Download Nature and Wildlife in Roscommon - The Heritage Council
Download Nature and Wildlife in Roscommon - The Heritage Council
Download Nature and Wildlife in Roscommon - The Heritage Council
You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles
YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.
iNtroductioN<br />
roscommoN<br />
<strong>Roscommon</strong> is an <strong>in</strong>l<strong>and</strong> county with a wealth of nature <strong>and</strong><br />
wildlife, <strong>and</strong> natural amenities. <strong>The</strong> l<strong>and</strong>scape is generally<br />
low-ly<strong>in</strong>g with gently roll<strong>in</strong>g hills <strong>and</strong> vistas. <strong>The</strong> only upl<strong>and</strong><br />
areas <strong>in</strong> <strong>Roscommon</strong> are to the north of the county where<br />
the l<strong>and</strong> rises above 250m <strong>in</strong> places. Most of the county is<br />
underla<strong>in</strong> by carboniferous limestone although there are<br />
a few pockets of s<strong>and</strong>stone <strong>in</strong> the north, west <strong>and</strong> east of<br />
the county. <strong>The</strong> mighty River Shannon borders the county<br />
to the east while the River Suck flows along its western <strong>and</strong><br />
southern borders. <strong>The</strong> climate, geology, soil, topography,<br />
<strong>and</strong> l<strong>and</strong> use history of <strong>Roscommon</strong> are the ma<strong>in</strong> factors<br />
that determ<strong>in</strong>e the rich variety of habitats, plants <strong>and</strong><br />
animals that are found <strong>in</strong> the county.<br />
4<br />
Leaf of <strong>in</strong>sect-eat<strong>in</strong>g plant, sundew.<br />
Photo by John Earley<br />
Biodiversity<br />
Biodiversity is life <strong>and</strong> all liv<strong>in</strong>g th<strong>in</strong>gs! Biodiversity can be<br />
thought of as another term for nature, wildlife. It is our<br />
natural heritage. Biodiversity <strong>in</strong>cludes all plants, animals,<br />
fungi <strong>and</strong> microbes. It also <strong>in</strong>cludes people. Biodiversity<br />
also refers to the places that plants <strong>and</strong> animals live<br />
(habitats), the <strong>in</strong>teractions among liv<strong>in</strong>g th<strong>in</strong>gs as they live,<br />
reproduce <strong>and</strong> die (the web of life), <strong>and</strong> their relationship<br />
with the environment. <strong>The</strong> term biodiversity emphasises<br />
the importance of ma<strong>in</strong>ta<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g the variety of liv<strong>in</strong>g th<strong>in</strong>gs<br />
because this diversity is fundamental to our health, wellbe<strong>in</strong>g<br />
<strong>and</strong> economy.<br />
Biodiversity forms the build<strong>in</strong>g blocks of the liv<strong>in</strong>g<br />
world. It is all around us <strong>in</strong> the countryside, from the tops<br />
of mounta<strong>in</strong>s to the depths of the ocean, <strong>in</strong> fields <strong>and</strong><br />
hedgerows, lakes <strong>and</strong> rivers, woodl<strong>and</strong> <strong>and</strong> wetl<strong>and</strong>s.<br />
Biodiversity is also found <strong>in</strong> our cities <strong>and</strong> towns, on<br />
rooftops, <strong>in</strong> gardens, parks <strong>and</strong> green spaces; along canals,<br />
<strong>in</strong> ditches <strong>and</strong> even the smallest of puddles. Where there is<br />
life there is biodiversity.