Biodiversity Action Plan - Waterford County Council

Conserving our Natural HeritageCounty Waterford Local Biodiversity Action PlanAg Sabháil ár nOidhreacht NadúrthaPlean Bithéagsúlachta Chontae Phort Láirge2008 - 2013

AcknowledgementsWaterford County Council wishes to acknowledge the generous support ofthe Heritage Council in the preparation of the plan and also for provision offunding for the implementation of the Biodiversity Action Plan in 2008.Publication compiled by Mieke Mullyaert and Dominic Berridge (formerHeritage Officer) and edited by Bernadette Guest, Heritage OfficerUse of images kindly permitted by Andrew Kelly, Mike Trewby, BrianWhite, Dr. Liam Lysaght, Dr. Peter Turner, Dr. Shelia Donegan, DominicBerridge, Andrew Byrne, Catherine Keena, and Will Woodrow.Publication designed and produced by Intacta Print Ltd.For further information on the Waterford Biodiversity Plan andBiodiversity projects contact the heritage officer atbguest@waterfordcoco.ie or www.waterfordcoco.ie/heritageCover photographs: Pair of Chough, Pine Marten (Andrew Kelly)Red Squirrel (Brian White), Coastal earth bank (Mike Trewby)Back cover photograph: Panorama of Dungarvan Bay (Bernadette Guest)

ContentsA vision for biodiversity in County Waterford 41. Introduction 5The landscape of County Waterford 5What is biodiversity? 5Why is biodiversity important? 5Why a biodiversity action plan? 6The process by which the plan was developed 7Plan structure 7Who is the plan for? 72. Policies and legislation 8Biodiversity and the Local Authority 8Waterford County Development Plan 8Legislation relating to biodiversity 93. Overview of biodiversity of County Waterford 11Special biodiversity features of the county 11Biodiversity of local interest 154. Information deficiencies and threats to biodiversity 19Where we need more information 19Where biodiversity is under pressure 19Where we need greater awareness 215. The Action Plan - actions for biodiversity in Waterford 22Existing action for biodiversity in County Waterford 23Actions for biodiversity in County Waterford 2008 - 2013 24Monitoring and review of the plan 27Bibliography 28Appendices 31Appendix 1 Nature Conservation Areas in County Waterford 31Appendix 2 List of consultees who contributed to the draft plan 34Appendix 3 Glossary of terms 35Appendix 4 Members of County Waterford Heritage Forumand Cultural and Heritage Strategic Policy Committee 36C O U N T Y W AT E R F O R D LO C A L B I O D I V E R S I T Y A C T I O N P L A N1

ForewordC O U N T Y W AT E R F O R D LO C A L B I O D I V E R S I T Y A C T I O N P L A NDr. Tom Higgins, MayorAs County Mayor I am proud to be associated with thepublication of this Local Biodiversity Action Plan. This planis the first such plan for biodiversity in County Waterfordand provides for an integrated and partnership approachto conserving and enhancing our biodiversity.The Biodiversity Plan is the result of a consultative processinvolving the County Heritage Forum, agencies andorganisations charged with protecting natural heritage andthe community. The Strategic Policy Committee for CulturalHeritage and the Council have now endorsed the Plan andundertaken to support and facilitate its implementation.On behalf of Waterford Co. Council I wish to thank themembers of the Heritage Forum, the many agencies andindividuals who made submissions to the plan and to theHeritage Council who provided support for preparing theplan and I look forward to its implementation over the nextfive years.An Dr. Tomás Ó hUiginn, MéaraMar Mhéara an Chontae, tá mé bródúil as baint a bheithagam le foilsiú an Phlean Gníomhaíochta umBithéagsúlacht Áitiúil seo. Seo an chéad phlean dá leithéadseo do bhithéagsúlacht i gContae Phort Láirge agusdéanann sé socrú i dtaobh chur chuige comhtháite aguscomhpháirtíochta ar mhaithe lenár mbithéagsúlacht achaomhnú agus a fheabhsú.Cuireadh an Plean Bithéagsúlacht seo le chéile tar éis duli mbun próisis chomhairligh leis na rannpháirtithe seo aleanas: Fóram Oidhreachta an Chontae agus gníomhairíagus eagraíochtaí a bhfuil sé de chúram orthu anoidhreacht nádúrtha agus an pobal a chosaint. Tá anCoiste um Beartais Straitéiseacha d’Oidhreacht Chultúrthaagus an Chomhairle tar éis tacú leis an bPlean agus tá siadtar éis gealladh go dtabharfaidh siad tacaíocht agus éascúdo chur i bhfeidhm an phlean.Ar son Chomhairle Contae Phort Láirge, ba mhaith liombuíochas a ghabháil le baill an Fhóraim Oidhreachta, nahiliomad gníomhairí agus daoine aonaracha a churaighneachtaí isteach ar an bplean agus an ChomhairleOidhreachta a thug tacaíocht d’ullmhúchán an phlean agustá mé ag súil le cur i bhfeidhm an phlean seo sna cúigbliana amach romhainn.2

RéamhráMr. Ray O’Dwyer County ManagerThe diversity of County Waterford’s natural heritage isevident from the many accounts of flora and fauna thathave been documented since the 12 th century: fromGiraldus Cambrensis to Dr. Charles Smith, WilliamThompson, Richard Ussher and more recently theextensive and valuable work of Michael O’Meara. We arefortunate to live in a county with such a wide variety ofhabitats and species but also to have people who realisedthe significance of this diversity and had the foresight tokeep account of species and their conservation status.Recent developments in policy and legislation forbiodiversity thus complement the practice of recordingnature and wildlife in the county. The establishment of theNational Biodiversity Data Centre in Waterford is an excitingdevelopment in the promotion of biodiversity awarenessand research.I am delighted that Waterford Co. Council has adoptedthis Plan to deliver practical action to conserve and manageour biodiversity. Our identity as a county and itsattractiveness as a place in which to live and work issustained by the distinctive natural landscape around uswhich provide the setting for our biodiversity. This Plan isevidence of a commitment to ensure the maintenance andprotection of our biodiversity and work with other agenciesin a shared responsibility for this task. By highlighting themany other living things that we share our county with werealise the importance of incorporating biodiversity into themanagement of our natural resources. I believe much canbe achieved by the local authority, one of the manystakeholders involved in this plan and look forward to thedelivery of biodiversity projects in County Waterford in thenext five years.Ré Ó Duibhir, Bainisteoir an ChontaeTá an éagsúlacht a bhaineann le hoidhreacht nádúrthaChontae Phort Láirge soiléir le feiscint ó na cuntais ar fadatá tugtha ar fauna agus flora ón 12ú aois i leith: ó GiraldusCambrensis go dtí an Dr. Charles Smith, WilliamThompson, Richard Ussher agus, níos déanaí obairfhairsing agus luachmhar Michael O’Meara. Tá an t-ádh linngo bhfuilimid inár gcónaí i gcontae ina bhfuil an méid sincineálacha de ghnáthóga agus speicis, agus tá an t-ádhlinn chomh maith go raibh daoine ann a thuig cé chomhtábhachtach is a bhí an éagsúlacht seo agus a raibh anfadbhreathnaitheacht acu chun cuntas a choimeád ar naspeicis agus a stádas caomhantais. Tá na forbairtí adeineadh le déanaí i bpolasaí agus i reachtaíocht igcomhair bhithéagsúlachta mar chomhlánú ar angcleachtas atá ann taifead a dhéanamh ar dhúlra agus arfhiadhúlra an chontae. Is forbairt spreagúil í bunú an IonaidNáisiúnta le Sonraí Bithéagsúlachta i bPort Láirge maidir leTaighde agus Feasacht na mBithéagsúlachta a chur chuncinn.Tá áthas orm gur ghlac Comhairle Contae Phort Láirge leisan bPlean seo ar mhaithe le gníomhaíocht phraiticiúil athabhairt isteach chun ar mbithéagsúlacht a chaomhnúagus a bhainistiú. Cothaíonn an tírdhreach nádúrtha faoileith atá timpeall orainn ár n-aitheantas mar chontae agustarraingt an chontae mar áit le cónaí agus le hobair ann,rudaí a fheidhmíonn mar bhunús dár mbithéagsúlacht.Fianaise is ea an plean seo go bhfuil tiomantas anncothabháil agus caomhnú ár mbithéagsúlacht a chinntiú,chun comhoibriú le gníomhairí eile chun freagrachtchomhroinnte a ghlacadh don tasc seo. Trí aibhsiú adhéanamh ar an mbeatha ar fad lena roinnimid ár gcontae,tuigimid cé chomh tábhachtach is atá sé an bithéagsúlachta ionchorprú isteach i mbainistíocht ár n-acmhainnínádúrtha. Creidim gur féidir leis an údarás áitiúil, atá archeann de na hiliomad páirtithe leasmhara atá páirteach saphlean seo, an-chuid a bhaint amach agus táim ag súil leteacht chun cinn na dtionscadal bithéagsúlachta i gContaePhort Láirge sna cúig bliana amach romhainn.C O U N T Y W AT E R F O R D LO C A L B I O D I V E R S I T Y A C T I O N P L A N3

A vision for biodiversity in County WaterfordThis is the first Biodiversity Action Plan for County Waterford. Its aim is to contribute to the conservation andenhancement of natural heritage in Waterford for the benefit of people and wildlife in the county. The plan isunderpinned by the international Convention on Biological Diversity, which has three main goals: the conservationof biological diversity, the sustainable use of its components, and the fair and equitable sharing of the benefitsfrom the use of genetic resources.In today’s world of rapid development and human population growth, the pressures on our natural resources are everincreasing. Globally, nationally and in County Waterford, this is seen in habitat removal and damage, the introduction ofnon-native invasive species to new areas, and loss of species and habitats. To continue as we are without thought to thefuture would be to leave a poorer environment for future generations of our own species and the many other species withwhich we share the county.This plan for County Waterford shares the goals of the Convention, and translates them into actions that will help toconserve Waterford’s biodiversity into the future, to the benefit of both people and wildlife. Three main strands of actionare found in the plan: (i) carrying out research and surveys to fill in gaps in our knowledge; (ii) raising awareness ofWaterford’s natural heritage; and (iii) implementing measures that will actively conserve and enhance the natural heritageof the county.C O U N T Y W AT E R F O R D LO C A L B I O D I V E R S I T Y A C T I O N P L A NAs such, the plan recognises and draws together the wide range of ongoing work that is already being carried out byWaterford County Council and other state and semi-state bodies, non-governmental organisations and voluntary groups,businesses and farmers, and individuals, who are contributing to the knowledge and conservation of County Waterford’sbiodiversity. By bringing these together, the plan can help to identify, co-ordinate and prioritise the important actions forCounty Waterford.Acting to conserve and enhance biodiversity is an ongoing process, of which this plan is a part. The very process by whichthis document is drawn together helps to define a vision of how we want Waterford’s biodiversity to stand in the future.4

1. IntroductionThe landscape of County WaterfordWaterford possesses a diverse landscape, from theuplands of the Comeraghs and Knockmealdowns to thecoastal cliffs; from the fast-flowing upper reaches of theColligan River, to the sluggish tidal waters of the Brickey.Most of the county is underlain by acid rock types such assandstone, slate and volcanic rocks, with limestone foundin the Brickey and Blackwater valleys. Soils too arepredominantly of acid types, though in general the lowlandareas are very suitable for agriculture. On a broad scaleWaterford is linked to its neighbouring counties by suchfeatures as the shared uplands of the Knockmealdownsand the river corrdiors and estuaries of the Suir andBlackwater.The variety in landscape is inextricably linked to the rangeof natural heritage found in the county. Blanket bog with itsspecies adapted to wet acid conditions is found in theComeragh and Monavullagh mountains, while saltmarsh isfound along the slow-flowing tidal reaches of the Brickey. Atthe time of the arrival of the first farmers most of Waterfordwould have been covered with broadleaf woodland; this isnow much more limited in extent, with the best examplesbeing found in places like the Nire Valley and Glendine. Thewoodlands are linked by the network of hedges planted byour more recent ancestors and retained by today’s farmers,where woodland plants and animals can survive. The riversprovide a diverse range of habitats, from their fast-flowingupland courses, home to tiny mosses and liverworts whichsurvive in the damp rocky crevices, to the deep, slowmovinglowland waters where reeds and marsh vegetationare used by insects, birds and fish.The Convention on Biological Diversitydefines biodiversity as ‘the variability among livingorganisms from all sources including, inter alia, terrestrial,marine and other aquatic ecosystems and the ecologicalcomplexes of which they are part; this includes diversitywithin species, between species and of ecosystems.’What is biodiversity?‘Biological’ means ‘of living organisms’. ‘Diversity’ means‘variety’. Biodiversity is short for ‘biological diversity’ and isa word used to mean the variety of all living things on earth.The ‘natural heritage’ of Waterford encompasses all thebiodiversity found in the county.Biodiversity includes the whole variety of plants, animalsand micro-organisms found on earth, of which there aremillions of species. A species is usually taken as the basicunit of biological classification, and a generally accepteddefinition of a species is ‘a group of organisms capable ofinterbreeding and producing fertile offspring’, e.g. the redsquirrel is a species.Within species, there is also genetic diversity which we seeexpressed as different varieties, subspecies, breeds etc.For example, the Irish stoat has been found here for at least35,000 years and is sufficiently different to stoats elsewhereso as to be considered a unique Irish subspecies.On the broader scale, populations of different species livingin any one area form communities which interact with eachother and with the physical environment to give rise tohabitats and ecosystems. For example, the RiverBlackwater ecosystem is an interaction between the waterwhich provides the aquatic environment, the different soiltypes which affect the amounts of minerals and nutrients inthe water, the community of plant species along the bankand in the river that take up nutrients and provide food forinsects and birds, and the different fish that feed on someof those insects, plants, and each other. Human beings arepart of this ecosystem and constantly interact with it, forexample as we abstract water from it for daily use; putnutrients and other substances into it through our wastewater, fertilisers and road run-off; use it as an amenity forfishing, boating and walking; and alter drainage patternsalong it to facilitate our use of the floodplain fordevelopment and agriculture.When talking about biodiversity and actions to conserve it,we generally mean the variety of life that is naturally foundin any one area, i.e. our native biodiversity. In Ireland, nativespecies are usually taken as those which arrived here undertheir own steam without any help from humans. In generalmost of our native species have colonised Ireland since thelast glaciation roughly 10,000 years ago and overthousands of years have grouped naturally to form ournative ecosystems, e.g. oak-birch-holly woodland. In theintervening period some species which would have beenvery unlikely to colonise Ireland by themselves have eitheraccidentally or deliberately made their way into Ireland withhuman help; for example, sycamore trees were introducedaround the 16 th century and have since spread into nativewoodlands over the space of a few hundred years. Many ofthe plants and invertebrates that have evolved to live in ournative woodlands cannot survive where sycamore hastaken over, and this results in a loss of diversity.Why is biodiversity important?It is the combination of life forms and their interactions witheach other and with the rest of the environment that hasmade Earth a uniquely habitable place for humans. It iseasy to forget the relevance of biodiversity to our everydaylives.One of the most obvious uses of biodiversity is in theprovision of food – vegetables, fruit, grains, meat, and dairyproducts – where the diversity of living organisms, adaptedto the climate and local conditions in any region, sustainsC O U N T Y W AT E R F O R D LO C A L B I O D I V E R S I T Y A C T I O N P L A N5

