Funding for locally led biodiversity projects doubled to €3m

Funding for locally led biodiversity projects doubled to €3m

  • 2023 Local Biodiversity Action Fund supports Local Authorities to progress local biodiversity projects
  • Local Authorities can now apply for funding for 2023 projects
  • Funded projects must align to the actions of the National Biodiversity Action Plan

 Malcolm Noonan TD, Minister of State for Heritage and Electoral Reform at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, has announced a doubling of funding to the Local Biodiversity Action Fund to €3 million for 2023.  Local Authorities can now apply to the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) to avail of this funding to deliver local biodiversity projects.

First launched in 2018, the Local Biodiversity Action Fund offers funding to help Local Authorities achieve actions identified in the National Biodiversity Action Plan, recognising the important role they plan in addressing the biodiversity emergency. This funding stream enables the  development of projects that address biodiversity loss in Local Authority areas by helping to create new habitats, restoring existing ones and by tackling invasive alien species.

The scheme, operated by the National Parks and Wildlife Service of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, has proven hugely popular, with 109 projects funded in 2022. A wide variety of projects were financed including in the areas of Wetland Restoration, Bird Surveys, Dune restoration, Biodiversity Awareness and Invasive Alien Species.

Commenting on the announcement, Minister Noonan said:

“I’m delighted to be able to double the funding for this vital biodiversity funding scheme, which has proven immensely popular with Local Authorities, who have carried out really impactful projects with the funding. We have seen increasing participation in biodiversity and invasive species projects year-on-year, and the benefits of this are shared by all of us, not least local communities. 

Reversing biodiversity loss is among the greatest challenges of our times. Locally-led initiatives can be extremely impactful – supporting them is an important part of the response. Local Authorities play an important role in these efforts. Combined with our announcement last year of the appointment of Biodiversity Officers in the Local Authorities, today’s funding increase will allow the Local Authorities to play an ever more active role in our plans to address biodiversity loss. The State has increased its funding to the NPWS in light of the biodiversity crisis and I’m delighted that we’re able to in turn increase funding to important initiatives such as this.”

 Examples of projects that received funding in 2022 include:

  • A survey of South Dublin County to identify and map the distribution of wetlands in the region and develop a Wetland Inventory Database with GIS map.
  • A survey to establish a detailed picture of the distribution of breeding Swifts in 49 localities across Louth to allow decision-makers to effectively manage for Swifts at site level.
  • A project to implement best practices in the protection and restoration of sand dune habitats designated within Natura 2000 sites in County Kerry.
  • Low Carbon Town: a project in Laois that aims to plant three small, dense native woodland habitats on school campuses and another at Laois Education Centre as an educational resource for teachers as part of new a Biodiversity Demonstration site
  • A Quagga Mussel project which saw 9 Local Authorities alongside a team from UCD to improve our understanding of the ecology of this new invasive species in Ireland


ENDS

The National Biodiversity Action Plan 2017-2021 and its’ Interim Review are available at https://www.npws.ie/legislation/national-biodiversity-plan

 

January 25, 2023

Public consultation on Ireland’s Fourth National Biodiversity Action Plan (NBAP) launched

Public consultation on Ireland’s Fourth National Biodiversity Action Plan (NBAP) launched

Members of the public can submit their views by November 9th

Minister of State for Heritage and Electoral Reform Malcolm Noonan T.D. has launched a public consultation for the fourth National Biodiversity Action Plan (NBAP).

Members of the public are encouraged to submit their views to the consultation at www.gov.ie/biodiversityplan before November 9th. The consultation is run by the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS), a division of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage and follows from a period of engagement with stakeholder groups, including government departments, agencies, businesses, and  representatives of the Biodiversity Forum.

The National Biodiversity Conference, held in June of this year, also forms part of the consultation. At the event, a wide audience engaged in discussions on Ireland’s response to biodiversity loss, conservation and protection.

