Ecosystem Accounts - Peatlands and Heathlands 2018

In this chapter, we use the data reported in 2019 by the National Parks and Wildlife Service under the Article 17 of the EU Directive on the Conservation of Habitats, Flora and Fauna (92/43/EEC) (hereafter Article 17 – EU Habitats Directive data) to map Annex I peatland and heathland habitats at national level and evaluate their condition. Table 3.1 below summarises the Annex I peatland and heathland habitats included in Article 17 – EU Habitats Directive data.

The distributions of Annex I peatland and heathland habitats are displayed in Maps 3.1 and 3.2. Both ecosystems were mapped separately for presentation purposes. They might co-occur and form complex mosaics together. Degraded raised bogs and Petrifying springs were not mapped, as their spatial data were not at the same resolution as the other habitats.

In Article 17 – EU Habitats Directive data, Annex I peatland and heathland habitats were mainly reported on the west coast, the midlands and the Wicklow Mountains in 2019 (Maps 3.1 and 3.2). These Annex I habitats occurred over an estimated 8% of the national territory. Fens and Raised bogs were mainly reported in the midlands while Blanket bogs, Wet heaths, Dry heaths and Alpine and subalpine heaths were observed on the west coast and in the Wicklow Mountains (Maps 3.1 and 3.2). Blanket bogs, Wet heaths and Dry heaths were the habitats with the largest areas reported under Article 17 – EU Habitats Directive in 2019 (Figure 3.1 and Table 3.2).

Under Article 17 of the EU Habitats Directive, the National Parks and Wildlife Service reports the conservation status, at national level, of habitats listed in Annex I. It covers different aspects of habitats: the range (i.e. the total geographical area within which the habitat appears, and which is sufficiently large to allow the long-term survival of the habitat), the spatial area, and the structure and functions (i.e. includes an evaluation of the condition and the typical species). The worst assessment between range, area and structure and functions will define the overall conservation status of the habitat. The conservation status is calculated in relation to a reference value which corresponds at least to the value of the habitat assessment when the EU Habitats Directive came into force in 1994 (unless considered insufficient to ensure the long-term survival of the habitat). For more information, refer to the full National Parks and Wildlife Services reports using this link.

Including information on structural, functional and landscape characteristics, the conservation status is a good indicator of ecosystem condition. In this publication, we report all the aspects of the conservation status (i.e. range, spatial area, structure and functions) in 2019 associated with their short-term trend based on the last 12 years. Status and trend of conservation are categorised as follow^4,6:

3. Fossitt, J. A. A guide to habitats in Ireland. (The Heritage Council, 2000).

4. The Status of EU Protected Habitats and Species in Ireland - Volume 1. (National Parks and Wildlife Service, 2019).

6. The Status of EU Protected Habitats and Species in Ireland - Volume 2. (National Parks and Wildlife Service, 2019).

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