Series 16, episode 3:
‘Price of Peat’ – with Duncan Stewart
In this episode about Ireland’s iconic peatlands, Duncan Stewart will investigate the technical, social and environmental implications of restoring and protecting our bogs from the traditional activities of cutting and burning.
The global climate is changing. Our exploitation of fossil fuels and land use change is causing an unprecedented level of global warming in our time. This is leading to weather extremes that make everyday life impossible in many parts of the world.
However, peat bogs can store carbon and slow down climate change, helping to stabilise the whole climate system. While peatlands only make up 3% of the world’s landmass, they store more carbon than all of the world’s forests combined.
Peatlands have always been a distinct characteristic of the Irish landscape, covering 20% of the country. But our peat bogs are in a heavily degraded state, due to turf harvesting and other environmental pressures.
About 99% of Ireland’s bogs are no longer functioning as a carbon store but are instead emitting huge amounts of carbon into the atmosphere, further accelerating global warming. When these bogs are cut and drained, carbon is released into the atmosphere and into water catchments. This causes pollution of drinking water, as well as contributing to global warming.
In this episode Duncan will speak to Irish scientists and industry about the importance of peat for carbon sequestration, filtering water, mitigating flooding, and improving habitats. He will also travel to Northern Ireland to see the impacts of bog restoration on Garron Plateau.
Eco Eye 16 Documentary Series – Synopsis
(9 x 25mins, Broadcast January 2018 RTE One, 6.30pm)
Series Synopsis
In the new season of RTÉ’s long-running series Eco Eye, host Duncan Stewart is joined by ecologist Anja Murray and Dr Lara Dungan to explore critical environmental issues impacting Ireland and abroad. Featuring topics from air pollution to aquatic invasive species, this season documents pioneering research and community action in the fields of medicine, ecology, conservation and more. Filmed all across the country and further afield, it reveals the challenges that our native flora and fauna face today.