The draft objectives of the National Biodiversity Action Plan (NBAP) are to:

  • Adopt a Whole of Government, Whole of Society Approach to Biodiversity
  • Meet Urgent Conservation and Restoration Needs
  • Secure Nature’s Contribution to People
  • Embed Biodiversity at the Heart of Climate Action
  • Enhance the Evidence Base for Action on Biodiversity
  • Strengthen Ireland’s Contribution to International Biodiversity

The draft NBAP sets out a vision for an Ireland in 2050 in which biodiversity is valued, conserved, restored, and sustainably used maintaining ecosystem services, sustaining a healthy planet and delivering benefits essential for all people.

The draft plan is informed by an extensive review of national, European, and international policies, strategies, legislation and science. The NBAP will be Ireland’s main mechanism for engagement with ongoing policy developments at regional and global level including opportunities such as a new Global Biodiversity Framework, on the EU Biodiversity Strategy and Nature Restoration Law.  The final version of the Plan will be published in early 2023, to allow the recommendations of the ongoing Citizens’ Assembly on Biodiversity Loss to be considered.

Minister Malcolm Noonan said:

“We are launching this public consultation against a backdrop of unprecedented challenges for nature in Ireland and globally. How we collectively and collaboratively address these challenges will define not just our ability to halt biodiversity loss, but how we as a species will survive and thrive into the future. 

We have a lot of positives to draw from and inspire us. The Citizens’ Assembly on Biodiversity Loss and the parallel Children and Young People’s Assembly on Biodiversity Loss will help to inform us on the way forward, through new ideas, new ways of doing things and new ways of collaborating towards the conservation and restoration of nature in Ireland.” 

Minister Noonan said the Government is readying itself for the NBAP:

“The renewal of the National Parks and Wildlife Service through my action plan will strengthen our collective ability towards ensuring that the next NBAP is an all-of-government and all-of-society response to this great challenge. The recent 2nd National Biodiversity Conference, which included a stirring address by An Taoiseach, inspired all in attendance towards this great collective action,” he said. 

Minister Noonan urged the public to have their say:

“It’s really important that the next National Biodiversity Action Plan be in itself a living document. Yes, it must be actionable and impactful, but it must also reflect the different voices that will inform its content. I urge members of the public to have their say and engage with this public consultation.” 

The draft Fourth National Biodiversity Action Plan can be found at www.gov.ie/biodiversityplan where members of the public can also make their submission to the public consultation.

ENDS

September 23, 2022

Government announces €1.4 million for local biodiversity projects

Government announces €1.4 million for local biodiversity projects

  • 128 community projects have been funded across all 31 local authorities
  • They include restoration, invasive species management, surveys, education and awareness projects
  • All support the implementation of the National Biodiversity Action Plan, the new draft of which is currently out for public consultation

Malcolm Noonan T.D., Minister of State for Heritage and Electoral Reform, has today announced over €1.4 million in funding for Local Authorities to carry out biodiversity projects through the Local Biodiversity Action Fund (LBAF).

Since it was launched in 2018, a total of almost €4m has been granted to local authorities through the LBAF to carry out projects in support of the National Biodiversity Action Plan 2017-2021 (NBAP).

“We know that communities are at the heart of biodiversity action and that’s why I’m so thrilled to see this fund continue to grow and increase its impact all across the country,” said Minister Noonan. “This year, we’ve funded 128 projects across all 31 Local Authorities – this will have real, tangible impact for nature and it couldn’t come at a more crucial time. What’s more, the successful projects are all contributing to the implementation of the National Biodiversity Action Plan (NBAP) and helping to advance our shared vision for nature. The new NBAP is currently out for public consultation, so it’s a great opportunity for people to have their say and help shape the future for biodiversity in Ireland.”

Engagement with communities and local authorities is crucial to the implementation of the National Biodiversity Action Plan. The LBAF scheme represents a commitment to support implementation of the Plan at community, county and regional level, and recognises the importance of the work carried out by local authorities through their biodiversity and heritage officers. All 31 local authorities applied for and will receive funding this year, with a total of 128 projects approved, covering a range of biodiversity related activities, including invasive alien species control, dune restoration, wetland surveys and biodiversity awareness and training.

