydryas aurinia) is a species listed in the appendices to the European Union Habitats and Species Directive. The effect of the legislation is to give protection to the insect and its habitat. Dr Ken Bond of University College Cork has studied the insect as part of work for the Irish Peatland Conservation Council and the organisation has worked to conserve the butterfly at its nature reserve in Co Kildare.
Jamestown Bog in Bohermeen and a local voluntary group – Bohermeen Development Group – found the rare butterfly there last year. The group said that the marsh fritillary is Ireland’s only protected butterfly and is on the “red list of Irish butterflies, meaning that it is “vulnerable” and at high risk of extinction.
Aontú Cllr Emer Tóibín has asked Meath County Council officials if planning permission is needed to cut turf commercially on the bog and she has asked for information on what person or organisation monitors this. She said that the bog is a protected heritage area and that the environment there is particularly vulnerable. She added that the county council has a responsibility to protect the right of turbary rights holders and family plot holders as they could face sanction in the future in the event of a ruling banning all development on the bog due to any “unauthorised actions” by other persons engaged in commercial cutting.
The councillor said that last year she had raised the issue of alleged unauthorised turf cutting at Drakerath, Oristown. She raised the issue at a council meeting but was precluded from commenting because the council was carrying out an investigation.
She says that locals in the area are concerned that commercial cutting may start there this month and she has asked the council for details of the present status of its investigation, reminding it that if An Bord Pleanala has deemed the activity to be “development”, than an environmental impact assessment is required. Cllr Toibin said that a member of the pubic made a complaint to the Ombudsman regarding the alleged failure of the council to implement any enforcement action despite the judgement of the ABP.
“It appears that the council responded by issuing a warning letter to a person in 2020. “This was outside the statutory period for the issuing of the letter and the activity was finished by this point”. She has now asked for a meeting with a council official to discuss the issues in both bogs.