Monaghan launches a Wetland Network for nature, climate and people
The Monaghan Wetland Network is launching during National Heritage Week, to showcase the importance of wetlands for nature, climate and people.
The purpose of the Monaghan Wetland Network is to safeguard our wetlands through conservation and nature enhancement measures, promoting their biodiversity, cultural, health benefits and values, sharing our experiences and building capacity to protect our wonderful wetland heritage.
Funding is also being made available through Monaghan County Council, via the Monaghan Wetland Action Plan Fund to carry out actions at a Wetland Network sites. The aim of the fund is to incentivise community groups and individual landowners to take positive actions for wetland sites as part of the Monaghan Wetlands Action Plan. The fund is modest, but it is planned to grow this in subsequent years as the network develops.
The Heritage Office of Monaghan County Council invites people, community groups and landowners to join the County Monaghan Wetland Network. The Heritage Officer Shirley Clerkin said “We are in a climate and biodiversity crisis, and we need our wetlands as part of a resilient nature to help buffer some of the negative impacts of these changes. We also need to build understanding and skills about nature and wetlands in the county. Our recent attitudes study found that 87% of respondents were interested in conserving wetlands. This network is a response to this need.”
This network is part of the County Monaghan Wetland Action Plan, which is developing a plan to protect, enhance, conserve, and advocate for the biodiversity and heritage of Monaghan’s wetlands. Monaghan County Council Heritage Office is working alongside Wetlands Surveys Ireland to develop the plan, and a web app to make it easy to identify wetland sites.
How to join the County Monaghan Wetland Network? ... you can find out more and download a booklet on the scheme on the County Monaghan Heritage website by following this link: bit.ly/MonaghanWetlandNetwork
This project is being funded by Monaghan County Council Heritage Office (monaghan.ie/heritage) and the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage under the National Biodiversity Action Plan.
An Introduction to Wetlands in County Tipperary
To coincide with the start of Heritage Week and to celebrate wetlands in County Tipperary, Wetland Surveys Ireland have just published a new online story map entitled: An Introduction to Wetlands in County Tipperary.
The story map was produced by Mary Catherine Gallagher and Peter Foss and was funded by the Tipperary Heritage Office through the National Biodiversity Action Plan fund.
The online story map features lots of information on the wetlands found in County Tipperary, their importance to our wildlife and our own health and includes a section on wetlands to visit in County Tipperary.
You can see the story map at: bit.ly/TipperaryWetlands
#MapofIrishWetlands @TheHeritageCouncil @tipperarycc @tipperarylibraries @DeptHLGH
Leitrim’s Wetland Wealth
Leitrim’s Wetland Wealth - A story map showcasing the wetland habitats of County Leitrim has just been launched by Wetland Surveys Ireland as part of the forthcoming Heritage Week events.
The story map was produced by Mary Catherine Gallagher and Peter Foss and was funded by the Leitrim Heritage Office through the County Heritage Plan scheme.
The story map features a range of information about the wetlands found in County Leitrim, their importance to our wildlife and the ecosystem services they provide us with. The story map includes a section on wetlands to visit in County Leitrim.
You can see the story map at: bit.ly/LeitrimWetlands
#MapofIrishWetlands @TheHeritageCouncil @DeptHLGH @leitrimcoco
MWAP Public Survey on attitudes to wetlands
During April we asked people to complete a questionnaire on a range of topics relating to peoples attitudes and knowledge about wetlands in County Monaghan, which would inform the development of the County Monaghan Wetland Action Plan.
The infographic below shows a summary of findings from the 156 completed surveys submitted. The project team would like to thank all those who completed a survey and for the additional valuable information they provide on many wetlands in the county.
You can download the infographic PDF here.
#MonaghanWAP #MapofIrishWetlands
FarmPEAT Project looking to recruit a Project Officer
The FarmPEAT Project is currently looking to recruit a Project Officer with an agri-environmental background. The position is based out of our midland office in Moate, County Westmeath. View the job description and instructions on how to apply on the projects website at www.farmpeat.ie.
#FarmPEAT
Restoring Monaghan's Wetlands - Free Webinar - All welcome!
During the online webinar we will:
- outline the value of County Monaghan wetlands and the ecosystem services they provide such as carbon capture and flood control
- hear from groups who have undertaken wetland projects
- learn how you can help take action to protect and restore wetlands
- find out more about the objectives of the Monaghan Wetland Action Plan
When: Apr 27, 2021 at 19:00 on Zoom
Webinar registration: bit.ly/MWAPwebinar
We hope to see you there!
#MonaghanWAP #MapofIrishWetlands
Public survey on attitudes to wetlands in County Monaghan
The County Monaghan Wetland Action Plan 2020-2021 aims to develop an integrated plan for the conservation of the wetland resource in County Monaghan, through co-operation and engagement with a wide range of partners and community groups.
As part of the development of the plan the project team are asking members of the public to complete a short anonymous questionnaire on their attitudes to wetlands, how people use them and what they value about wetlands across the county.