Projects approved this year include:

  • A collaboration between 9 local authorities on the invasive Quagga Mussel in the river Shannon
  • Lesser Horseshoe Bat survey in Cork City
  • Mayo Wetland County survey
  • Leitrim Local Biodiversity Action / Pollinator Plan training and outreach events
  • Wetland restoration in Fingal County Council
  • Invasive species control in Kilkenny

The public consultation for Ireland’s 4th National Biodiversity Action Plan launched on September 1st and submissions are invited through www.gov.ie/biodiversityplan.  The public consultation will close on November 9th and the 4th NBAP will be published in early 2023.

ENDS

Full list of projects receiving funding is available here.

September 22, 2022

Farmers praised as Irish corncrake numbers increase by 5%

Farmers praised as Irish corncrake numbers increase by 5%

Irish Corncrake numbers are increasing

  • Farmers praised for their role in 5% population increase
  • CorncrakeLIFE project and Corncrake Grant Scheme having an impact

At least 197 calling male corncrakes have been recorded in Ireland in 2022. This represents a 5% increase on the 188 birds recorded in 2021 according to the National Parks and Wildlife Service at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage.

The increase in numbers of the much-threatened bird has been welcomed by Minister of State for Heritage and Electoral Reform, Malcolm Noonan TD.

Birds were recorded from five counties with Donegal showing a population of 110, Mayo 62, Galway 23, and both Sligo and Kerry have recorded one bird each.

Among the reasons for the increase is the Corncrake LIFE project, which aims to revive the conservation status of the corncrake and ensure it remains a part of rural landscapes for years to come. The project, which is in its second year and is managing almost 500 ha of farmland in cooperation with landowners and farmers across Donegal, Mayo and Galway, was launched earlier this year by Minister Noonan.

The Heritage Minister said this project has raised awareness of the corncrake amongst landowners, farmers and the public in such a positive way that it is now yielding an increase in the numbers of the bird.

“It’s testament to the project and its incredible work in the community that we are seeing a marked increase in Corncrake numbers, especially on its eight project sites. The call of the corncrake was once a ubiquitous sound in meadows and grasslands across Ireland. However, rapid changes to farming practices in the 1970’s spelled doom for the bird. Funding streams, such as the EU LIFE programme, and a change in farming has allowed my Department, working in conjunction with stakeholders in communities to put measures in place to help secure the future of this species, which remains a high conservation priority at a national and European level”.

Corncrake LIFE Project Manager Dr. John Carey said: “We have made some good progress in getting conservation measures in place with project participants and the result-based scheme has had a positive response from farmers. Overall bird numbers have increased in the LIFE project areas too, with some areas showing significant increases.”

He went on to say the locally led ACRES co-operation projects will have an important role to play in 2023. “We are working closely with them to ensure that farmers who select corncrake measures in the scheme will also have full access to the LIFE project and all the additional supports it brings with it. While numbers are moving in the right direction, there is still considerable work required to save the corncrake”

Minister Noonan also praised the Corncrake Grant Scheme, which is administered by the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS), for its role in the increase.

“It proved very popular this year with many farmers choosing to delay mowing until August and September. Wildlife-friendly mowing and the provision of refuge strips in fields was also taken up by the majority of participants,” Minister Noonan said.

NPWS Divisional Manger Denis Strong has been involved in corncrake conservation since the mid-90s and say the increase in numbers is down to the number of farmers coming on board.

“It’s great to see the birds doing well again, particularly in areas like the Mullet peninsula where they have increased by 37% on last year’s figures. It’s a testament to the many farmers who are involved in both the Corncrake LIFE project and those who took up the grant scheme which has been running successfully for many years now.” 

ENDS

Corncrake is a species listed for special protection under Annex 1 of the EU Birds Directive. Once synonymous with the Irish countryside, the population of Corncrake has declined by 85% since the 1970s, with a similar decrease in range, meaning that the species is now effectively confined to Connacht and Donegal, including offshore islands. Supporting Corncrake in these remaining strongholds is critical to the survival of this species in Ireland.

