The recent peat landslide in Derrybrien, Co Galway, could have been avoided if the planning authorities had taken on board concerns about the construction of a wind farm near the site, according to the Irish Peatland Conservation Council.
The IPCC said last week's disastrous event on the side of Slieve Aughty had highlighted the dangers of developing wind farms on such a wet, fragile upland blanket bog - concerns which it and a local residents' group had expressed.
The conservation body said it was concerned that wind farms being built in other upland areas are threatening the future of mountain blanket bog habitat, which is a priority for conservation under the EU Habitats Directive.
"Not only is the risk of bog bursts now a reality, but road construction over the bogs to service and install turbines only serve to attract other unsustainable activities in the blanket bogs such as dumping, turf cutting, drainage and fire."
Ms Caroline Hurley, the IPCC's conservation officer, commented: "In light of this recent bog burst, it seems clear that wind farm construction is not compatible with the protection of upland blanket bog" - particularly in proposed Special Areas of Conservation.
"IPCC is very concerned about several other areas of upland blanket bog designated as proposed SACs, which have wind farms proposed on them, and we will double our efforts to prevent such developments taking place and ensure the survival of these sites".