The survey is being undetaken on behalf of the Monaghan County Council Heritage Office (monaghan.ie/heritage) and the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage under the National Biodiversity Action Plan.
You can complete the survey by using this link: bit.ly/WetlandsPublicSurvey
#MonaghanWAP #MapofIrishWetlands
County Monaghan Wetland Action Plan Preliminary Scope and Methodology Report 2020
The County Monaghan Wetland Action Plan 2020-2021 (MWAP) aims to develop an integrated plan for the conservation of the wetland resource in County Monaghan, through co-operation and engagement with a wide range of partners and community groups. A report outlining the methodology to be used in the formulation of the MWAP has been just been published by Monaghan County Council.
Extensive work has been undertaken over the past fifteen years in identifying and characterizing the ecological character of wetlands throughout County Monaghan. The outcome of this work has produced a valuable dataset containing information on 710 wetlands, of which 202 have been subject to field survey. This information will form the basis of a Wetland Action Plan for the county. As part of this project, those 202 sites for which standard information is available will be evaluated in relation to the provision of ecosystem services following a “Rapid Assessment of Wetland Ecosystem Services (RAWES)” approach as promoted by the Ramsar convention. This approach aims to assess the multiple benefits that wetlands provide.
Following the RAWES assessment, the project will objectively identify management, restoration and rehabilitation priorities for the wetland resource of the county to, amongst other things, improve biodiversity outcomes and climate mitigation/adaptation.
The project will help define climate action as well as management strategies, defining an action plan for wetland protection in County Monaghan.
The project will help determine whether high-carbon ecosystems should be prioritised for restoration and rehabilitation budgets over the coming years to safeguard peat carbon storage and sequestration. In the County Monaghan context, wetlands that are not peatlands may play important roles in flood mitigation and biodiversity protection and the ecosystem services on these sites will also be assessed as part of the project.
Actions will be costed as part of the plan and likely will focus on the re-wetting of drained fens and peatlands, prevention of nutrient inputs to wetlands, removal of invasive species including self-seeded conifers, awareness raising and capacity building initiatives.
A public engagement strategy will be developed and funding sources identified to ensure the wide uptake of the wetland action plan among partners and community groups, the primary beneficiaries in County Monaghan.
The County Monaghan Wetland Action Plan (MAWP) project is a joint project initiative funded by Monaghan County Council, and the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage.
#MonaghanWAP #MapofIrishWetlands
County Monaghan Wetland Action Plan 2020-2021 Web App
The County Monaghan Wetland Action Plan 2020-2021aims to develop an integrated plan for the conservation of the wetland resource in County Monaghan, through co-operation and engagement with a wide range of partners and community groups.
As part of this project, the 202 sites for which standard survey information is available thanks to past wetland surveys in the county, will be evaluated in relation to the multiple benefits (ecosystem services) that these wetlands provide.
A web app developed as part of the Monaghan Wetland Action Plan project shows the location of these wetland across the county, and allows local groups and interested parties see the results and outcome of the project.
The map can be viewed here: bit.ly/MonaghanWAP
The County Monaghan Wetland Action Plan (MAWP) project is a joint project initiative funded by Monaghan County Council, and the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage.
#MonaghanWAP #MapofIrishWetlands
County Monaghan Wetland Action Plan 2020-2021
The County Monaghan Wetland Action Plan 2020-2021aims to develop an integrated plan for the conservation of the wetland resource in County Monaghan, through co-operation and engagement with a wide range of partners and community groups. The plan is being launched to co-incide with World Wetlands Day on the 2 February.
Extensive work has been undertaken over the past fifteen years in identifying and characterizing the ecological character of wetlands throughout County Monaghan. The outcome of this work has produced a valuable dataset containing information on 710 wetlands, of which 202 have been subject to field survey.
This information will form the basis of a Wetland Action Plan for the county. As part of this project, the 202 sites for which standard information is available will be evaluated in relation to the multiple benefits (ecosystem services) that these wetlands provide.
The project will objectively identify management, restoration and rehabilitation priorities for the wetland resource of the county to, amongst other things, improve biodiversity outcomes and climate mitigation/adaptation.
The project will help define climate action as well as management strategies, defining an action plan for wetland protection in County Monaghan.
The project will help determine whether high-carbon ecosystems should be prioritised for restoration and rehabilitation budgets over the coming years to safeguard peat carbon storage and sequestration. In the County Monaghan context, wetlands that are not peatlands may play important roles in flood mitigation and biodiversity protection and the ecosystem services on these sites will also be assessed as part of the project.
Actions will be costed as part of the plan and likely will focus on the re-wetting of drained fens and peatlands, prevention of nutrient inputs to wetlands, removal of invasive species including self-seeded conifers, awareness raising and capacity building initiatives.
A public engagement strategy will be developed and funding sources identified to ensure the wide uptake of the wetland action plan among partners and community groups, the primary beneficiaries in County Monaghan.
The County Monaghan Wetland Action Plan (MAWP) project is a joint project initiative funded by Monaghan County Council, and the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage.
#MonaghanWAP #MapofIrishWetlands