September 22, 2022

Glenveagh National Park Brings the Curriculum Alive for Irish Teachers

Glenveagh National Park Brings the Curriculum Alive for Irish Teachers

As part of its education and awareness remit, the team of staff at Glenveagh National Park in Donegal have resumed the popular summer teachers course ‘Learning Through The Landscape’, which has welcomed 20 participants from all over the country.

The purpose of the week long course, which started back in 2015, is to help teachers learn more about nature and to be inspired to bring more outdoor learning into their practice. “The success of nature conservation work begins with winning the hearts and minds of people – and there’s no better place to start than schools and teachers”, explains Clare Bromley, Head of Education and Learning at Glenveagh.

The course takes the teachers on a hands on learning journey through a range of habitats and showcases how strands in the curriculum can be made more accessible, interactive and engaging for children when taken outside the classroom. Subjects covered include science, maths, geography, art, history and ICT. Its goal is to use the backdrop of the National Park and surrounding Nature Reserves as inspiration for teachers to learn more about Irish Biodiversity. The course is accredited and approved by the Department of Education & Skills as part of its overall CPD programme for teachers each summer and is run in partnership with Donegal Education Centre.

Enjoying the stunning weather this week, the group, led by the team of Education Guides, have explored the importance of woodlands, peatlands and freshwater habitats and the species found in each.  This supports teachers to acquire new knowledge and skills that they can take back to their schools in the year ahead.

Each year Glenveagh works with thousands of school and college students from across the North West, but this popular event remains the highlight of the year, with many teachers keen to share that it is one of the best courses and experiences they have attended.

The participants have had the chance to meet with National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) Conservation Rangers and also to hear from staff from Inland Fisheries Ireland staff. The course exemplifies the value of strategic partnership working between Departments for the common goal of protecting and raising awareness of nature.

It is hoped that the course will be adapted to run on successive weeks from Summer 2023, given the interest and demand for places.

For more information on the education programme and services in Glenveagh, contact [email protected]

ENDS

August 12, 2022

Ireland’s first captive-bred Natterjack toadlets released into the wild

Ireland’s first captive-bred Natterjack toadlets released into the wild

  • Joint initiative between NPWS and Fota Wildlife Park has released 6,000 toadlets to date
  • This year’s cohort includes toadlets bred in captivity for the first time
  • A new scheme will pay farmers to protect the habitat of this endangered species

Almost 500 Natterjack toadlets were on Monday July 25th, at Castlegregory, Co. Kerry, with the help of the local community. These included toadlets that had spawned in captivity – a first for Ireland and a major milestone in this joint conservation project to protect the endangered Natterjack between National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) and Fota Wildlife Park.

Captive rearing plays an important role in the conservation of this unique and endangered amphibian and, through these efforts, over 6,000 individuals have been successfully released into the wild to date. Natterjacks endure natural mortality rates as high as 90%, with large numbers of eggs and tadpoles typically lost every summer due to predators and ponds drying out. 2022 has been a particularly challenging year for the toads, with the dry spring and summer meaning that spawning in the wild was very limited.

Through this project, staff from NPWS collect toad spawn and tadpoles from ponds in the wild and transport them to Fota where they are carefully looked after in special holding tanks over the summer months (captive rearing). Following metamorphosis, the resulting toadlets are then returned to the species’ native range in Kerry.

For the first time, the project also produced its own toadlets this year. A small number of mature natterjacks are being held in Fota and these produced spawn (captive breeding), providing a timely boost to the conservation efforts to save the species.

The natural range of the natterjack toad is restricted to the coastal zones of Castlemaine Harbour and Castlegregory in Co Kerry. The species suffered significant losses in range and population in the early 20th century due to land reclamation and changes in agricultural practises in these areas. Latest estimates put the population at less than 10,000 individuals in the wild. As a result the natterjack toad is considered to be endangered in Ireland and is protected under the EU’s Habitats Directive. NPWS efforts to address habitat loss for the toad have focussed on pond creation schemes, with some success. A new results-based farm plan scheme specifically for natterjack toads is now being rolled out by NPWS with local farmers.

