NPWS, Sept 2022
National Parks & Wildlife Service (NPWS)
Hen Harrier Conservation and the Wind Energy Sector in Ireland
Monitoring of vegetation change through permanent woodland plots in Killarney National Park: A 30-year review
Lough Ree UNESCO Biosphere Reserve Proposal
The NPWS requires services for the research and mapping of a proposed Biosphere Reserve, public consultation phase and completion of UNESCO standard application documents for submission to NPWS.
Enhanced Decommissioning Rehabilitation and Restoration Scheme (EDRRS) Reports
Received via AIE, Nov 2022
Quarterly Reports – Bord Na Mona (January 2022 to Sept 2022)
NPWS Resource Catalogue – Project and Resource Metadata
Form gives a handy breakdown of the database schema for NPWS projects
Vegetation Survey and Impact Assessment for Blanket Bog Restoration Pilot Project in Wicklow Mts. Nat. Park
This RFT is for the provision of habitat and plant community mapping and establishment of baseline vegetation monitoring plots (quadrats) and production of an impact statement on proposed restoration works on the qualifying interest and site specific conservation objectives of the SAC and SPA.
This work is required for the ‘Wicklow Mountains National Park Blanket Bog Pilot Restoration Project’ which is funded by DHLGH assisted by a grant contribution from Intel Corporation.
The pilot project aims to address the deterioration in ecohydrological condition and functioning of selected areas of blanket bog (total c. 86.4 ha) within the upper Liffey River catchment near Sallygap, in the National Park and SAC (Site Code 002122).
The project will carry out restoration measures including works to rewet selected areas of bog by drain blocking in late 2022 and early 2023.
Lead-in scientific studies commenced in 2021 with installation of monitoring instrumentation for recording baseline/pre-works data on hydrology and GHG emissions
Tender: Restoration management of Liffey Head Bog, Wicklow Mountains SAC
The Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (DHLGH) provides the legislative and policy framework for the conservation of nature and biodiversity in Ireland. It also oversees its implementation, based on good science, with particular emphasis on the protection of habitats and species.
The National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage manages the Irish State’s nature conservation responsibilities under national and European law. A particular responsibility of the NPWS is the designation and protection of Special Areas of Conservation (SACs), Special Protection Areas (SPAs) and Natural Heritage Areas (NHAs). NPWS and Intel Corporation are currently collaborating on an ecological restoration project on Liffey Head blanket bog in the Wicklow Mountains Special Area of Conservation (SAC), which is part of the Wicklow Mountains National Park (WMNP).
The WMNP covers an area of 20,000 ha and most of the Park is designated as a SAC and Special Protection Area (SPA) under the European Union (EU) Habitats and Birds Directives respectively. The SAC includes a deep upland blanket system known as the Liffeyhead blanket bog that is one of best remaining areas of mountain blanket bog in eastern Ireland, with important flora and fauna and an extensive system of bog pools. Areas of this headwater bog have suffered drainage and desiccation and thus require rewetting by drain blocking and other measures to raise the lowered water levels to allow recovery of bog ecology.
The NPWS-Intel project has been ongoing since 2021, and is focused on c. 60 Ha of degraded blanket bog, in an area that straddles the Military Road between Kippure Mountain and Sally Gap (the pilot area). A number of field investigations (hydrology, geophysics/geotechnical, ecological, greenhouse gas emissions) have been conducted and the baseline conditions of the identified restoration area have been established.
Link https://irl.eu-supply.com/ctm/Supplier/PublicPurchase/224321/1
AIE Request: NPWS forestry and felling licencing referrals received from the Forest Service during 2022 (for sample counties, Wicklow and Leitrim)
Includes “general observations from the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) in relation to forestry application referrals”
AIE-063-2022
Request for
- a copy of all site reports and related information produced by conservation and
ecological staff of the NPWS as a result of forestry and felling licencing referrals
received from the Forest Service during 2022 for counties Wicklow and Leitrim that
are logged on the DATS - a copy of all submissions made to the Forest Service in response to forestry and
felling licencing referrals received during the same period for counties Wicklow and
Leitrim. This can exclude no comment responses but include one example of a
standard email response issued to the Forest Service for no comments.
Proposal to clearfell Sitka Spruce plantation at Conaghil & Kilcoosy townlands, Co. Leitrim
NPWS Recommendation: This proposed development should be screened for appropriate
assessment based on the considerations outlined above as per Regulation 42(1) of the 2011
Birds and Natural Habitats Regulations
Felling Licence Application TFL00769822 at Drumrane, Co. Leitrim
NPWS Recommendation: This proposed development should be screened for appropriate assessment based on the considerations outlined above as per Regulation 42(1) of the 2011 Birds and Natural Habitats Regulations.