C O U N T Y W AT E R F O R D LO C A L B I O D I V E R S I T Y A C T I O N P L A N6human life. Over the thousands of years since thebeginning of farming, we have learned to breed plants andanimals to improve our diet, developing different varietieswith higher yields, greater disease resistance, andadaptations to local conditions. It is the natural diversitywithin different species that has allowed us to do this – forexample if the genetic make-up of all wheat was fixed, itwould not be possible to have both winter and springvarieties. One of the issues in the use of biodiversity forfood is that we have come to rely on a very small numberof species and varieties for worldwide food production. Thismakes our crops and stock vulnerable to disease andchanges in local climate. Many of the wild species varietiesnot used in cultivation have come to have their populationsreduced through, for example, habitat loss and damage,because they are not seen to be of economic importance.The loss of any species or variety means the loss of apotential future opportunity to sustain human life, becauseit means that an option for adaptation has been removed.‘Goods and Services’provided by biological diversity include:• provision of food, fuel and fibre e.g. fish, livestockand crop varieties• provision of shelter and building materials e.g. timberfor construction• provision of medicines• purification of air and water• detoxification and decomposition of wastes• stabilisation and moderation of the Earth's climate• moderation of floods, droughts, temperature extremesthe forces of wind• generation and renewal of soil fertility, includingnutrient cycling• pollination of plants, including many crops• control of pests and diseases• maintenance of genetic resources as key inputs tocrop varieties and livestock breeds, medicines, andother products• cultural and aesthetic benefits• ability to adapt to changeHigher biodiversity also controls the spread of certaindiseases, for example a virus needs to adapt itself withevery new species it encounters. As well as food, livingorganisms give us fuel, fibre, building materials andmedicines, e.g. wood, cotton and aspirin.Biodiversity provides many ecosystem services that areoften not readily visible. It plays a part in regulating thechemistry of our atmosphere and water supply. Biodiversityis directly involved in recycling nutrients and providingfertile soils. Insect pollination of crops is essential for foodproduction. It also has leisure, cultural and aesthetic value- many people derive value from biodiversity throughleisure activities such as enjoying a walk in the countryside,birdwatching or natural history programs on television.Biodiversity inspires musicians, painters, sculptors, writersand other artists.Biodiversity and climate changeIt is now accepted by the majority of the scientificcommunity that rapid global climate change, influencedby human activities, is already taking place. Thepotential effects of this on biodiversity are wide-rangingand difficult to predict. Ways that climate change mayaffect species and ecosystems include:• Changes in phenology, i.e. the timing of biologicalevents such as flowering periods or hibernationperiods• Changes in species distribution (including arrival ofnon-native species and potentially loss of specieswhere suitable climatic conditions disappear).• Changes in composition of communities of species• Changes in ecosystem function• Loss of physical space due to sea level rise andincreased storminessWhy a biodiversity action plan?Unfortunately the rapid development of the humanpopulation has had a proportionate effect in reducingbiodiversity, by causing habitat loss and damage and anaccelerated rate of species extinction. This was recognisedon a global level at the “Earth Summit” at Rio de Janeiro inBrazil in 1992 at the UN Conference on Environment andDevelopment, where a strategy for sustainabledevelopment was agreed. At the conference the signingtook place of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)by over 150 countries, including Ireland. Ireland thenratified the CBD in 1996.One of the main mechanisms by which the CBD isimplemented by the participating countries is through thedrawing up of national biodiversity plans, and by theintegration of biodiversity concerns into all sectors.Ireland’s first National Biodiversity Plan was published in2002 and was reviewed in 2008.In the National Biodiversity Plan it is recognised that localauthorities have a potentially key role in providing for theconservation and sustainable use of biodiversity at a locallevel. While national plans and programmes guide manyhigher-level initiatives, the key to conserving localbiodiversity is through local-level action and awarenessraising.As such, the National Biodiversity Plan requireseach local authority to (i) prepare a Local Biodiversity Planin consultation with relevant stakeholders, and (ii) todesignate a contact officer for natural heritage conservationmatters in its area. Addressing the requirements of theNational Biodiversity Plan is an action of the CountyWaterford Heritage Plan. Under Aim 3:

Promote co-operation between various groups andindividuals interested in heritage – Action 3.0.3 seeks to‘Establish a Biodiversity Working Group and meet therequirements of the National Biodiversity Plan’.Plan structureThis document can be broken down into five main parts:(i)What is biodiversity and why should we look after it?This plan includes the first review of the principalbiodiversity features of the county, the identificationof significant gaps in our knowledge of this, and theprioritisation of actions to protect and enhance thenatural heritage of County Waterford.The process by which the plan was developedThe process to develop the County Waterford LBAP wasinitiated by the setting up in 2005 of the BiodiversityWorking Group of the County Waterford Heritage Forum.In May 2007 the Heritage Council commissioned nineecological consultants to assist eighteen local authoritiesaround the country in the preparation of LBAPs with theassistance of funding from the Department of Environment,Heritage and Local Government. County Waterford wasone of the counties that availed of this opportunity toprogress their plan.From June to November 2007, the consultant appointed toCounty Waterford gathered background information,consulted with the main agencies, NGOs and otherstakeholders in the county and compiled the first draft ofthe plan for review by the Heritage Forum and otherconsultees. Comments on the first draft were collated anda second draft submitted to the county. This process wasguided by the Heritage Council’s “Guidelines for theproduction of Local Biodiversity Action Plans”. The finaldraft was then prepared for publication by WaterfordCounty Council.The plan runs for five years. Towards the end of this periodthe actions achieved and new knowledge gained will bereviewed, to help identify and prioritise actions for the nextplan.(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)What policies and legislation are in place toprotect biodiversity?What biodiversity do we have in County Waterfordand what do we know about it?What do we not know enough about, and whatis threatening County Waterford biodiversity?What are the actions that can help fill the gaps andaddress the threats, while raising awareness ofwhat we have and how to look after it?Who is the plan for?Biodiversity is used by all of us in one way oranother – growing or buying food, walking in the town parkor hiking in the mountains, cutting our hedges, buildingtimber-framed houses – so while this plan will be lead byWaterford County Council and its partners, we all have arole to play in discovering and protecting the naturalheritage of Waterford.Action for biodiversity is a process. This plan forms partof that process, by identifying the main gaps and prioritisingactions that can fill them. In doing so new gaps that werepreviously unknown will come to light, and this process willhelp formulate new actions in the future.C O U N T Y W AT E R F O R D LO C A L B I O D I V E R S I T Y A C T I O N P L A N7

2. Policies and legislationC O U N T Y W AT E R F O R D LO C A L B I O D I V E R S I T Y A C T I O N P L A N8Biodiversity and the Local AuthorityThe role and responsibilities of local authorities are wideranging including functions such as planning,environment, water services, roads, housing andcommunity and enterprise. Each section of the LocalAuthority has a potential impact on the biodiversity of thecounty through its work practices and policies.PlanningThe planning process directs the use of land and naturalresources and has a significant influence on themanagement of our environment and biodiversity.Identifying the presence of habitats and species as part ofdevelopment management and forward planning andstrategic environmental assessment and appropriateassessment of development plans ensures theincorporation of biodiversity into the planning process. Thisis currently focused on protected habitats and species ofnational and international importance, where referral ofapplications in or near protected sites to NPWS is astatutory obligation which helps protect these specialbiodiversity features. There is a need to identify and includehabitats and species of county importance in this system tohelp maintain the special character of the Waterfordlandscape.Waterford County Development Plan 2005-2011Chapter 8 of the Waterford County Development Plan 2005-2011 sets out the Local Authority’s position on biodiversity.Section 8.5 Biodiversity states:“…Waterford County Council is committed to the principlesset out in the National Biodiversity Plan, the overallobjective of which, is to secure the conservation, includingwhere possible the enhancement, and sustainable use ofbiological diversity in Ireland and to contribute toconservation and the sustainable use of biodiversityglobally”.The Council’s Policy E8 National Biodiversity Planis “to implement the National Biodiversity Plan whenassessing proposals, and to provide for the protection,conservation and enhancement of wildlife habitats andDesignated Sites, where they are considered to be ofimportance in their own right or as part of a network ofhabitats or as a corridor or link between habitats”; andPolicy E12 Protection of mature trees is “to seek theprotection of mature trees, and development that requiresthe felling of such trees will be discouraged”.Provision of guidance by the Planning Section on estateand rural design, including sections on biodiversity andboundary treatments, informs best practice for thoseplanning to build in Waterford.EnvironmentThe Local Agenda 21 Partnership Fund provides forprojects on the theme of Biodiversity, as it is a fundamentalpart of sustainable development. Control of permits andlicencing for waste disposal by this section, as well asenforcement, helps protect sensitive habitats. Provision ofbetter information for the section on the location of locallyimportant habitats would avoid habitat damage and lossand so avoid costly clean-up bills.Water ServicesProvision of adequate waste water treatment has a directpositive impact on biodiversity in aquatic ecosystems, suchas the upgrading of infrastructure through the GroupedVillages Sewerage Schemes. Waterford County Councilencourages the use of integrated constructed wetlands atthe final stage of treatment where appropriate, as thisprovides additional habitats for aquatic species as well asimproving water quality. Assessment of potential impactson ecology as part of site selection and design of newtreatment facilities helps ensure that sensitive features arenot damaged.HousingGreen spaces around Local Authority housing can beenhanced for biodiversity and help in community-building,for example in tree-planting or putting up bird- and batboxes.Regeneration of urban areas for housing may needto consider issues such as bats in old buildings or green‘corridors’ such as rivers. Design of new schemes providesopportunities to retain existing features of biodiversityinterest, and enhance them with appropriate landscaping.Roads and infrastructureWhile larger infrastructure projects are subject toenvironmental impact assessment, including ecology,smaller improvement and maintenance works are notnecessarily screened for impacts on biodiversity. There arepotential opportunities for biodiversity enhancement forexample along road re-alignments where native speciescan be planted and in the nature and timing of works forstrengthening bridges where bats are present.Local Area EngineersAs these oversee many of the works around the county,they are well placed to help maintain and enhancebiodiversity, both as part of ongoing works and throughinvolvement in enhancement projects such as coastalprotection at Tramore Dunes and biodiversity plantingalong roadsides.Community and EnterpriseAs the section that hosts the County Development Board,this presents challenges and opportunities in facilitating