Minister for Heritage and Electoral Reform, Malcolm Noonan TD, who visited Fota last year to see the conservation project for himself, was in Castlegregory on Monday morning to see the toadlets being returned to the wild. “This project is a fantastic example of scientists, conservationists and communities coming together to protect this rare amphibian and the habitat it depends on,” he said. “I want to commend my staff in NPWS, the team in Fota Wildlife Park and the nature lovers of Castlegregory for their efforts. I’m also delighted that local farmers can now benefit from a new results-based farm plan scheme specifically for Natterjack toads. This will pay farmers to manage their land in a way that helps ensure the conservation of this endangered species, and I hope that everyone will get involved.”

 

Welcoming the release, Dr Sean McKeown (Director of Fota Wildlife Park) said: “We’re delighted to be working with the NPWS on the recovery programme for the Natterjack toad. Fota is involved in breeding programmes for endangered species from all over the world, but we are particularly pleased to be able to support this project for a threatened species closer to home. This year’s release of Natterjack toadlets has been of greater significance for Fota as the toadlets being released were for the first time bred at Fota Wildlife Park”.

 

Predation of natterjack tadpoles is a significant cause of mortality in the wild. To avoid predators, natterjacks typically breed in shallow sunny ponds. However, these ponds are susceptible to drying up early. Desiccation of breeding ponds before metamorphosis accounts for significant mortality in Irish natterjacks in some years.

“The natterjack is a boom or bust species,” explained Dr Ferdia Marnell, the amphibian specialist in NPWS who has been overseeing the project. “And this year was not one of the good ones.  The captive rearing ensures that some eggs do make it through to toadlets every year and that is particularly important in dry years like this.” 

Notes 

There are only three amphibians in Ireland:   the common frog and the smooth newt are widespread. The natterjack toad is restricted to coastal areas of west Kerry.

Link to Irish Red Data Book which includes (on Page 47) useful information on natterjacks: https://www.npws.ie/sites/default/files/publications/pdf/RL5.pdf

The report from the most recent monitoring survey of Irish natterjacks can be accessed here: https://www.npws.ie/sites/default/files/publications/pdf/IWM107.pdf

Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage Press Office

Tel: (01) 888 2638 (direct)

Email: [email protected]

Website: gov.ie/housing

Twitter: @DeptHousingIRL

 

July 26, 2022

Minister Noonan encourages everyone who cares for injured wildlife to ensure they are compliant with the law

Minister Noonan encourages everyone who cares for injured wildlife to ensure they are compliant with the law

Minister of State for Heritage and Electoral Reform, Malcolm Noonan TD, has encouraged wildlife enthusiasts and rehabilitators who take care of our injured wildlife to ensure they are compliant with the law this summer by applying for the appropriate licence.

“We have some passionate and dedicated people in Ireland who go to great lengths to care for injured wildlife. They play a vital role in protecting wild species and do great service in bringing such issues to the attention of agencies such as the National Parks and Wildlife Service. I’d like to remind them, and anyone who looks after injured wild birds or protected wild animals, to ensure that they’ve secured the necessary licence from the NPWS,” Minister Noonan said.

“Without the tireless efforts of wildlife enthusiasts and rehabilitators in the community, I dread to think of the amount of injured wildlife that would be lost, either to injury or to predators, given their vulnerability. To ensure compliance with the law, it is essential that their work is done on a licensed footing and that is what we’re highlighting today.”

He outlined that applying for a licence has been streamlined, and in a bid to make the process even easier, the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) has released a new application format for those caring for our wildlife.

“The NPWS has upgraded their licencing process for the possession and/or retention of protected wild animals and wild birds under Sections 22 and 23 of the Wildlife Act 1976, and I would urge people to log onto npws.ie to find out more.”

The main change introduced is the splitting of one application form into two to allow for applicants to apply for the possession of wild birds or animals for rehabilitation purposes and, separately, in limited circumstances, to apply to retain such animals or birds that would be unlikely to survive unaided in the wild.

Also new is the introduction of an application form for a licence lasting 12 months aimed at experienced rehabilitators across the country who treat multiple cases on an ongoing basis.