Application for felling licence reference number TFL00801122 at Corrachuill Townland, Co. Leitrim.
The application provides insufficient information to be assessed properly with regard to its potential impacts on protected species (See Section 1):
o The application does not provide the information required and outlined in the Forest Harvesting and Environment Guidelines (2000).
o The application does not provide the information required and outlined in the Felling and Reforestation Policy (2017).
o The application does not provide information on the presence/absence of species protected under the Wildlife Act (1976, as amended) within the application site.
o The application site region is known to host Red squirrel, Common Buzzard and other passerine species.
o There are concerns for the stream and water course which flow by the boundary to the northern side of the application lands. This boundary forms a wooded historic Townland border.
o There is no reference or recognition to the historic infield boundaries within the plot 432
o There are concerns for the lakeshore and riparian Woodland/scrubland which occur around a significant portion of the plot 432. These have not been identified within the felling application documents submitted.
o Concerns for possible replanting of conifers along the northern stream side border of the lands.
Application for TFL felling licence reference number TFL 00806322 Kilnamaddyroe Townland, Co. Leitrim
The application provides insufficient information to be assessed properly with regard to its potential impacts on protected species (See Section 1).
o The application does not provide the information required and outlined in the Forest Harvesting and Environment Guidelines (2000).
o The application does not provide the information required and outlined in the Felling and Reforestation Policy (2017).
o The application does not provide information on the presence/absence of species protected under the Wildlife Act (1976, as amended) within the application site.
o The application area is now known to host Common Buzzard, Mistle Thrust and other passerine species
Application for TFL felling licence reference number TFL 00806522 Murhaun Townland, Co. Leitrim
Application for felling licence reference number TFL00807822 at Cornaroy Townland, Co. Leitrim.
Application for licence reference number TFL 00819822 Driny Townland, Co. Leitrim, clearfelling of .75 Ha of Sitka Spruce
Re: Proposal to clearfell broadleaves and Sitka Spruce at Askill, Co. Leitrim
Location; Derrinivver Co. Leitrim.
NPWS have reviewed this CN84099 file which has been re-submitted by FS Dept. Ecologist due to the area being recognised as a regionally important (non- designated) area for Hen Harrier.
Application: thinning and clearfell of 9.86 ha of Norwary spruce, Scots Pine and Sitka Spruce
Location: Athdown, Wicklow
Sample standard form NPWS reply (No Comment Letter) to Forest Service
General observations from the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) in relation to forestry application referrals
PCAS Risk Register (Bord na Mona peatland rehabilitation)
Released under a request under the AIE Regulations for an internal review of the decision to partially refuse access to records under AIE 043-2022
Notes:
- Illegal (including established) turf cutting associated with areas to be rehabbed. Control measures to mitigate this risk are redacted
- Legal challenge to Regulatory Approvals. Control measures are a) Obtain legal advice to confirm that EDRRS is in full compliance with P&D Act 2000 and the EU (Birds and habitats) Regs 2011, the Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) Directive, b) Prepare robust legal argument for planning exemption and ensure compliance with requirements outlined; c) Robust Community Engagement and Stakeholder management to address concerns and remove motivation for challenge. d) Appoint planning consultants to prepare report for each bog. e) NPWS and DECC to discuss outcomes of Commission queries re EIA
- The area of the scheme reduces below the 32,779 hectares as set out in the Regulatory control document. Control measures are, a) Where potential future development/ infrastructure and surrouding buffer zone is identified as a constraint area in the rehab plans which will not be included in EDRRS then BnM will ensure that alternative land is identified to ensure that the scheme does not fall below the 32,779 hectares as per the Regulatory Control document. b) Proactive engagement by BnM land and Habitats with other BnM Business Units to in relation to constrained areas and buffers at an early stage; c) Inclusion of additional peatlands in EDRRs scheme (originally excluded for ongoing peat production) to replace potential loss of lands due to other projects; d) Early identification of areas for rehabilitation on an annual basis – 9 to 12 months in advance of rehab commencement.
- Discharge of peat into waterways due flooding events.
- Lack of compliance with EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES (ACCESS TO INFORMATION ON THE ENVIRONMENT) REGULATIONS 2007 2014 , in particular Article 5
- Negative impacts on drainage in neighbouring lands with risk of third party flooding being blamed on rehab measures. Note: Where pumps are to be retained – they are to be maintained
- Damage to EDRRS rehabilitation work and due to other developments undertaken on the same site which would negatively impact the projected outcomes of the EDRRS work
- Delays to Approval process for work within SACs, SPAs or NHAs
- Delay incurred due to the complexity of assessing and approving EDRRS rehab plans on sites where there are other complex infrastructure works at design, construction or operational stage e.g. windfarms , solar farms. The difficulty of assessing the likely impact of one project on the other as regards the intended outcomes re EDRRS