economic, social and cultural (including natural heritage)development, while ensuring that the special character ofCounty Waterford is maintained, by ensuring that projectsin the county do not lead to environmental damage.HorticultureBy working with biodiversity on the ground, the CountyCouncil horticulturalists help maintain and enhance theenvironment of public spaces in the county, for examplethrough use of the Neighbourhood Scheme at Newtownand Dungarvan and by sensitive management of localauthority green spaces.Legislation relating to biodiversityThe principal legislation relating to biodiversity in Ireland isthe following:.• Wildlife Act, 1976, as amended by the Wildlife(Amendment) Act, 2000• The European Union (Natural Habitats)Regulations, SI 94/1997• The European Communities(Conservation of Wild Birds) Regulations,SI 291/1985• Flora Protection Order, 1999• Planning and Development Acts, 2000-2006• Strategic Environmental Assessment Directive(2001/42/EC) as transposed into Irish legislation bythe European Communities (Environmentalassessment of Certain Plans and Programmes)Regulations , S.I. No. 435 of 2004 and the Planningand Development (Strategic EnvironmentalAssessment) Regulations 2004 (S.I. No 436 of 2004• Fisheries (Consolidation) Act 1959 and amendmentsWildlife Act, 1976, as amended by the Wildlife(Amendment) Act, 2000The Wildlife Act, 1976 and its amendment of 2000 are theprincipal statutory provisions providing for the protection ofwildlife in Ireland, and for the control of activities which mayimpact adversely on the conservation of wildlife. TheMinister for the Environment, Heritage & Local Governmentis charged under various sections of the Act, with a largenumber of licensing functions which are discharged onbehalf of the Minister by the National Parks and WildlifeService (NPWS, formerly Dúchas).The conservation of biodiversity in Ireland has beenstrengthened and expanded by EU law, most notablyby the EU Birds and Habitats Directives and also by theEnvironmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Directive(85/337/EEC). The transposition into Irish law of theHabitats Directive represented a fundamental shift in natureconservation policy and law.The current list of plant species protected by section 21 ofthe Wildlife Act, 1976 is set out in the Flora (Protection)Order, 1999, which supercedes orders made in 1980 and1987. It is illegal to cut, uproot or damage the listed speciesin any way, or to offer them for sale. This prohibitionextends to the taking or sale of seed. In addition, it is illegalto alter, damage or interfere in any way with their habitats.This protection applies wherever the plants are found andis not confined to sites designated for nature conservation.Planning and Development Acts 2000- 2006The physical planning system in Ireland dates essentiallyfrom 1963. The Planning Acts have recently beenconsolidated and revised as The Planning andDevelopment Acts, 2000-2006. Under the Planning Acts,each Local Authority has a responsibility to determinepolicy in its area through the making of a Development Planand for applying that policy, through planning control, indeciding on planning applications and enforcing planningdecisions. Both the process of drawing up DevelopmentPlans and of development control are open and allow forthe involvement of third parties. Development, with certainexceptions, is subject to development control under thePlanning Acts and the local authorities grant or refuseplanning permission for development, including ones withinprotected areas.There is a range of exemptions from the planning system.Use of land for agriculture is generally outside the planningsystem. Peat extraction and afforestation, other than abovecertain thresholds, are also generally exempt from planning(Schedule 2 Planning and Development Regulations 2001).Additionally, Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) isrequired for a range of classes of large scale projects.Under planning legislation, Development Plans mustinclude mandatory objectives for the conservation of thenatural heritage and for the conservation of European sitesand any other sites which may be prescribed.There are also discretionary powers to set objectives for theconservation of a variety of other elements of the naturalheritage; for example, under Part XIII, the Local Authoritycan declare areas of special amenity, having any regards tobenefits for nature conservation.Strategic Environmental AssessmentStrategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) is defined as“the formal systematic and comprehensive process ofevaluating the effects of a proposed policy, plan orprogramme or its alternatives including the written reporton the findings of the evaluation, and using the findings inpublicly accountable decision making”. The SEA processwhich involves preparation of an Environmental Reportmust include objectives for the protection of biodiversity,flora and fauna, assess the impacts of the proposed plan orpolicy on these environmental objectives and also setindicators for biodiversity to monitor the impacts of theC O U N T Y W AT E R F O R D LO C A L B I O D I V E R S I T Y A C T I O N P L A N9

proposed plan or policy on the environmental objectives.The SEA process has been used in County Waterford toassess the likely significant effects of the Wind EnergyStrategy on the environment and highlighted the need forincreased measures to protect the Freshwater PearlMussel.Fisheries ActThe Fisheries Boards are charged with ensuring theobservance of the Fishery Acts, Bye-Laws and Orders.Their purpose is to ensure the protection and conservationof our fishery resource. The Boards’ responsibilities coverboth inland waterways and out to the twelve mile limit offthe coast.Section 8 (i) of the Fisheries (Amendment) Act 1999 statesthat a regional fisheries board shall “in the performance ofits functions, have regard to the need for the sustainabledevelopment of the inland fisheries resource (including theconservation of fish and other species of fauna and florahabitats and the biodiversity of inland water ecosystems)and as far as possible ensure that its activities are carriedout so as to protect the national heritage, within themeaning of the Heritage Act, 1995 .”C O U N T Y W AT E R F O R D LO C A L B I O D I V E R S I T Y A C T I O N P L A N10

3. Overview of Biodiversity of County WaterfordThis section is set out in two parts: special biodiversityfeatures of the county; and natural heritage of local interest.A summary of the main information available is presentedhere. More detailed information is given in the Appendicesand background material used is referenced in theBibliography.Special biodiversity features of the countyWaterford contains a variety of habitats and species whichare of special conservation interest, by virtue of beingnationally or internationally important. These range fromblanket bog on the uplands of the Comeraghs to the rivervalley of the Blackwater, and includes the coastal habitats,as well as species like the Chough.Habitats and species that are rare and threatenedthroughout Europe are listed under the EU HabitatsDirective, which obliges EU member states to designateSpecial Areas of Conservation (SACs) to protect them.SACs in Waterford have been designated for habitats suchas coastal heath and sea cliffs, alluvial woodland, mountaincliffs and corrie lakes, oak woodland, estuaries, salt marshand sand dunes.Europe, and Ireland holds about 60% of the Europeanextent of this habitat, so we clearly have a responsibility tomaintain this habitat for future generations. It is estimatedthat the amount of active bog in Ireland is now 1% of theoriginal resource, and that this is disappearing at a rate of3% per annum. This habitat is very fragile and is easilydamaged through drainage, turf-cutting, trampling orvehicle damage, which disrupt the hydrology andvegetation of the bog.Many other internationally-important species are foundwithin or along the rivers, including Lampreys, Crayfish,Salmon, Twaite Shad, Otter, Frog and Freshwater PearlMussel. Habitats and species dependent on aquaticecosystems in Waterford are primarily threatened by lessthan adequate water quality due to issues such as nutrientenrichment (eutrophication), siltation, and drainage, withissues such as recreational use and aquaculture arising incoastal areas.Nature Conservation DesignationsCoastal heath and sea cliffs of international importance arefound at Ardmore Head and Helvick Head where notableseabird colonies also occur. The Tramore Back Strand anddunes ecosystem is a good example of the transition fromstrandline vegetation to fixed dune habitats.The saltmarsh found here is of the lagoon type, which isthe rarest in Ireland. As well as its significance forinternationally-important numbers of Brent Geese, this areasupports seven other wetland birds in nationally-importantnumbers: Golden Plover, Grey Plover, Lapwing, Dunlin,Sanderling, Black-tailed Godwit and Bar-tailed Godwit. Theintertidal mudflats and sandflats have an interesting faunaincluding molluscs, Lugworms and Ragworms, withEelgrass beds used by feeding wildfowl.Helvick Head SPA has a nationally-important flock ofKittiwakes and a regionally-important population ofGuillemots, as well as breeding Chough and PeregrineFalcon.Wet alluvial woodland is another habitat that is very rare inEurope. It is found along the Suir especially near Fiddown,and on the Blackwater system particularly belowCappoquin.Blanket bog, some of which is actively growing, is found onthe plateau and shallower slopes of the Comeraghmountains, along with large areas of heath and uplandgrassland. Actively-growing bog is now extremely rare inSpecial Areas of Conservation – SACs are the primeconservation areas in Ireland, and are designatedunder the EU Habitats Directive, as they containspecies and/or habitats that are considered in need ofprotection on a European level. There are nine SACs inCounty Waterford.Special Protection Areas - the EU Birds Directiverequires the designation of SPAs for certain birdspecies, including those that are rare and vulnerable,those that occur regularly as migrants, and to coverwetlands which attract large numbers of migratorybirds. There are six SPAs in County Waterford.Natural Heritage Areas – this is the basic nationaldesignation for wildlife in Ireland. Statutory designationof NHAs was enabled by the Wildlife (Amendment) Act2000. Around 148 bogs throughout the country havebeen given statutory protection; in addition there are630 proposed NHAS which are of importance forbiodiversity and will be designated on a phased basisover the coming years. There are 28 proposed NHAs inCounty Waterford.Nature Reserves – these are areas of importance forwildlife, which are protected under Ministerial Order.Co. Waterford has one community-owned NatureReserve, Fenor Bog.See fig 1 & 2 on the following pageC O U N T Y W AT E R F O R D LO C A L B I O D I V E R S I T Y A C T I O N P L A N11

Fig.1Proposed Natural Heritage Areas in County WaterfordProposed Natural HeritageAreas in County WaterfordC O U N T Y W AT E R F O R D LO C A L B I O D I V E R S I T Y A C T I O N P L A NFig. 2Special Areas of Conservation and Special ProtectionAreas designated in County Waterford.Number pNHA1 Kilsheelan Lake2 Toor Wood3 Fiddown Island4 Nire Valley Wood5 Comeragh Mountains6 Portlaw Woods7 Coolfin & Darrigle Marshes8 Glenmore Woods9 Lismore Woods10 Blackwater Callows11 Blackwater River & Estuary12 Tallow Church of Ireland13 Ballyeelinan Wood14 Glen Anna Wood15 Helvic Head16 Dungarvan Harbour17 Stradbally Woods18 Ballyvoyle Head to Tramore19 Ballinlough20 Lissaviron Bog21 Castlecraddock Fen22 Fenor Bog23 Carrickavrantry Reservoir & Marsh24 Islandtarnsey Fen25 Tramore Dunes & Backstrand26 Belle Lake27 Creadan Head28 Dunmore East Cliffs12

Otter (Brian White) • Pine Marten (Andrew Kelly) • Red Squirrel (Brian White)Bird species listed on Annex I of the EU Birds Directive andoccurring in Waterford include Hen Harrier, PeregrineFalcon, Merlin, Golden Plover, Nightjar, Brent Goose,Kingfisher and Chough. A recent survey of national Choughpopulations found this species to have declined inWaterford by about 16% since 1992, while nationally it haddeclined by 8%. This coastal species relies on extensivelymanagedcoastal grassland in which it searches forinvertebrates to feed on.Another species listed in the Red Data Book is the BarnOwl, which has declined by over 50% in the past 25 years.Notable birds occurring in Waterford include Little Egret,Yellowhammer and Skylark. The latter two species areassociated with mixed farmland, particularly where it isfarmed less intensively. Grouse are found in the Waterforduplands. Concern for the Irish population of Red Grousehas been expressed in recent times due to an apparent70% decline in their breeding range, resulting in theadmission of Red Grouse to the ‘Red List’ of Birds ofConservation Concern in Ireland in 1999. A national surveyof Red Grouse was carried out by BirdWatch Ireland for theNPWS in 2007-2008, and included surveys in theComeraghs and Knockmealdowns.Three wetland areas of international importance under theRamsar convention are found in the county: DungarvanHarbour, Tramore Backstrand, and Blackwater Estuary. Thedesignations on these sites overlap with the SAC/SPAareas. Also found in the county is the Irish Hare, a specieslisted on the Irish Red Data Book for Mammals, Annex V ofthe Habitats Directive and the Bern Convention. Data fromthe Hare Survey of Ireland, completed in 2007, shows thatwhile hares are widespread and common in Irelandgenerally, there was a very low number of records forWaterford with the animal apparently only being recordedfrom one 10km square in the west of the county; howeverthe survey report also stressed that hare populations canfluctuate hugely from year to year, and that assessing thestatus of the population over a short time period is difficult.The Irish Hare is the subject of a national Species ActionPlan, and one example of an action in that plan is (5.6.1.)“Inform local authorities and statutory agencies of thepresence of Irish hare in their areas of responsibilityand ensure that they are aware of the potential risks toIrish hare that could be caused through inappropriateland management or development”.Current records for Pine Marten seem to show that thespecies is increasing across the country. Its recordeddistribution in Waterford appears to be stable to slightlyincreased since 1980. It has shown an increase in southKilkenny and south Tipperary but given the barrier of theRiver Suir, it is not possible to say whether thesepopulations are linked to that found in Waterford.Key river corridors in Waterford were covered by thenational Otter survey, which was completed in 2005 andwhich recorded Otters and their signs at a number of sitesin the county. They are widespread in the Suir andBlackwater catchments. The continued success of theirpopulation in the county depends on good water qualityand availability of resting, breeding and feeding habitat.Otters are protected under Annexes II and IV of the HabitatsDirective.The bat species recorded for the county include Commonand Soprano Pipistrelles, Daubenton’s, Brown Long-eared,Whiskered, Leisler’s and Natterer’s Bats. All Irish batspecies are listed under Annex IV of the Habitats Directiveand Appendix II of the Bern convention, and are strictlyprotected. Currently bat records for the county areconcentrated in the east of the county, which is probablydue to a lack of recording in other areas, rather than poorbat populations. Older records show that the commonerspecies have been also recorded in the past from otherparts of the county. The All-Ireland Species Action Plan forbats sets out actions for bat conservation on an all-Irelandbasis. An example of an action relevant to bats in Waterfordis (5.2.5) “By 2009 provide householders with support,advice and, where appropriate, with assistance, to bestmanage their bat roosts”. A survey of bats in bridges wascarried out in the county in 2008 as part of the HeritagePlan.Badgers and Hedgehogs are listed in the Irish Red DataBook for Mammals and under Appendix III of the BernConvention and are strictly protected. They both appear tobe widespread and common in Waterford. Stoats areprotected under the Wildlife Act 1976 and its Amendment of2000. Stoats are found throughout the county.Red Squirrels are widespread in Waterford, as recorded bythe 2007 Irish Squirrel Survey; however north Waterford isa ‘frontier’ area for Grey Squirrel .A small number of recentrecords for greys in the north Waterford area indicates thatthey have crossed the Suir from South Tipperary/Kilkenny.C O U N T Y W AT E R F O R D LO C A L B I O D I V E R S I T Y A C T I O N P L A N13

