Pettigoe Plateau RAMSAR

Pettigoe Plateau is situated in Fermanagh in the west of Northern Ireland, to the north of Lower Lough Erne. It is one of the largest expanses of blanket bog in Northern Ireland. Formed on a relatively low elevation rolling landscape it is interspersed with hills made up of of mineral soil with depressions containing several small lakes. The Ramsar site boundary is entirely coincident with both that of the Pettigoe Plateau Area of Special Scientific Interest and the Pettigoe Plateau Special Area of Conservation and Special Protection Area.

Pettigoe qualifies under Criterion 1a of the Ramsar Convention by being a particularly good representative example of blanket bog. The extensive blanket bog which covers most of the site exhibits the full range of characteristic vegetation and structural features associated with this type of habitat. These features include a large number of well developed pool complexes, frequent acid flushes, basin mires and ladder fens.

The bog vegetation is characterised by luxuriant Sphagnum mosses, dwarf-shrubs and other associated species, with the strong oceanic influence indicated by the constancy and abundance of purple moor-grass and the frequency of bog myrtle, the moss Campylopus atrovirens and the liverwort Pleurozia purpurea.

This site also qualifies under Criterion 2a by supporting an important assemblage of vulnerable and endangered Irish Red Data Book bird species and regularly supports nationally important numbers of breeding golden plovers. The site is also used by breeding hen harrier and merlin.
In addition, Pettigoe is notable for Greenland white-fronted goose and it forms part of an extended cross-border site which occasionally supports nationally important numbers of this species.