Details of the new forms can be found on the NPWS website here:

https://www.npws.ie/licencesandconsents/possession/keep-injured-or-disabled-protected-wild-animal-or-bird

Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage Press Office

Tel: (01) 888 2638 (direct)

Email: [email protected]

Website: gov.ie/housing

Twitter: @DeptHousingIRL

July 20, 2022

Ministers announce Ambitious New Strategic Action Plan for the National Parks and Wildlife Service

Ministers announce Ambitious New Strategic Action Plan for the National Parks and Wildlife Service

Plan will see an additional €55 million invested in renewing the NPWS and the early recruitment of 60 key staff

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage Darragh O’Brien TD and Minister of State for Heritage and Electoral Reform Malcolm Noonan TD have published a Strategic Action Plan for the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) following Government approval. The Plan sets out an ambitious timeline for a full organisational restructuring of the NPWS, and a substantial €55m additional investment in the organisation across three budgetary cycles, together with the early recruitment of 60 key staff for critically important roles.

Launching the Strategic Action Plan in Ballykeeffe Nature Reserve in Co. Kilkenny, Minister Noonan said:

“The renewal of the National Parks and Wildlife Service is the keystone action in this Government’s response to the biodiversity emergency and I’m announcing a suite of strategic actions to transform the organisation, which have now been approved at Cabinet. 

“I’m delighted to confirm that the NPWS will be established as an Executive Agency, giving it a strong identity and voice to speak for nature. Its internal structures will be overhauled, delivering a stronger focus on external engagement and delivery of outcomes. New Directorates, organised along functional lines, will benefit from the early recruitment of 60 key staff for critically important roles. 

“I’ve already increased NPWS funding to €47m in 2022 – a total increase of 64% since I became Minister – bringing it back up to a level not seen since before the financial crisis. Today, I’m proud to announce that Government has endorsed future underpinning investment of up to €55m over the coming three budgetary cycles to realise this plan”

This funding commitment will enable the NPWS to embrace Ireland’s ambitions for nature and help us begin to turn the tide on biodiversity loss.”

This Strategic Action Plan aims to deliver an NPWS that is more resilient, better resourced, and better equipped to play its part in Ireland’s response to the biodiversity emergency, on the national and international stage. The Plan will equip the NPWS with the organisational capability and supporting structures to enable it to deliver its mandate in protecting our natural heritage.

Launching the plan, Minister Darragh O’Brien said:

“The NPWS has a proud history, and despite being a relatively small organisation of some four hundred people, carries a complex range of responsibilities, ranging from significant policy and advisory functions, to operational responsibilities in our National Parks, conservation, enforcement, licensing, biodiversity protection and as a statutory consultee on planning. 

It is vital that we have a resilient and effective NPWS to perform all of those functions. I am very pleased that we now have Government approval for this Strategic Action Plan, which will provide the momentum to build on the very significant gains which, working with the Minister of State, I have been able to secure for the organisation in the past two budgets, bringing its funding, for the first time since the financial crisis, back to pre-2008 levels. I am happy too for the dedicated and expert team who have sustained the NPWS through so many years – with the implementation of this Strategic Action Plan, the future of the NPWS looks bright.”

Minister Noonan added:

“I would like to thank the more than three thousand people who contributed to this vitally important review process – members of the public, stakeholders, and NPWS staff themselves. I would especially like to commend the independent authors whose work the Action Plan is designed to implement – Professor Jane Stout of Trinity College Dublin and Dr Micheal Ó Cinnéide, who delivered first phase of the Review, and former Secretary General Gerry Kearney, who completed the concluding phases. Our Strategic Action Plan is the considered outcome of their deliberations and of all your input.”

Today’s announcement fulfils an important commitment in the Programme for Government, providing for a significant investment in, and a renewal of, the National Parks and Wildlife Service. This renewal is underpinned by a comprehensive, expert review of the organisation, which has now been completed by independent authors. The Strategic Action Plan is designed to implement and deliver upon the recommendations made by the review, which are as follows:

Governance 

  1. Establish the NPWS as an executive agency within a Government department.
    2. Change the NPWS internal structure, so that it is fit to meet current and future challenges.
    3. Reconfigure the top management team within the restructured NPWS.
    4. Establish permanent standing committees, on a cross-functional basis across the new directorates, to address longstanding, multifaceted, complex matters.