Harbour (Common) Seal (Dominic Berridge) • Dolphins (Dr. Liam Lysaght)C O U N T Y W AT E R F O R D LO C A L B I O D I V E R S I T Y A C T I O N P L A N14The range of the Red Squirrel nationally has been shrinkingand this appears to be linked to the spread of the nonnativeGrey Squirrel.The 2003 Harbour (Common) Seal population assessmentfound a notable gap in seal populations on the south coast.Only one record, with a total of one seal, was recorded fromWaterford, and this was at Dungarvan. Older records showthis species occurring at Creadan Head, Dunmore East,Waterford Harbour, Ardmore and Ballinacourty. Though noGrey Seals were recorded for Waterford during the HarbourSeal survey, they have previously been recorded for almostall of the county’s coastline and the Irish Whale and DolphinGroup have recorded groups of this species includingduring 2007.All Irish coastal waters within the economic exclusive zone(out to the 200-mile limit) were declared a sanctuary forwhales and dolphins in 1991. Whales and dolphins areregularly seen off the Waterford coast, and sometimes arefound stranded on the shoreline. At least fourteen speciesare known to occur in the area, including Bottle-nosed andCommon Dolphins, and Minke, Fin and Humpback Whales.All whales and dolphins are protected.Nationally and regionally important habitats and speciesare found in proposed Natural Heritage Areas, and some ofthese overlap with or are included within the internationalconservation areas described above. As well as includingsome of the habitat types mentioned above, these areascontain many small wetlands, such as Belle Lake,Ballinlough, Carrickavrantry Reservoir, Kilsheelan lake,Islandtarsney Fen, Lissaviron Bog and Fenor Bog. Thelatter is a National Nature Reserve under communityownership. Creadan Head is a proposed NHA for coastalheath habitat, while the old Church of Ireland church atTallow is protected as it contains a nursery roost of Leisler’sBats.Several species of rare and protected plants are known tooccur in County Waterford, including Opposite-leavedPondweed, Killarney Fern, and Bird Cherry. Detailedrecords are held by the County Recorder of the BotanicalSociety of the British Isles, who has compiled a Flora ofCounty Waterford, published in 2008 and accessible onthe internet. This maps the distribution of plants in thecounty on a tetrad (2km x 2km) basis. Waterford is one ofthe few counties fortunate enough to have a detailedCounty Flora such as this publication.Ecological networks and habitatfragmentationHuman modification of the environment fragmentsnatural habitats, creating a mosaic of natural, seminaturaland highly modified areas. This fragmentationtakes place through loss, isolation and reduction in sizeof patches of habitats. This leads to loss of species andchanges in the way that ecosystems work.Maintaining patches and linear linkages of (semi-)natural habitats in the landscape helps maintainbiodiversity. For example, Ireland has a relatively lowlevel of woodland cover compared to other Europeancountries; in parts of the country where woodland isscarce, hedgerows provide a habitat for trees, shrubs,ferns, insects, birds and animals that would normallybe found in woodland. This allows these species tosurvive and to move between woodland patches. Otherecological corridors include riversand streams, and the coastline.Identifying ecological network features as part of spatialplanning is an important step in maintaining them.As well as protected areas, Waterford contains examplesof special habitats that are not under any designation. Inparticular heath in the uplands of the Knockmealdownscorresponds to the EU Annex I habitat type of Dry Heathyet has no specific protection. In addition, there are manysmaller wetlands, lakes and reservoirs that contain seminaturalhabitats and some may be of regional importancefor specialist species such as Reed Warbler, and variousmoths and dragonflies. The first country-wide survey ofAreas of Scientific Interest by An Foras Forbatha wascarried out in the 1970s. Most sites which were identifiedfor Waterford have subsequently been included in NHAsand/or SACs, except for the Annestown Valley.Marsh Fritillary butterfly has been known to occur at a fewlocations in Waterford in the past, but has not been recentlyfound in the county.This species is listed under Annex II of

Bluebells (Brian White) • Foxglove ( Bernadette Guest) • Oakleaf ( Brian White)the EU Habitats Directive due to its decline in Europe.Ireland is one of its last strongholds in Europe. The Butterflyspecies is under threat due to drainage and loss of habitat.Its larval food-plant is Devil’s-bit Scabious, which is foundin wet and dry grassland and peatlands, including somefens.Other invertebrates of note include eight species that arenot known to occur anywhere else in Ireland outside ofCounty Waterford - Brown Earwig, a Woodlouse, HoaryFootman Moth, Rosy Footman Moth, Carpenter BumbleBee, Field Cuckoo Bumble Bee, Speckled Bush Cricket,Roesel’s Bush Cricket and two species of BeetleCurtonotus convexiusculus and Timarcha tenebricosa.Biodiversity of local interestMost of County Waterford’s land cover lies outside areasdesignated for nature conservation and provides anessential resource in maintaining a diversity of species andhabitats throughout the county, linking local biodiversityfeatures throughout the landscape. Linear features such ashedgerows and streams provide ‘ecological corridors’along which species can move, for example badgerscommute along hedgerows to forage, and seeds of aquaticplants spread along streams and wet ditches.Hedgerows and banksHedgerows, with or without grassy banks, are a significantfeature of the Waterford landscape.As well as being valuable as mini-woodland habitat for avariety of plants, animals and birds, hedgerows act as a linkbetween other habitats, particularly woodlands. Hedgerowloss occurs through, among other reasons, the removal ofroadside boundaries to facilitate sightlines for newdevelopments, and agricultural intensification. The amountof hedgerows in Waterford has not been quantified, nor hasany research been carried out on their species compositionor structure, in recent times.New planting, or planting on the line of a hedgerow thatwas removed in the past, is an option under REPS. Manyfarmers are taking up this option; however the demand forwhitethorn and other native hedging appears to haveoutstripped the supply of stock grown from Irish material,resulting in widespread planting of, for example, whitethorngrown in nurseries in continental Europe. While this is thesame species as our own whitethorn (Crataegusmonogyna), it is not adapted to Irish conditions and is likelyto be slightly genetically different to Irish stock. Twoprincipal issues arise from this: the imported material maybe more susceptible to disease in Irish conditions; andcross-pollination between imported and native stocks willdilute the genetic diversity of our native whitethorn.A feature of Waterford field boundaries, particularly alongroadsides, is the dry-stone ‘wall-bank’, a wide bankretained by vertically-stacked stones, often sandstone. Aswith hedgerows, these are a man-made feature; howeverthey often host semi-natural vegetation such as grasses,mosses and ferns, and are important for local wildlife. Theirextent and species composition has not been documented,and they are at some risk of removal at new developmentsites.WoodlandsWaterford has an average to slightly above averagecoverage of native woodland, with many good examplessuch as Toor Wood, Lismore and Glenmore. The countywas surveyed in 2007 as part of the National Survey ofNative Woodland in Ireland, and the final report of thissurvey including details on woodlands found in Waterford,was produced in 2008.Many of the ‘champion’ trees of Waterford, as listed on theTree Register of Ireland, are found in demesnes.Most of these are non-native species and so are of morelimited use to Irish wildlife; however they are of localecological value and impart high amenity value to thelandscape.Coillte controls 19,560 hectares of land in Waterford, ofwhich approximately 86% is under conifer plantation.Approximately 7% is under mixed, broadleaf and scrubcover, while the remainder comprises wetlands, marginalareas, and ‘bare plantable/unplantable’ areas. Coillte hascarried out surveys to determine areas of land under theircontrol that have current value or future potential forbiodiversity, with a target of managing 15% of the total areafor biodiversity. 12% of the forest estate was found to besuitable for inclusion in biodiversity areas, spread over 90sites. 28 of these sites overlap with existing designatednature conservation areas. Coillte has its own biodiversityaction plans in place for working around sensitive features,C O U N T Y W AT E R F O R D LO C A L B I O D I V E R S I T Y A C T I O N P L A N15

Arable farming (Bernadette Guest) • Meadow vegetation (Bernadette Guest) • Forest field visit (Dr. Shelia Donegan)C O U N T Y W AT E R F O R D LO C A L B I O D I V E R S I T Y A C T I O N P L A N16covering Lesser Horseshoe Bat (not found in Waterford),Freshwater Pearl Mussel, and Hen Harrier.In addition, the BioForest project, carried out to obtain acomprehensive picture of the biodiversity of conifer andbroadleaf forest plantations at different stages ofdevelopment, had two study sites in Waterford. The maingroups surveyed were plants, spiders, hoverflies and birds,and data was collected on soil type and geology at eachsite.Woodland planting is increasing in Ireland and incentives toplant broadleaf and native species have increased in recentyears e.g. Native Woodland Scheme and NeighbourwoodScheme. This is, in general, good news for biodiversity;however care must be taken to ensure that other importantsemi-natural habitats are not lost to forestry plantation, thatappropriate species are used, and that forestry plantingand management do not cause negative impacts to otherspecies or habitats.Grassland and arable landThe majority of County Waterford’s heritage lies in or besidefarmland of one sort or another. Many of our semi-naturalhabitats, especially grasslands, are a result of past farmingpractices. Up to the last 50 years or so, farming in Irelandwas small scale and extensive, with very low inputs ofchemical fertiliser or pesticides. Pressure for intensificationdriven by the demand for cheap food, fostered by technicalprogress and financed by the Common Agricultural Policyencouraged bigger fields, less diverse farming enterprises,and high inputs of chemical fertiliser to maximise yields. Inrecent years the pendulum has swung back to lessintensive and more diverse operations, under schemessuch as REPS. This may not last due to new imperativesfor food and energy security. More sophisticated methodsmay be required to balance biodiversity and foodproduction.Grassland covers large parts of Waterford, and much of thisis improved agricultural grassland, which is generally of lowconservation interest as it contains a relatively smallnumber of plant species and so is generally of low benefitto other wildlife. The exception to this is where wildfowlsuch as geese or swans use the intensive pasture forfeeding while on migration. A similar type of grassland isfound in some gardens, parks and other amenity areas,where grassy areas have been reseeded and are managedintensively, resulting in a low diversity of plant species.Semi-improved or unimproved grassland is of greater valuefor biodiversity. The extent of semi-natural grasslands inWaterford, outside of designated nature conservationareas, is generally unknown. This habitat is not easy to spotas close examination of the grasses and herbs present isusually needed to determine what type of grassland ispresent. Wet grassland can be relatively simple to find as itusually contains rushes. Given the soils present in thecounty, wet and acid grasslands are likely to be the mostwidespread, where they have not been heavily improved.Calcareous grassland is less common, as limestone rockand soils are of limited extent in the county. Somecalcareous grassland areas were encountered as part ofthe recording for the Flora of County Waterford, and it wasnoted that these are quite vulnerable due to their small size,encroachment by scrub, or reclamation and improvement.An example of species-rich grassland is found atKnockanore graveyard.Arable land is found in the more fertile parts of theWaterford lowlands. Arable land was once associated witha variety of ‘weed’ species, many of them introduced toIreland by earlier farmers for example around the time ofthe Iron Age, when Cornflower, Darnel Grass and CornMarigold came in, probably with imported grain. Along withnative species such as Bladder Campion, these speciesrely on open and disturbed habitats to survive, as theycannot survive in more dense grassland. Intensification ofarable production with increased fertiliser, herbicide andpesticide usage and ploughing for winter crops has seenmany arable weeds disappear. Excluding hedgerows, themain area of biodiversity value in arable lands is theheadland or field margin, where rank unmanagedgrassland is often found. The seed-heads of the grassesprovide winter feeding for farmland birds, and animals suchas hares can use the long grass to commute or lie upduring the day. As well as on field margins, this type ofgrassland is found along roadsides and laneways.Water and WetlandsAll life needs water to some extent, and a natural supply ofclean water is crucial for properly functioning wetlandecosystems. Wetlands and aquatic systems are among themost diverse on the planet. They are sensitive to changessuch as nutrient enrichment (eutrophication) and drainage.

Frog (Brian White) • Fenor Bog (Bernadette Guest) • Freshwater Pearl Mussel (Dominic Berridge)The Ramsar Convention defines wetlands as: “areas ofmarsh, fen, peatland or water, whether natural or artificial,permanent or temporary, with water that is static or flowing,fresh, brackish or salt, areas of marine water the depth ofwhich at low tide does not exceed six metres”.Rivers, lakes and pondsThe main channels of the Suir and Blackwater, as well assome of their tributaries and wetlands along their banks,are candidate Special Areas of Conservation where theypass through Waterford, as described above. Howeverthere are other rivers, streams, drains, lakes and ponds inWaterford which are not designated for natureconservation. Lakes and wetlands are relatively few inWaterford, compared with some counties, making theseareas all the more important for the species and habitatsthat they contain.A survey of 21 wetlands in County Waterford was carriedout in 2006 as an action of the Heritage Plan. Habitatsfound included reedswamp, wet woodland, marsh, lakeand reservoir, as well as small areas of fen, bog, wet heath,wet grassland, streams and ditches. The report consideredtwo of the wetlands to be of national value, seven to besignificant at county level, nine of high local value, andthree of moderate local value. As only one of the wetlandssurveyed has any existing nature conservation protection,they are vulnerable to activities such as drainage, infillingand reclamation, afforestation, pollution, and invasion byalien plant species. Extrapolating from this study, it is likelythat other as-yet undocumented semi-natural habitats areto be found in the county, and that steps need to be takento raise awareness of the value of semi-natural habitats andhow to look after them.Water quality, along with drainage and infilling, is one of theprimary factors affecting aquatic systems. This isrecognised by the EU Water Framework Directive(2000/60/EC), adopted by Ireland in 2003, and to beimplemented with a goal of achieving ‘good status’ for allwaters by 2015. To this end, Ireland has been divided into‘River Basin Districts’ which are grouped so thatmanagement of water resources can be achieved on alogical, catchment-based principle. Waterford lies mainlywithin the South Eastern River Basin District (Barrow andSuir catchments), with the west of the county lying in theSouth Western River Basin District (Blackwater catchment).Achieving ‘good status’ will mean not only benefits for thehuman population in terms of clean, safe water, but also willhelp enhance the aquatic environment for the otherspecies, many of them sensitive, that rely on a properlyfunctioningaquatic system to survive. Waterford CountyCouncil is represented on the River Basin DistrictManagement Plans where it is working to quantify, assessand improve the waters of the county.PeatlandsPeatlands include bogs and fens, both of which arecharacterised by the accumulation of plant material (peat)over time, due to the waterlogged and oxygen-poorconditions. As such, peatlands act as ‘carbon sinks’, that is,the carbon taken up by the plants when growing isaccumulated in the peat; when peat is drained, cut orburned, the greenhouse gases carbon dioxide andmethane are released back into the atmosphere. Fens aregroundwater-fed peatlands, while bogs are fed by rainfall.Landcover data based on satellite imagery showsapproximately 3.5% of Waterford as being under peat bogs.Much of this is concentrated in the uplands as mountainblanket bog. The more intact examples are protected asSACs or NHAs, such as the blanket bog in the Comeraghsor the fen-type habitats of Fenor Bog, with smallerpeatlands outside these areas. Waterford lies outside themain area for raised bogs in Ireland, which is concentratedin the midlands.The 2007 Study of the Extent and Conservation Status ofSprings, Fens and Flushes in Ireland located 1 fen inWaterford which is not included in any nature conservationarea, at Ballymacague. This site was surveyed as part ofthe Waterford Wetlands Study. These habitats are sensitiveto damage from groundwater abstraction, drainage, infillingand pollution.HeathHeath is characterised by open, shrubby vegetation, oftenwith heather and/or dwarf gorse, usually on infertile acid orcalcareous soils, or on shallow peat. It is a common habitatin the Waterford uplands, and along the coast. All types ofheath found in Waterford correspond to habitat typeslisted under Annex I of the EU Habitats Directive, whetherthey lie within areas designated for nature conservation ornot – for example, much of the Knockmealdowns is in dryheath.C O U N T Y W AT E R F O R D LO C A L B I O D I V E R S I T Y A C T I O N P L A N17

