Illegal turf cutting in bogs across the Shannonside region increased significantly between 2021 and 2022.
Figures released to the Irish Wildlife Trust under the Freedom of Information act and published in the Irish Times shows Callow in Roscommon is one of the worst affected nationally.
Special Areas of conservation, or SACs, are prime wildlife conservation areas in the country, considered to be important on a European as well as Irish level.
In 2011, peat cutting on SACs was made illegal but according to new figures in the Irish Times, turf cutting has increased in these areas in the Shannonside region.
Carrow Bog in Roscommon was the worst affected in the region last year with 31 incidents recorded, an increase from 22 in 2021.
28 incidents of cutting were recorded at Ballinagare in 2022, up from 11 in 2021 while Cloonchambers recorded 21 incidents last year
Corliskea also recorded a jump in numbers, from 2 in 2021 to 11 last year, and one incident was also recorded in Lough Ree and 5 in Ballynamona
10 incidents of illegal cutting were also reported at Clooneen in Longford, up from 8 in 2021.
It brings the total number of peat cutting incidents in the region last year to 128.
Nationally, 330 incidents were recorded, an increase from 290 in 2021