People

  1. Fundamentally overhaul and improve HR capability and practice within NPWS.
    6. Set up an expert group, drawing on international expertise in organisations with a similar remit to the NPWS, to establish the human resourcing requirement of the NPWS on an international, best-practice basis.

Legal

  1. Bring forward legislation to provide updated and stronger, statutory underpinnings for our National Parks and the work of the NPWS in protecting and conserving threatened and endangered animals, plants and habitats in the State.

Communications and ICT

  1. Overhaul and fundamentally transform the way NPWS communicates, both internally and externally.
    9. Put in place a new, renewed and improved programme of Engagement, Awareness and Education by NPWS.
    10. Transform ICT. The CIO Office in the Department of Housing Local Government and Heritage has brought forward a four staged process and pathway to transform ICT within NPWS and over the next three years.

Other recommendations

  1. Consider a wider examination of the remits of the broader constellation of State actors with significant responsibilities in relation to Biodiversity and Climate action.
    12. NPWS should engage with other public bodies operating alongside it in the wider sector, to help ensure that each is playing its own part, according to its remit and responsibilities, and fulfilling its statutory responsibilities in relation to the protection of nature and biodiversity.
    13. Recruit  to a number of key  posts in NPWS immediately, additional to the filling of current vacancies, where these are needed to mitigate critical risks to the interests of the State.
    14. Conduct an assessment of the grading of technical and regional posts by reference to comparable posts across the Irish public service.
    15. Establish a new Engagement, Corporate and Specialist supports directorate.

The priority recruitment of 60 staff in key roles including rangers, scientists, general operatives and key managerial, HR specialists commences as a matter of urgency following this Government decision.

The Strategic Action Plan and accompanying documents can be found at:

https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/fbb81-national-parks-and-wildlife-service-strategic-action-plan-and-review

ENDS

 

Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage Press Office

Tel: (01) 888 2638 (direct)

Email: [email protected]

Website: gov.ie/housing

Twitter: @DeptHousingIRL

May 4, 2022

Corncrake LIFE: new €5.9m EU-funded conservation project aims to deliver a 20% increase in Corncrake population  

Corncrake LIFE: new €5.9m EU-funded conservation project aims to deliver a 20% increase in Corncrake population  

A new €5.9m EU-funded LIFE project overseen by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage was launched in Gort a Choirce in Co. Donegal last Friday March 25th by Minister of State for Heritage and Electoral Reform Malcolm Noonan TD and Minister of State with responsibility for land use and biodiversity at the Department of Agriculture Food and the Marine Pippa Hackett TD. The project aims to revive the fortunes of the corncrake and ensure it remains a part of rural landscapes for years to come.

The project team will operate at coastal and island locations in Donegal, Mayo and Galway as well as associated farmland. Over a five-year period, Corncrake LIFE will work collaboratively with farmers and landowners to improve the landscape for the highly endangered bird.  Measures will includes creating and maintaining areas of early and late cover, wildlife friendly mowing of grass, provision of refuge areas during meadow harvesting and incentivising later cutting dates. By the end of the five year project, the aim is to deliver a 20% increase on the 2018 population of Corncrake recorded in Ireland.

Locally-based field officers will provide guidance, direction and support to landowners while community engagement officers will work with stakeholders to establish the corncrake as an asset to the areas it frequents. Knowledge exchange groups and targeted schools programmes will be utilized to highlight the needs of the corncrake and create awareness of its endangerment.

The project is collaborating with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology, Údarás na Gaeltachta and Fota Wildlife Park and will explore innovations such as flushing bars fitted to tractors to scare birds away from mowers, thermal imaging drones to find nests, and passive acoustic monitoring using high-tech microphones in an attempt to help locate the highly elusive birds.

Corncrake is a species listed for special protection under Annex 1 of the EU Birds Directive. Once synonymous with the Irish countryside, the population of Corncrake has declined by 85% since the 1970s, with a similar decrease in range, meaning that the species is now effectively confined to Connacht and Donegal, including offshore islands. Supporting Corncrake in these remaining strongholds is critical to the survival of this species in Ireland. Only 188 calling male corncrakes were recorded across Ireland in 2021.