Beautiful Demoiselle Damselfly (Brian White) • Marsh Fritillary (Dominic Berridge)C O U N T Y W AT E R F O R D LO C A L B I O D I V E R S I T Y A C T I O N P L A N18Other habitatsPublic parks operated by Waterford County Council containhabitats such as grassland, trees and rivers.They areconstantly managed through planting, mowing and othermaintenance; however they all seem to have good potentialfor biodiversity and in general planting policy emphasisesthe use of native species where possible. In particular, twoareas are managed under the NeighbourWood Scheme,which is administered by the Forest Service. This schemeprovides funding for the management of wooded habitatsfor their amenity value, while maximising their biodiversitypotential. For example, management in Newtown Woods isfocused on facilitating public access, enjoyment andeducation; maintaining traditional activities by re-coppicingold sycamore stools; and enhancing biodiversity byincreasing the proportion of native tree species in newplanting, and putting up bird- and bat-boxes.Built land, towns and gardens can be valuable forbiodiversity; for example bats often roost in buildings, asdo barn owls. Infrastructure such as canals and railways,for example the disused sections of the Waterford-Dungarvan and Waterford-Tramore lines, can act asecological corridors and be important for local habitats andspecies. Re-use of these lines for recreation such aswalking provides an opportunity for provision of interpretivematerial on the biodiversity to be found along them.Other species groupsWhen we think of natural heritage, biodiversity or nature,we tend to think of the things we can see or recogniseeasily – trees, flowering plants, birds, large mammals – butthese are only a fraction of the millions of species foundaround the globe. Smaller species or those that are moredifficult to identify are actually more numerous, and equallyor even more important for ecosystem functions, such asbacteria, fungi, insects and other invertebrates, mosses andlichens. A large amount of information on such groups hasbeen collected by Michael O’Meara through the Fauna ofWaterford series, including spiders, woodlice, dragonflies,butterflies and moths (Lepidoptera), with additions to theseries to include beetles, slugs and snails, and mayflies.The presentation of the collected information in bookletsand CD format is a unique resource for the county,particularly for use in schools or as a baseline forinformation-gathering on these less well-known speciesgroups. This work is supplemented by that of groups suchas Moths Ireland, Butterfly Ireland and Dragonfly Ireland.LichensLichens are a compound organism in which a fungus livestogether in a mutually-beneficial symbiosis with an algaand/or cyanobacteria. Approximately 130 types of lichenhave been recorded from Waterford, out of 1050 recordedfrom Ireland. Most of these records were collected in a few10km squares. The first phase of a project under way tomap Irish lichens was completed in 2008.BryophytesA total of 399 species of moss have been recorded fromthe county. The total number of moss and liverwort speciesknown to occur in Ireland is 759. A new Red Data Book ofIrish bryophytes is in preparation.InvertebratesWaterford is home to approximately 28 species of butterfly,out of a total of 31 resident and 3 migrant species known tooccur in Ireland. As well as the protected Marsh Fritillaryand the more common species, uncommon species havebeen recorded recently from the county includingBrimstone, Small Blue and Purple Hairstreak. Brimstonecaterpillars feed on Buckthorn, which occurs on limestonesoils. Purple Hairstreak larvae feed on oak leaves; thisspecies is difficult to spot as it spends much of its time inthe canopy of oak woodland.Of 22 species of dragonflies and damselflies resident inIreland, 17 have been recorded from Waterford. It is likelythat wider survey would expand the list of species for thecounty. Of those known to occur, two are less common, theKeeled Skimmer and Black-tailed Skimmer. Dragonflies anddamselflies are species of wetlands, particularly rivers,lakes, ponds, fens, flushes and springs.Recording of other groups has found some unusualrecords for Waterford, for example a Barred Hook-tip mothwas found in Beech woodland at WIT, Carriganore, inAugust 2007, the first known site in the Republic of Irelandfor this species.AwarenessSome awareness-raising and education on aspects ofbiodiversity is facilitated by the Heritage Office of WaterfordCounty Council, with the partners on the Waterford HeritageForum e.g. County Wetlands Survey, seminar on uplandvegetation management, exhibitions and public lectures aswell as through national initiatives such as the NoticeNature campaign, Heritage in Schools, Green Schools andTidy Towns.

4. Information deficiencies and threats to biodiversityInformation deficiencies and threats to biodiversityIn order to decide what actions are needed for biodiversityin County Waterford, we must look at the key issuesaffecting it. These can be loosely categorised in terms ofwhere we need more information, where biodiversity isunder pressure, and where we need greater awareness. Asthis is the first biodiversity action plan for County Waterford,the following are the priority issues identified during thepreparation of the plan.Where we need more informationThe first part of this plan described the different biodiversityfeatures of County Waterford as far as we understandthem. There is a good amount of information available onsome habitats and species in the county, but there areother areas where we don’t know enough, or where theinformation cannot be easily used because it is scattered.Without this data, we cannot make informed decisionsabout which habitats or species need conservation action.Habitats outside designated areasWhile many high nature value habitats in County Waterfordare designated for nature conservation, we have very littleinformation on coverage of certain habitats outsidedesignated areas. Some data is available but is scatteredamong different organisations or reports, for examplenative woodlands, wetlands, forestry biodiversity areas, andenvironmental/ecologicial impact assessments. There is noup-to-date information on the coverage of semi-naturalgrasslands or hedgerows.Coverage of habitat typesDigital habitat mapping on a county level is a very usefultool for identifying issues and priorities for biodiversity, andis being gradually rolled out throughout the country. CountyWaterford currently has no such mapping in place and sois at a disadvantage when it comes to quantifying thebiodiversity resource in the county and fulfilling nationaland EU obligations for maintaining biodiversity.Publications and reportsThere are many publications, reports and articles on thebiodiversity of the county. Many titles are listed in MichaelO’Meara’s A bibliography of the Flora and Fauna ofWaterford (2001, updated 2007). These titles are generallynot centrally available in the county – for example articles inscientific journals – or can be hard to find, such asecological reports carried out as part of environmentalimpact assessments.Local authority landLocal authorities can lead the way in best practicemanagement of natural heritage; however this is onlypossible when we know what we have. Some WaterfordCounty Council staff have a good working knowledge ofthe biodiversity in their area. This needs to be captured andaugmented with more detailed ecological information tohelp guide management of local authority land in a way thatmaximises the benefits for biodiversity.Less visible species-groupsAs in many counties, data on groups such as mosses,lichens, moths and dragonflies is not as well covered as forlarger or more easily-seen species. Some of these gaps arebeing covered through nationally co-ordinated survey work,much of which is just beginning such as the lichenmappingproject. This presents an opportunity for thecounty to ensure that information gathered in Waterford isas useful and relevant as possible.Where biodiversity is under presssureCounty Waterford is a living landscape and the many wayswe use it have an impact on its natural heritage. Loss ofhabitats, damage and pollution, loss of species andintroduction of non-native species can all reduce thebiodiversity of the county. By identifying the key threats, wecan prioritise actions to address them.Damage to areas of high biodiversity valueCounty Waterford has a good diversity of special habitatsand species, some of which are designated for natureconservation. Both designated and undesignated areas areunder pressure due to the way we use them. Ireland isobliged to produce conservation management plans fordesignated nature conservation sites; to date (2008) theonly site in Waterford with a published plan is ArdmoreHead. The Management Planning and Support Unit ofNPWS is progressing management plans for all designatedsites on a phased basis, starting with SACs.In coastal areas, sensitive habitats such as Saltmarsh arevulnerable to infilling and dumping and need to beprotected as they have low percentage cover in the county.Sand dunes, shingle beaches, coastal heath and speciesrichgrassland are also easily damaged by unmanagedrecreational use. Preparation of an integrated coastal zonemanagement plan for the Tramore area provides anexcellent opportunity to pilot best practice in coastalbiodiversity protection and enhancement. Sensitiveaquatic species, for example the Freshwater Pearl Musselwhich is under threat of extinction, are suffering fromimpacts such as inputs of excessive nutrients and silt intorivers. The local authority, as a member of the relevant RiverBasin Districts, is well placed to build protection of thisspecies into its relevant sections and participate incatchment management plans which are in preparation forFreshwater Pearl Mussel.In the uplands of the Comeraghs, Monavullagh andKnockmealdowns, fragile ecosystems are damaged byC O U N T Y W AT E R F O R D LO C A L B I O D I V E R S I T Y A C T I O N P L A N19

Himalyan Balsam (Will Woodrow) • Chinese Mitten Crab (Dominic Berridge) • Japanese Knotweed (Will Woodrow)C O U N T Y W AT E R F O R D LO C A L B I O D I V E R S I T Y A C T I O N P L A N20inappropriate or unmanaged recreational use, such as allterrainvehicles being driven on bog and heath, or erosiondue to walking in popular areas. Whereas it is recognisedthat controlled burning of heather between September andFebruary is necessary for both sheep and wildlifeuncontrolled heather fires in spring and summer threatennesting birds, while forestry management has implicationsfor birds such as Hen Harrier and Nightjar. As a highlyscenic area within close range of Waterford and other urbancentres, the uplands are under pressure from developmentand associated infrastructure. This is currently addressedthrough the County Development Plan, and will be furtherinformed by the County Landscape Character Assessmentand Strategic Environmental Assessment, for example inrelation to wind energy policy. There is currently noumbrella group or project to address the many issuesaffecting biodiversity in the Waterford uplands in a coordinatedway.WetlandsWetlands are of limited extent in the county. A number ofwetlands surveyed in County Waterford in 2006 were foundto be of high nature conservation value. Wetlands arevulnerable to operations such as drainage and infilling, andindeed in 2005 the European Court judged Ireland on theillegal infilling of wetlands, including sites in Waterford.Since then there have been improvements in licencing andenforcement of waste disposal. The principal threat lies innot knowing where sensitive wetlands are. This has beenpartly addressed through the wetlands survey, though theinformation in this report needs to be made widely availablethroughout the local authority.Loss of hedgerow habitatNationally, and to some extent in Waterford, hedgerowsand the plants, animals and birds that use them are underthreat due to removal as part of new development oragricultural improvement, disturbance such as cuttingduring the bird-nesting season, damage such as cuttingwith inappropriate machinery or cutting too short, and useof imported plant stocks for new hedgerow planting. Theextent of these issues is unquantified in Waterford. Many ofthe issues arise due to lack of awareness of best practice,though implementation and follow-up of local authoritypolicy relating to hedgerows and development is also afactor.Local wildlife sitesAs shown by the County Waterford Wetland Survey, areasof rich biodiversity exist outside of areas designated fornature conservation. As described above, survey andmapping of habitats in the county would provide someinformation on where these are. The availability of suchinformation can be used in the assessment of future plansand programmes, to help avoid unnecessary and costlydelays which can arise if important biodiversity features arediscovered late in the planning process, and to ensure thatthe unique character of the Waterford landscape ismaintained. For example, an Indicative Forest Strategy isto be developed to ensure best practice in afforestation inthe county. The Forest Service are very much guided bycounty development plans in their day to day decisions.The provision of a list or map of sites of local biodiversityimportance, defined and delineated on a sound scientificbasis (i.e. habitat survey) can be used to inform thedecision-making process in forestry planning.Invasive speciesOur local biodiversity is threatened by invasive speciessuch as Rhododendron in woodland and heath habitats,Japanese Knotweed, Himalayan Balsam and GiantHogweed along watercourses, while Chinese Mitten Crabhas recently been found in the Waterford estuary. Control ofinvasive species becomes more costly the longer thespecies are Japanese Knotweed left unchecked. There isreasonably good information on problem areas for suchspecies in the county; however there is currently nocomprehensive plan for their control. A review of invasivespecies in Ireland, the pathways by which they spread, andrecommendations for strategies for their control wasproduced in 2004. This has prompted a new project to beset up in 2007, the All-Ireland Invasive Species Initiative,which is seeking to implement the recommendations andco-ordinate action on invasive species control.Management and co-ordination of biodiversity issuesThe main body with statutory responsibility for directlyprotecting biodiversity is the National Parks and WildlifeService, who currently have one wildlife ranger coveringCounty Waterford as part of the Southern Division.With therelatively small resources available, the regional staff ofNPWS have to focus on issues relating to designated areas,particularly SACs and SPAs, and protected species. Evenwithin this the staffing resources are not adequate to

