Macra na Feirme has called for urgent government intervention regarding flooding at Lough Funshinagh.
The environmental impact of the flooding is significant, especially given the area is a special area of conservation. Farmers have been farming beside the lake for years working with the land to promote biodiversity and practicing climate friendly farming.
The turlough which has almost trebled in size over the past number of years, now has over 1300 acres of land submerged, which is an additional 800 acres more than it historically covered at this time of year. Since 2015 the area under water has increased with levels in the turlough currently at the same height as they were on 12 December 2020.
Roscommon Macra na Feirme hosted a farm walk on September 10 2021 at the farm of Lawrence and Michael Fallon on the shores of Lough Funshinagh. The large crowd attending the walk, heard of the threat of the expanding turlough to farmland, houses and the environment.
Attendees saw hedgerows that have been completely destroyed by the rising waters with a huge loss of habitat for birds and insects. A forest planted some decades ago to sequester and store carbon is wilting and dying due to submerged roots. Grassland that was home to over 100 travelling hooper swans completely submerged with the swans not returning to lands they had visited for generations.
“The rising floodwaters will only continue to destroy habitats and carbon stores while reversing generations of progress and development by the farmers affected,” Macra na Feirme National President John Keane, said.
An overflow pipe has been partially completed but has been halted due to legal objection. The residents and farmers need urgent action to prevent the crisis from worsening and leading to an environmental and humanitarian emergency.
“The government needs to intervene now to resolve this issue for the benefit of both the people and the environment. Standing by and allowing the crisis to worsen is no longer a tolerable option for those living on the shores of the turlough,” Mr Keane concluded.