Speaking at the launch Minister Noonan said:

‘The call of the corncrake was once a ubiquitous sound in meadows and grasslands across the island of Ireland. However, rapid changes to farming practices in the 1970’s spelled doom for the bird. The award of this funding demonstrates the ongoing importance of the EU LIFE programme in supporting conservation projects that have a regional or local focus, particularly in rural or peripheral areas. This funding will allow my Department, working in conjunction with stakeholders across Government and the communities in question, to put measures in place to help secure the future of this species, which remains a high conservation priority at a national and European level’. 

Minister Hackett added:

“Given the fact that the Corncrake relies so much on habitats used for agricultural reasons, I am delighted that the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine is a key partner in the Corncrake LIFE project. My Department’s involvement reflects our increasing awareness that we need a more a cooperative approach to agri-ecology in our landscape. I was delighted to be able to secure additional funding recently for the results-based element of the Corncrake LIFE project.  The use of scorecards to help steer and inform farmers as to what is on their lands is a very practical way of helping to advise farmers how to manage their practices to the benefit of the environment.” 

Dr. John Carey of the National Parks and Wildlife Service who manages the project said:

“The efforts will focus primarily on a combination of habitat creation and restoration, although some new and innovative approaches to corncrake conservation will be explored. The project will be developing knowledge exchange groups with farmers and advisors to share information on how to create and maintain high quality corncrake habitats and ensure that landowners can maximise their potential to receive rewards under the results-based pilot scheme.”

ENDS

Notes 

Corncrake is listed as a protected species on Annex I of the Birds Directive. The Corncrake’s breeding range extend from Ireland to Asiatic Russia in the northern hemisphere. The Corncrake winters in southern and eastern Africa, migrating northwards to arrive on its breeding grounds from early April onwards and departing again in August and September. Due to the large decreases in both numbers and range, it is on the Birds of Conservation Concern in Ireland (BoCCI) list.

Corncrakes require managed habitat throughout the breeding season. Corncrakes require the cover of tall vegetation (>20cm) and are strongly associated with meadows which are traditionally harvested once a year in late summer, where they nest and feed. Annual cutting creates a sward with an open structure, which is easy for the birds to move through, but harvesting means they must find alternative cover adjacent to meadows later in the season. Farming therefore plays a key role in the establishment, maintenance and conservation of Corncrake habitat.

For more information on the project you can contact [email protected] or following them on Twitter @CorncrakeLIFE

March 28, 2022

Heather cutting on the Knockmealdown Mountains

Heather cutting on the Knockmealdown Mountains

IFA Countryside were recently invited by ABGN Gun Club as they carried out vital conservation work on the glorious Knockmealdown mountains.  Also invited was Senator Garrett Ahearn.  AGBN raised concerns with Senator Ahearn about the ability to burn heather.

AGBN demonstrated how they manage the heather for one of our iconic game birds; the Irish Red grouse. In ideal conditions, strips of 10 metres wide and 100 metres long would be burned in a controlled manner before the deadline of 1st March.  Burning the heather provides a balance of both young and old heather which is essential for its survival.   Grouse feed mainly on heather.  The heather needs to be healthy and vibrant.  An ideal crop would have several stages of growth in any given area.

ABGN had been using controlled burning of the heather since 2004 but in the last number of years, adverse weather conditions involving heavy rainfall meant that this was not possible.  The Gun Club were adamant that this vital conservation work should continue so they found another method of controlling the heather.  They purchased a mulching head which is attached onto a hymac thus allowing mowing to take place even in adverse weather.

ABGN Gun Club had previously raised concerns with Senator Ahearn about extending the burning dates to allow them to burn the heather. They invited the Senator out to witness first hand their conservation efforts and the value of heather management. 

Many thanks to all members of ABGN Gun Club on their fantastic work in stabilising and indeed increasing grouse numbers on the Knockmealdown mountains.  Long may it continue.

March 23, 2022