Hawthorn Hedgerow (Catherine Keena) • Kale and Cereal plot grown for seed-eating birds (Bernadette Guest)address all the issues arising on a day-to-day basis. Otheragencies such as the EPA or Southern Regional FisheriesBoard have a degree of input into biodiversity issues, butfrom the perspective of their own sectoral interest. This allhas implications for the maintenance and enhancement ofbiodiversity in the county. In particular, the lack of a coordinatedapproach or clearing-house has seriousimplications for local biodiversity features, as they often fallthrough the cracks.Where we need greater awareness‘Biodiversity’ can seem like an abstract concept orsomething that is found far away, like the rainforests ofSouth America, but it is around us every day. Raisingawareness and providing information on the naturalheritage of County Waterford is one of the most importantways of safeguarding the future of the habitats and specieswe share the county with, especially by identifying the keyissues that need to be highlighted.General awarenessImpacts on biodiversity such as habitat loss andfragmentation often arise more due to a lack ofunderstanding or appreciation of the importance and valueof biodiversity than through intentional damage. As well aspolicies and legislation to control such activities, educationand awareness-raising play a vital role in helping conserveour natural heritage. Opportunities for incorporatingbiodiversity awareness are found, for example, in schemessuch as Tidy Towns, Green Schools and Local Agenda 21projects.Biodiversity awareness in Waterford County CouncilMost sectors in the local authority have some effect onbiodiversity, such as management of green areas, wastewater treatment or small-scale road-works. Key staff indifferent sections are willing to work with biodiversity inmind. In some sections biodiversity is built in to theirprincipal operations, while in others the opportunity to workwith and enhance biodiversity has not yet been recognised.The two main areas where the local authority can improveawareness within its own organisation are (i) staff training inbiodiversity isssues and (ii) introduction of guidance andpolicies in relation to key biodiversity issues.Biodiversity and developmentWaterford County Council has an obligation to takebiodiversity into account when drawing up or consideringplans or proposals for development. This includes bothstatutorily protected nature conservation sites and the widercountryside. Flora, fauna and habitats are often consideredinadequately or at a late stage of proposals, which can leadto costly delays. This arises primarily due to insufficientknowledge of the key biodiversity concerns that should bescoped for at the early stages of any proposal. This appliesequally to single houses or large-scale public and privatedevelopments. Guidance on implications of biodiversity fordevelopment is currently minimal and somewhat dispersed.Biodiversity and farmingMuch of the natural heritage of County Waterford is foundon farms. Current schemes for farming which takebiodiversity into account include REPS, FEPS and theNPWS farm plan scheme for protected areas. Restrictionsassociated with designated areas, commonage plans andpollution control measures have contributed to a negativeperception of biodiversity among some farmers. Traditionalmanagement practices which maintain important habitatssuch as semi-natural grassland, or species populationssuch as seed-eating birds, have largely been lost tointensification driven by the Common Agricultural Policy.There is huge scope for maintaining and enhancingbiodiversity on farms in Waterford, if guidance is providedto farmers to help them make informed choices. REPS andFEPS are one platform where this is being addressed, andgreater information on semi-natural habitat types and theirappropriate management is needed for farmers and REPSplanners to ensure that existing habitats are managedappropriately for biodiversity. Guidance and information fornon-REPS farmers could help tap in to their store ofknowledge to help conserve local wildlife habitats.C O U N T Y W AT E R F O R D LO C A L B I O D I V E R S I T Y A C T I O N P L A N21

5. The Action Plan – actions for biodiversity in WaterfordNPWS, Dungarvan Birdlife ( Bernadette Guest) • Outdoor Science Week at Fenor Bog, (Dr. Shelia Donegan) • Pine Marten ( Dr. Peter Turner)Actions in this plan are designed to• Address priority information gaps in the county• Increase understanding and raise awareness of biodiversity at various levels• Maintain and/or enhance biodiversity through management practices in key areasThe 2006-2010 Heritage Plan for Waterford contains a number of actions which relate to biodiversity, and where proposedactions in the Biodiversity Plan overlap with those of the Heritage Plan, they are marked as HP plus the number of the actionin the Heritage Plan.Existing action for biodiversityThe Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government oversees the production of action plans for habitats andspecies at a national level. To date, the department has produced species action plans for all bat species , Corncrake,Pollan, Irish Hare, Otter, Red Squirrel, Irish Lady’s Tresses Orchid and Killarney Fern while a draft plan is in preparationfor Freshwater Pearl Mussel. In addition, a National Strategy for Plant Conservation in Ireland is in place.Other agencies and departments have produced action plans relevant to their sectoral interests. Coillte has producedplans for Hen Harrier, Freshwater Pearl Mussel, and Lesser Horseshoe Bat (the latter is not known to occur in CountyWaterford).C O U N T Y W AT E R F O R D LO C A L B I O D I V E R S I T Y A C T I O N P L A N22

Examples of existing projects relevant to biodiversityin County WaterfordTable 1ProjectSouth Eastern andSouth WesternRiver BasinManagement PlansRelevant features coveredRiver catchments in the county including water quality, indicatorspecies and regional water management issues, includingshared boundaries with other counties.Principal relevant agencies/ individuals involvedWaterford Co. Co.,Waterford City Council,South Tipperary Co. Co.,Kilkenny Co. Co., CorkCo. Co.Constant effortwatches ofcetaceansRegular watches by volunteers at Helvic and Ram heads todetermine relative abundance, and seasonal and geographicalchanges in abundance of whales and dolphins.Irish Whale and DolphinGroupWaterfordBreeding Bird Atlas2006-2011Mapping at 2x2km tetrads the occurrence and status ofbreeding and summering birds throughout County Waterford.BirdWatch IrelandWaterford branchBird Atlas 2007-2011Joint project to map all of Ireland and Britain’s birds during boththe winter and the breeding season.BirdWatch IrelandIrish bat distribution2007-2011;car-based batmonitoring schemeImprove coverage of bat records using a network of volunteersand professional ecologists.Bat Conservation IrelandFlora of CountyWaterford2x2km tetrad records of plants for Waterford based on surveyby BSBI county recorder in book and web format.BSBI Waterford Countyrecorder; NationalBiodiversity Data CentreWater Beetles ofIrelandRecording water beetles including some sites in Co. Waterford.National Biodiversity DataCentreNational VegetationDatabaseButterfly monitoringprogramme, Mothdigitisation projectWaterford WildlifeAll-Ireland InvasiveSpecies InitiativeApplication ofgenetics to wildlifemonitoringIndicative ForestStrategySomething FishySea TroutManagementProgramme forRiver ColliganCollation all of the vegetation sampling unit data that has beencollected over years onto a single database, which ultimatelycould lead to the development of a national vegetationclassification for Ireland.Monitoring and digitisation of butterfly and moth records inCo. Waterford.Website and series of publications on the wildlife of the countyand city with up-to-date records.Co-ordination of knowledge and expertise for invasive speciesmonitoring and control, develop measures for control.Studying wild animal populations, particularly pine marten,using forensic DNA techniques.GIS-based system providing high-level, national guidance inrelation to the suitability of land for afforestation.Primary school programme for teachers and pupils on water,fish habitats and conservation, fish and fishing.Management programme for the catchment to conserve SeaTrout populations.National Biodiversity DataCentreButterfly Ireland, MothsIreland, NationalBiodiversity Data CentreMichael O’MearaNPWS, NationalBiodiversity Data CentreMolecular EcologyResearch Group atWaterford Institute ofTechnologyForest ServiceSouthern RegionalFisheries BoardSouthern RegionalFisheries BoardC O U N T Y W AT E R F O R D LO C A L B I O D I V E R S I T Y A C T I O N P L A N23

Actions for biodiversity in County Waterford 2008 - 2013Kidney Vetch (Mike Trewby) • Sea Thrift (Mike Trewby) • Common Blue Butterfly (Dr. Liam Lysaght)Objective 1. Addressing information gapsThese actions are designed to address the most urgent gaps in our knowledge of County Waterford biodiversityActionRef. No(HeritagePlan ActionNo.) Action Priority Partners1.1 Commission a county grassland survey, targeting semi-natural O National Parks and Wildlifegrasslands e.g. calcareous grassland, coastal and cliff grasslandServiceand identify threats to these habitats and suggestions for futureWaterford Co. Councilmanagement.Heritage Forum1.2 Publish the Waterford Wetlands Study. S Waterford Co. Council(1.2.4) Heritage Forum1.3 Commission a county hedgerow survey, based on same 10km L Waterford Co. Councilgrid squares as the Countryside Bird Survey.Heritage Forum(1.2.5) The Heritage CouncilC O U N T Y W AT E R F O R D LO C A L B I O D I V E R S I T Y A C T I O N P L A N1.4 Commission a biodiversity audit of local authority land/parks and M Waterford Co. Councilidentify opportunities for enhancement of biodiversity.Heritage Forum1.5 Initiate a county habitat map by collating existing information e.g. M Waterford Co. CouncilNative Woodland Survey, Grasslands Survey, Wetlands Survey,Heritage ForumEIS reports, NPWS management plans on a dedicated layer inThe Heritage Councilthe county GIS system.National Parks and WildlifeService, EPA, Teagasc1.6 Identify natural heritage sites of county importance in the context S Waterford Co. Councilof Local Area Plans and Development Plans.Heritage Forum1.7 Collate and index EISs and smaller ecological impact assessments. M Waterford Co. Council(2.1.10)1.8 Support digitisation of data collated through O National Biodiversitythe Flora of County Waterford.Data Centre BSBI1.9 Promote and encourage participation in the National Butterfly O National Biodiversity DataMonitoring Scheme, Bee recording and monitoring and otherCentre.Heritage Forumschemes as piloted by the National Biodiversity Data Centre.Waterford Co. Council24O = Ongoing S = Short term M = Medium term L = Long term

Objective 2 Raising awarenessThese actions are designed to raise awareness of what biodiversity is and why it is important,particularly in critical sectorsActionRef. No(HeritagePlan ActionNo.) Action Priority Partners2.1 Maintain and update a biodiversity web page on the Waterford S Waterford Co. Council(2.1.1) County Council website with links to other biodiversity websitesand relevant biodiversity reports.2.2 Provide biodiversity training for local authority staff and elected S Waterford Co. Councilrepresentatives to inform best practise for biodiversity in WaterfordHeritage Forum(4.2.1) County Council. Heritage Council2.3 Provide demonstration sites of best practise for biodiversity in a S Waterford Co. Councilrange of habitats e.g. salt marsh, roadside verges, linear walkways.NRAHeritage Forum2.4 Based on the county hedgerow survey, produce guidelines and M Waterford Co. Councilinformation on planting, trimming and retention of hedges,Heritage Forum(4.1.18) especially aimed at new houses in rural areas. TeagascIrish Wildlife Trust2.5 Provide guidance for developers, the public and local authority S Waterford Co. Councilstaff on integrating biodiversity conservation into the developmentHeritage Forumprocess.2.6 Install information signage for special habitats at access points e.g. M Waterford Co. CouncilArdmore Head, Mahon Falls, Tramore and other appropriate locations. Heritage ForumNPWS2.7 Install signage on biodiversity at forest amenity areas. M Coillte2.8 Organise practical training and information seminars for entrants S Waterford Co. Councilto Golden Mile Competition on aspects of care and conservationHeritage Forum(4.1.22) of natural heritage. Community Groups2.9 Review policies on biodiversity/natural heritage in review of County S Waterford Co. CouncilDevelopment Plan to ensure comprehensive protection of biodiversity Heritage Forumin the planning process.2.10 Organise and support events to celebrate Biodiversity Day O Waterford County Council,in County Waterford.Heritage Forum,National Biodiversity DataCentre2.11 Raise awareness on farmland birds – produce an information M Waterford Institute ofand guidance booklet for farmers on Chough, Yellowhammer,TechnologySkylark and Barn Owl, detailing appropriate managementIrish Wildlife Trusttechniques to help these species.Waterford Co. CoIFA, ICMSA, ICA, Teagasc,BirdWatch Ireland,Irish Wildlife Trust.C O U N T Y W AT E R F O R D LO C A L B I O D I V E R S I T Y A C T I O N P L A NO = Ongoing S = Short term M = Medium term L = Long term25

Objective 3 Maintaining and enhancing biodiversityThese are priority actions for active management of critical biodiversity features of the county.ActionRef. No(HeritagePlan ActionNo.) Action Priority Partners3.1 Introduce measures to protect and enhance coastal biodiversity S Waterford Co. Council(4.1.24) as part of Integrated Coastal Zone Management at Tramore Heritage ForumHeritage CouncilNPWS, BirdWatch Ireland,Irish Wildlife TrustCoastWatch3.2 Seek to protect the biodiversity of the Comeragh/Monavullagh M Waterford Co. Counciluplands through implementation of a landscape-scale designation,Community & Voluntary(3.0.7) facilitated by an uplands forum. Forum, Irish UplandsForum, NPWS, IFA,- Review types of designations and best practice suitable to the ICMSA, ICA‘living’ landscape of the uplands, which includes farmed, privateIrish Wildlife Trustand commonage land- Present options and carry out stakeholder consultation-Produce recommendations for type and location of designation3.3 Develop an awareness programme and provide information to the S Waterford County Council,public on prevention and management of invasive species inNational Biodiversity DataCounty Waterford.Centre, All-IrelandInvasive Species InitiativeWaterford InstituteTechnology3.4 Support ecological survey of and consultation process in seeking L NPWS, Waterford CountyNHA status for the Knockmealdown uplands.Council, South TipperaryCounty CouncilC O U N T Y W AT E R F O R D LO C A L B I O D I V E R S I T Y A C T I O N P L A N3.5 Ensure compliance with the Catchment Plan for Freshwater Pearl O Waterford Co. CouncilMussel populations in the South East Region in partnership withCoillteother local authorities.South East RegionalAuthorityNPWS3.6 Support development of a native tree and shrub section from M Forest Service, Teagasc(4.1.32) locally-sourced seed in a local nursery3.7 Liaise with Waterford City Council to ensure that habitats and S Waterford Co. Councilspecies along the administrative boundary are looked afterWaterford City Councilin a coherent way.3.8 Establish a Co. Waterford squirrel group to survey and monitor O Heritage Forum/Heritagesquirrels, promote red squirrel friendly management of woodlands,Officer, Molecular Ecologypromote education and awareness of red squirrels and to instigateResearch Group ofgrey squirrel control programmes if necessary; in conjunction withWaterford Institute ofthe All-Ireland Species Action Plan for Red SquirrelTechnology, Coillte, NPWS3.9 Record and collate information on upland fires with a view to S Waterford County Councilinforming future management.Fire Service3.10 Promote sustainable management of the uplands by addressing S Waterford County Councilfire and grazing issues with a view to improving local water quality,Fire Service Teagasc, Hilland the ecological and amenity values of the uplands.Sheep Farmers’ Assoc.;Dept of Agriculture,NPWS.26O = Ongoing S = Short term M = Medium term L = Long term

Monitoring and review of the planSaltmarsh, River Brickey (Bernadette Guest) • Small Tortoiseshell ((Dr. Liam Lysaght)) • Furze or Gorse ((Dr. Liam Lysaght)Progress on implementing the plan will be monitored by checking against the indicators listed below.Overall administration of the plan• Number of actions from the plan that are implemented• Funding sourced for implementation of the plan, from both the Local Authority and other sources• Number of meetings of the Biodiversity Working Group heldAddressing information gaps• Number of new data sets gathered• Number of gaps filled and previously unknown gaps identifiedRaising awareness• Number of events/programmes organised• Number of people attending events• Range of sectoral interests of partners/participants represented• Percentage of Waterford County Council staff and Elected Members receiving training and contributing tobiodiversity actionsMaintaining and enhancing biodiversity• Number of actions implemented• Range of sectoral interests of partners/participants represented• Measured success of different actions based on their own specific indicators (may only be apparent beyond thelife of this plan)ReviewThe plan will be subject to a mid-term review and evaluation in 2010 by the Biodiversity Working Group of the CountyHeritage Forum and a final evaluation in 2013. These evaluations will inform how the next Waterford Biodiversity ActionPlan is drawn up.C O U N T Y W AT E R F O R D LO C A L B I O D I V E R S I T Y A C T I O N P L A N27

BibliographyC O U N T Y W AT E R F O R D LO C A L B I O D I V E R S I T Y A C T I O N P L A N28Bailey, M. & Rochford, J., 2006. Irish Wildlife Manual No23: Otter Survey of Ireland 2004/2005. Department of theEnvironment, Heritage and Local Government, IrelandBennett, A.F. 1998, 2003. Linkages in the Landscape: TheRole of Corridors and Connectivity in WildlifeConservation. IUCN, Gland, Switerland and Cambridge,U.K.BirdWatch Ireland, 2007. Policy Statement. TheProduction of Local Biodiversity Action Plans. Policy 04-02January 2004, updated June 2007(0701). BirdWatchIreland, WicklowCarey, M., Hamilton, G., Poole, A. & Lawton, C., 2007.The Irish Squirrel Survey 2007. Coford, Dublin.Cronin, M., Duck, C., O Cadhla, O., Nairn, R., Strong, D. &O’Keeffe, C., 2003. Irish Wildlife Manual No 11: Harbourseal population assessment in the Republic of Ireland.Department of the Environment, Heritage and LocalGovernment, IrelandCurtis, T.G.F. & McGough H.N., 1988. Irish Red DataBook 1: Vascular Plants. Stationery Office, Dublin.Department of Environment, Heritage & LocalGovernment, 2005. Interim Review of the Implementationof the National Biodiversity Plan 2002-2006. DublinDwyer, R. B., 2000. Protecting Nature in Ireland. The NGOSpecial Areas of Conservation Shadow List. Irish PeatlandConservation Council, Dublin.Forest Service, 2000. Forest Biodiversity Guidelines.Department of Agriculture, Dublin.Foss, P., 2007. Study of the Extent and Conservation Statusof Springs, Fens and Flushes in Ireland. National Parks &Wildlife Service, Dublin.Foster, G. N. & Nelson, B. H., 2007. Regional Red List ofIrish water beetles 2007. Unpublished report to theNational Parks & Wildlife Service, Dublin.Government of Ireland, 2002. National Biodiversity Plan.Department of Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands.Green, P.R., 2006. Knockanore: botanically the bestchurchyard in Co. Waterford (v.c. H6)? In: Irish BotanicalNews No. 16, March 2006. Botanical Society of the BritishIslesHayden, T. & Harrington, R., 2000. Exploring IrishMammals. Town House & Country House Ltd., DublinHeritage Council, 2003. Guidelines for the production ofLocal Biodiversity Action Plans (draft). The HeritageCouncil, Kilkenny.Hickie, D., 1997. Evaluation of Environmental Designationsin Ireland. The Heritage Council, KilkennyHiggins, G.T., Martin, J.R. & Perrin, P.M., 2004. NationalSurvey of Native Woodland in Ireland 2004 Interim Report.Unpublished report to National Parks & Wildlife Service.BEC Consultants, Dublin.Holyoak, D.T., 2003. The Distribution of Bryophytes inIreland: An Annotated review of the occurrence ofliverworts and mosses on the records of the BritishBryological Society. 564 pp. Broadleaf Books, Vale ofGlamorgan, UK.Igoe, F., O’Grady, M.F., Tierney, D. & Fitzmaurice, P., 2003.Arctic Char Salvelinus Alpinus (L) in Ireland – a Milleniumreview of its distribution and status with conservationrecommendations. Biology and Environment:Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy, Vol. 103B, No. 1,9-22. Royal Irish Academy.Iremonger, S., T. Gittings, G.F. Smith, M.W. Wilson, A.Oxbrough, L. Coote, J. Pithon, S. O’Donoghue, A.-M.McKee, J. O’Halloran, D.L. Kelly, P.S. Giller, A. O’Sullivan,P. Neville, F.J.G. Mitchell, V. O’Donnell, T.C. Kelly, and P.Dowding, 2006. Investigation of experimental methods toenhance biodiversity in plantation forests. BIOFORESTProject 3.1.3 Final Report. Report prepared for COFORDand EPA. 152 pp. plus 38 figs.McDonnell, S., 2005. The impact of one-off housing onHedgerow Boundaries in Stuake/Donoughmore, Co. Cork.BSc Planning and Environmental Management 2005. DITBolton St.McGrath, D., 2001. A Guide to Tramore Bay, Dunes andBackstrand. Intacta Print, Waterford.McGrath, D., 2006. A Guide to Wildlife in Waterford City.Intacta Print, WaterfordNairn, R., 2007. Local Biodiversity Areas – Nature on ourDoorstep. In: Heritage Outlook Summer/Autumn 2007.The Heritage Council, Kilkenny.National Parks & Wildlife Service & Environment &Heritage Service, 2005. All Ireland Species Action Plans:Irish Lady’s-tresses, Pollan, Hare, Corncrake. Departmentof the Environment, Heritage and Local Government,Ireland & Department of the Environment, NorthernIreland

National Parks & Wildlife Service, 2007. All IrelandSpecies Action Plan – Killarney Fern Draft for PublicConsultation. Department of the Environment, Heritageand Local Government, IrelandNational Parks & Wildlife Service, 2007. All IrelandSpecies Action Plan – Bats Draft for Public Consultation.Department of the Environment, Heritage and LocalGovernment, IrelandNational Parks & Wildlife Service, 2007. Species ActionPlan Otter Draft for Public Consultation. NPWS, Dublin.National Parks & Wildlife Service / Environment &Heritage Service, 2007. All-Ireland Species Action PlanRed Squirrel Draft for Public Consultation. NPWS/EHSNIDublin/Belfast.National Roads Authority, 2006. EnvironmentalAssessment and Construction Guidelines. NRA, Dublin.Natura Environmental Consultants, 2005. LocalBiodiversity Areas. A Pilot Study on the identification andevaluation of local areas for wildlife and natureconservation. Natura, Wicklow.Natura Environmental Consultants, 2006. CountyWaterford Wetlands Survey Final Report November 2006.Unpublished report for Waterford County Council. NaturaEnvironmental Consultants, Wicklow.O’Mahony, D., O’Reilly, C. & Turner, P., 2005. NationalPine Marten Survey of Ireland 2005. Coford, DublinO’Meara, M., 2001. The Lepidoptera of Waterford City &County. Fauna of Waterford Series, No. 1. WaterfordWildlife, Waterford.O’Meara, M., 2001. The Amphibians, Reptiles & Mammalsof Waterford City & County. Fauna of Waterford Series,No. 2. Waterford Wildlife, Waterford.O’Meara, M., 2001. A Bibliography of the Flora and Faunaof Waterford. Fauna of Waterford Series, No. 3. WaterfordWildlife, Waterford. (Updated 2007).O’Meara, M., 2001. The Dragonflies of Waterford City andCounty. Fauna of Waterford Series, No. 4. WaterfordWildlife, Waterford. (And update 2007).O’Meara, M., 2002. The Spiders of County Waterford.Fauna of Waterford Series, No. 5. Waterford Wildlife,Waterford.O’Meara, M., 2002. A Revised List of the Birds ofWaterford. Fauna of Waterford Series, No. 6. WaterfordWildlife, Waterford.O’Meara, M. 2002. The Woodlice of Waterford City andCounty. Fauna of Waterford Series, No. 7. WaterfordWildlife, Waterford.O’Meara, M. 2004. A Miscellany of Waterford Wildlife.Fauna of Waterford Series, No. 8. Waterford Wildlife,Waterford (CD ROM).O’Meara, M. 2005. The Snails and Slugs of Waterford.Fauna of Waterford Series, No. 9. Waterford Wildlife,Waterford.O’Meara, M. 2007. The Mayflies of County Waterford.Fauna of Waterford Series, No. 10. Waterford Wildlife,Waterford.O’Meara, M., 2003. The Beetles of Waterford City andCounty. Fauna of Waterford Series, No. 11. WaterfordWildlife, Waterford.Preston, C. D., Pearman, D. A., & Dines, T. D., 2002. NewAtlas of the British & Irish Flora. Oxford University Press.Reid, N., Dingerkus, K., Montgomery, W. I., Marnell, F.,Jeffrey, J., Lynn, D., Kingston, N., & McDonald, R. A.,2007. Irish Wildlife Manual No 30: Status of hares inIreland. Department of the Environment, Heritage andLocal Government, IrelandSmith, G.F., T. Gittings, M.W. Wilson, L. French, A.Oxbrough, S. O’Donoghue, J. Pithon, V. O’Donnell, A.-M.McKee, S. Iremonger, J. O’Halloran, D.L. Kelly, F.J.G.Mitchell, P.S. Giller and T. Kelly, 2005. Assessment ofbiodiversity at different stages of the forest cycle.BIOFOREST Project 3.1.2 Final Report. Report preparedfor COFORD and EPA. 194pp. plus 74 Figs.Smith, G.F., T. Gittings, M.W. Wilson, A. Oxbrough, S.Iremonger, S. O’Donoghue, A.-M. McKee, J. O’Halloran, ,D.L. Kelly, J. Pithon, A. O’Sullivan, P. Neville, F.J.G.Mitchell, P.S. Giller, V. O’Donnell and T.C. Kelly, 2006.Biodiversity Assessment of Afforestation Sites.BIOFOREST Project 3.1.1 Final Report. Report preparedfor COFORD and EPA. 203pp. plus 32 figs.Tubridy, M. & O’Riain, G., 2002. Preliminary Study of theNeeds Associated with a National Ecological Network(2000-LS-4-4) Final Report. Environmental ProtectionAgency, Wexford.Stokes, K., O’Neill, K. & McDonald, R.A., 2004. Invasivespecies in Ireland. Report to Environment & HeritageService and National Parks & Wildlife Service. Quercus,Queens University Belfast, Belfast.Waterford City Council, 2002. Waterford City DevelopmentPlan.C O U N T Y W AT E R F O R D LO C A L B I O D I V E R S I T Y A C T I O N P L A N29

Waterford County Council, 2005. Step by Step. A WalkingStrategy for County Waterford.Waterford County Council, 2005. Waterford CountyDevelopment Plan 2005-2011.Waterford County Council, 2006. County WaterfordHeritage Plan 2006-2010.Whilde, A., 1993. Irish Red Data Book 2: Vertebrates.Stationery Office, Dublin.Young, R., 1972. A Report on Areas of Scientific Interest inCo. Waterford. An Foras Forbartha, Dublin.Websiteswww.waterfordcoco.iewww.npws.iewww.biodiversityireland.iewww.waterfordwildlife.comwww.waterfordbirds.comwww.noticenature.iewww.batconservationireland.orgwww.coillte.iewww.srfb.iewww.cbd.intwww.ipcc.iewww.epa.ieC O U N T Y W AT E R F O R D LO C A L B I O D I V E R S I T Y A C T I O N P L A Nwww.biology.iewww.serbd.comwww.swrbd.iewww.botanicgardens.iewww.iwdg.iewww.treecouncil.ie/tree_register_of_ireland.htmwww.butterflyireland.comwww.mothsireland.comwww.habitas.org.uk/dragonflyireland/http://eunis.eea.europa.eu/sites.jsp30

Appendix 1 Nature conservation areas in County WaterfordSpecial Areas of ConservationNPWSSite codeSite nameHabitats & species present which are listed in the Annexes of theHabitats Directive002123 Ardmore Head Dry coastal heath and sea cliffs.000072Blackwater River(Cork/Waterford)Estuary, mudflats, shingle banks, salt meadows, floating rivervegetation, old oak woods, alluvial woodland, Yew woodland,Freshwater Pearl Mussel, White-clawed Crayfish, Shad, Lampreys,Salmon, Otter, Killarney Fern.001952 Comeragh MountainsBlanket bog, dry, wet and alpine heath, rocky slopes, oligotrophiclakes, floating river vegetation, Shining Sicklemoss.002324 Glendine Wood Semi-natural woodland with rare assemblages of ground flora.000665 Helvick Head Vegetated sea cliffs and dry heath.002137 Lower River SuirSalt meadows, floating river vegetation, marginal river vegetation, oldoak woods, alluvial woodland, yew woods, Shad, LampreysFreshwater Pearl Mussel, White-clawed Crayfish, Salmon, Otter.000668 Nire Valley Woods Old oak woodlands and dry heath.002162River Nore andRiver Barrow(Waterford Estuary)Estuary, mudflats, salt meadows, floating river vegetation, dry heath,marginal river vegetation, petrifying springs, old oak woods, alluvialwoods, White-clawed Crayfish, Freshwater Pearl Mussel, Whorl snail,Shad, Lampreys, Salmon, Otter, Killarney Fern.00671Special Protection AreasNPWSSite codeTramore Dunes andBack StrandSite nameMudflats and sandflats, shingle banks, salt meadows, embryonic,white and fixed dunes.Main Annex I bird species004027 Tramore Backstrand Golden Plover, Bar-tailed Godwit.004032 Dungarvan Bay Great Northern Diver, Bar-tailed Godwit, Golden Plover.004094 Blackwater Callows Whooper swan, Bewick’s Swan, Golden Plover, Kingfisher.004028 Blackwater Estuary004192 Helvick Head Coast Peregrine, Chough.004193 Mid Waterford Coast Peregrine, Chough.Little Egret, Golden Plover, Bar-tailed Godwit, Sandwich Tern,Roseate Tern, Common Tern.C O U N T Y W AT E R F O R D LO C A L B I O D I V E R S I T Y A C T I O N P L A N31

proposed Natural Heritage AreasNPWSSite codeSite nameMain conservation features1691 Ballin Lough Shallow, nutrient- rich lake in hills, surrounded by reeds.1692 Ballyeelinan WoodWooded valley by the sea with fast stream and waterfall Undisturbednorthern end with oak.1693Ballyvoyle Head toTramore23 kilometres of coast with cliffs and coastal dry heaths. Important forbreeding birds including Cormorants, Choughs, Peregrine Falconsand Guillemots.659 Belle LakeShallow lake with marginal and submerged plant communities of note:also wintering waterfowl.0072Blackwater River &EstuaryDrowned river valley with wet woodland and good floodplain marshes.Wintering birds at Kinsalebeg and Youghal.0073 Blackwater River callowsThe river valley above Cappoquin, with flooding grassland, abandonedriver channels and considerable importance for winter birdlife.0660Carrickavrantry Reservoir& MarshArtificial lake with water of exceptional clarity and a rich variety ofaquatic plants, many of them rare in the county.1695 Castlecraddock Fen Interesting swamp vegetation in a shallow, peaty basin.0399Coolfin and DarrigalMarshesDamp marshy fields around Coolfin used by wintering waterfowlLocally important for wintering Greylag Geese andWhooper Swans.2116 Creadan Head Coastal heath in good condition.C O U N T Y W AT E R F O R D LO C A L B I O D I V E R S I T Y A C T I O N P L A N1897Curraun Bog, Farbreagaand Coum EagValuable fragments of blanket bog and heath vegetation at southernend of Comeraghs.0664 Dunmore East Cliffs Large kittiwake (gull) colonies on several cliffs, well studied.0663 Dungarvan Harbour1697Fenor Bog (Also a NatureReserve)Large estuarine bay, which dries out considerably at low tide givingmudflats. Some marginal saltmarshes and sandy beaches but birdlifeis the main interest, with major wintering flocks.Small acidic marsh with interesting wetland communities.0402 Fiddown Island Alluvial Woodland, mudflats and river channel.1698 Glen Anna Wood1933 Glenmore Woods0666 Islandtarsney Fen1701 Kilsheelan LakeDeep gorge running to the coast below Ballymacart with nutrient- richwoodland.Oak woodland in a side branch of the Blackwater valley. Goodvegetational development with small numbers of introduced species.Reedswamp and other vegetation of interest, relatively rare in thesouth-east.Nutrient- rich lake with large bird and fish populations includingbreeding carp.32

Proposed Natural Heritage Areas contd.NPWSSite codeSite name1702 King’s Channel0667 Lismore WoodsMain conservation featuresSaltmarsh fringe to the Suir River estuary below Waterford. Goodvegetational development with some rare species.Species- rich woodland of oak and hazel, probably surviving sinceancient times. Some introduced shrubs, Rhododendron andCherry Laurel.1705 Lissaviron bog Acidic peaty marsh with patches of Bulrush and Meadowsweet.0668 Nire valley woods0669 Portlaw WoodsSemi-natural patches of woodland on the western slopes of theComeragh Mts. Full range of wildlife though some introducedspecies also.An important semi-natural woodland on both sides of the Clodiaghriver, dominated by Oak. Some introduced shrubs, e.g.Rhododendron and Cherry Laurel.1707 Stradbally Woods Mature estate woodland along the valley of the River Tay.0670Tallow Church (DisusedChurch of Ireland)Large and important bat roost occurs in the roof of this disusedchurch.1708 Toor Wood1952 Comeragh MountainsSmall deciduous woodland with oak and ash, surrounded byconifers. Some exotic species.Diverse range of habitats including blanket bog, heath, uplandgrassland, scree, exposed rock, lakes and streams. Many corrieswith associated oligotrophic lakesC O U N T Y W AT E R F O R D LO C A L B I O D I V E R S I T Y A C T I O N P L A N33

Appendix 2 List of consultees who contributed to the planRepresentativeOrganisation/SectionHeritage ForumMr. Cyril SaichNational Parks & Wildlife ServiceMr. John O’HalloranCoillteMr. Jim ShineBirdwatch Ireland/ Dungarvan MuseumMs. Suzanne CampionSouthern Regional Fisheries BoardMr. Andrew CoxEnvironmental NGOsMr. Harry GrayIFAMr. Tom AhearneICMSAMs. Eileen O’CallaghanICAMr. Paddy O’BrienTeagascMr. Niall O’BrienCommunity ForumWaterford County CouncilMr. Ray O’DwyerCounty ManagerMr. Brian WhiteDirector of Services, Community & EnterpriseMr. Donal BradyCounty LibrarianMs. Jane O’NeillArea EngineerMs. Bernadette GuestHeritage OfficerMr. Ross O’SheaPlanningMs. Ann KielyHousingMr. Colum FlynnSanitary ServicesMr. Richie WalshPlanningMr. Eoin DulleaHorticulturalistC O U N T Y W AT E R F O R D LO C A L B I O D I V E R S I T Y A C T I O N P L A NOthersMr. Dominic BerridgeDr. Liam LysaghtDr. Eugenie ReganMr. Jack BerginDr. Peter TurnerMr. Paul GreenMr. Paul WalshMs. Rita ByrneMr. Michael O’MearaMr. Andrew MalcolmMr. Kevin CollinsMr. Pat NevilleMr. Kevin CollinsMs. Siobhan EganDr. Sinead CumminsMr. Geoff HamiltonMs. Anja MurrayMr. Jimmy TaaffeDr.Stephen McCormackMr. Charles KeaneNational Parks and Wildlife ServiceNational Biodiversity Data CentreNational Biodiversity Data CentreWaterford Institute of TechnologyWaterford Institute of TechnologyCounty Botanical RecorderWaterford BirdsFenor Bog groupWaterford WildlifeIrish Whale and Dolphin GroupForest ServiceCoillteTipperary BirdWatchBirdWatch IrelandBirdWatch IrelandIrish Squirrel SurveyAn TaisceWaterford LEADER PartnershipEntomologistCappoquin Estate34

Appendix 3 Glossary of TermsAnnex I Natural habitat types of community interestwhose conservation requires the designation of SpecialAreas of ConservationAnnex II Animal and plant species of community interestwhose conservation requires the designation of SpecialAreas of ConservationAnnex III Criteria for selecting sites eligible foridentification as sites of community importance anddesignation as Special Areas of ConservationAnnex IV Animal and plant species of community interestin need of strict protectionLBAP Local Biodiversity Action PlanNatura 2000 Network of protected sites (SPAs and SACs)established under European legislation, and referred to inthe Habitats DirectiveNHA Natural Heritage Area - designation under theWildlife (Amendment) Act 2000.The basic designation for wildlife is the Natural HeritageArea (NHA). This is an area considered important for thehabitats present or which holds species of plants andanimals whose habitat needs protection.NPWS National Parks and Wildlife ServiceAnnex V Animal and plant species of community interestwhose taking in the wild and exploitation may be subjectto management measuresAppropriate Assessment Assessment of the impacts ofland use plans on SACs and SPAs as provided for underArticle 6 of the 1992 Habitats DirectiveBiodiversity biological diversity – the variety of life in allits forms. The Convention on Biological Diversity gives aformal definition of biodiversity as: “biological diversitymeans the variability among living organisms from allsources including, inter alia, terrestrial, marine and otheraquatic ecosystems and the ecological complexes ofwhich they are part; this includes diversity within species,between species and of ecosystems”.BWI BirdWatch IrelandSAC Special Areas of Conservation (SAC) are the primewildlife conservation areas in the country, considered tobe important on a European as well as Irish level. Thelegal basis on which SACs are selected and designated isthe EU Habitats Directive. The Directive lists certainhabitats and species that must be protected within SACs,these include raised bogs and blanket bogs.Earth Summit United Nations Conference onEnvironment and Development (Rio 1992) (also UNCED)EIA Environmental Impact Assessment of projectsEPA Environmental Protection AgencyFEPS Forest Environment Protect Scheme – providesREPS farmers opportunities to create woodlandsIPCC Irish Peatland Conservation CouncilIUCN The World Conservation UnionI-WeBS The Irish Wetland Bird Survey (I-WeBS) is thescheme that monitors wintering water birds in Ireland.The survey runs from September to March each winter.IWDG Irish Whale and Dolphin GrouppNHA proposed NHAs, were published on a nonstatutorybasis in 1995, but have not since beenstatutorily proposed or designated. These sites are ofsignificance for wildlife and habitats.Ramsar site Name given to wetlands of internationalimportance after an international convention held inRamsar, Iran in 1971Red Data Books List species of conservation concern.The International Union for the Conservation of Natureand Natural Resources (IUCN) Red List Categories andCriteria were developed to objectively assess andprioritise species for conservation purposes. A review ofthese categories and criteria was completed in 1998 and1999 (IUCN Red list categories and criteria Version 3.1).Most countries have produced their own Red lists andRed data books of species using both IUCN categoriesand incorporating local and national knowledge ofspecies.REPS Rural Environment Protection SchemeSEA Strategic Environmental Assessment of plans andprogrammesSAC Special Area of Conservation (SAC) are the primewildlife conservation areas in the country, considered tobe important on a European as well as Irish level. Thelegal basis on which SACs are selected and designated isthe EU Habitats Directive. The Directive lists certainhabitats and species that must be protected within SACs,these include raised bogs and blanket bogs.SPA Special Protection Area - designation under theBirds DirectiveWater Framework Directive sets a framework forcomprehensive management of water resources in theEuropean Community, within a common approach andwith common objectives, principles and basic measuresC O U N T Y W AT E R F O R D LO C A L B I O D I V E R S I T Y A C T I O N P L A N35

Appendix 4 Members of County Waterford Heritage ForumCllr. Lola O’SullivanCllr. Mary GreeneCllr. Paddy O’CallaghanCllr. Bernard LeddyMr. Tom AhearneMs. Suzanne CampionMr. Andrew CoxMr. Enda FlynnMr. Stan FlynnMr. Harry GrayMr. Niall O’BrienMr. Paddy O’BrienMs. Eileen O’CallaghanMs. Maeve O’CallaghanMr. John O’HalloranMr. Micheál MaranáinMr. Cyril SaichMr. James ShineWaterford County Council (CHAIR)Waterford County Council(VICE CHAIR)Waterford County CouncilLismore Town CouncilIrish Creamery Milk Suppliers AssociationSouthern Regional Fisheries BoardEnvironmental Non Government Organisation GroupingCommunity ForumLEADER/DevelopmentIrish Farmers Association nomineeCommunity ForumTeagascIrish Countrywoman’s Association/Rural organisationsNational Monuments ServiceCoillteCommunity ForumNational Parks and Wildlife ServiceMuseum Sector and BirdWatch IrelandMembers of Cultural and Heritage StrategicPolicy CommitteeC O U N T Y W AT E R F O R D LO C A L B I O D I V E R S I T Y A C T I O NP L A NCllr. Lola O’SullivanCllr. Tom HigginsCllr. Kevin WilkinsonCllr. Brendan MansfieldMr. Michael O’Riordan,Cllr. Joe Conway,Cllr. Bernard Leddy,Mr. Jimmy O’Gorman,Mr. Niall O’Brien,Mr. Micheál Ó Maranán,Mr. Stan Nangle,Ms. Máire Uí Bhroin,TMr. om SuttonWaterford County CouncilWaterford County CouncilWaterford County CouncilWaterford County CouncilDungarvan Town CouncilTramore Town CouncilLismore Town CouncilCultural Development. GroupCommunity ForumCommunity ForumCommunity ForumChildcare CommitteeLEADER36

Waterford County Council,Civic Offices,Dungarvan,Co. Waterford.Telephone: 058 22000Fax: 058 42911Comhairle Contae Phort Láirge,Oifgí Cathartha,Dún Garbhán,Co. Phort Láirge.Guthán: 058 22000Faics: 058 42911w w w . w a t e r f o r d c o c o . i eISBN 978-0-9532022-6-3