Wetland Survey Ireland Project Details
The County Clare Wetlands Survey Desk Survey & GIS Preparation
Crushell, P. & Foss, P.J. (2008) The County Clare Wetlands Survey.
Desk Survey & GIS Preparation. Report for Clare County Council. pp
139.
The Clare Wetland Survey was carried out by Wetland Surveys
Ireland of behalf of Clare County Council, Clare Biodiversity Forum and
The Heritage Council. The aim of the survey was to prepare a GIS map
data layer and associated database of all known freshwater wetland
sites in County Clare. Wetland sites were identified following an
extensive review of literature and third party data sources.
Information stored on these sites included details of previous surveys
and general site characteristics. In addition to the known wetland
sites, a GIS dataset was established to record all mapped wetland
habitat within the county by incorporating map data provided from third
parties along with wetland identified by an analysis of aerial
photography of all wetland habitat within the county. Together these
datasets facilitated an assessment of the wetland resource of the
entire county.
During the course of the survey over 34 different wetland habitat types
were recorded. In total 2069 wetland habitat units were mapped using
GIS, comprising an area of over 23,000 hectares. Detailed information
was collated on 300 discrete sites that were been previously reported
in the literature. A key result to emerge is that significant gaps
exist in relation to our knowledge of this resource, due primarily to a
lack of detailed habitat surveys.
A number of wetland habitat types were identified for which habitat
data, information on habitat extent, site boundaries and conservation
status is lacking in many cases. These should be a priority for survey
as part of the ongoing development of a wetland inventory for the
county. These habitats include: turloughs, rich fen and flush, tall
herb swamp, spring sites and wet grassland.
The most valuable outcome of the CWS are the two databases that have
been developed during the course of the survey. These contain a vast
array of information on the extent, distribution, previous studies
carried out and characteristics of the entire wetland resource in the
county. They should prove most useful as information sources for any
future investigations into the biodiversity contribution of Clare
wetlands.
WS
For further information on the Clare Wetland Survey or to receive a
copy of the final report contact the Heritage Officer in Clare County
Council.
Survey of Red Grouse
(Lagopus lagopus) Habitat in Ireland
Crushell, P and O’Callaghan, R. (2008). Survey of Red Grouse
(Lagopus lagopus) habitat in Ireland. Report and accompanying GIS
datasets prepared for National Parks and Wildlife Service, Department
of the Environment Heritage and Local Government, Ireland.
This project was undertaken on behalf of the National Parks and
Wildlife Service and BirdWatch Ireland to determine the status of Red
Grouse (Lagopus lagopus) habitat across its entire range in Ireland.
Red Grouse are known to be in serious decline in recent decades and is
listed as a species of high conservation concern in the Irish Red Data
Book. Red Grouse in Ireland are closely associated with Ling Heather
(Calluna vulgaris) dominated habitats such as upland heath-land,
blanket bog and lowland raised bog. Much of the decline is thought to
be due to deterioration of habitat quality resulting from changes and
intensification of land-use.
The main aim of the RGHS was to gather data to enable an assessment of
the habitat relationships of Red Grouse and the impacts of land-use
such as grazing, afforestation, peat extraction and burning on their
distribution in the Republic of Ireland.
One hundred 1 km square sites were selected for detailed habitat
survey, these sites occurred within the known former range of the
species. At each site a detailed assessment was made of habitats and
land-use. Data from the survey findings was stored in a specially
designed Microsoft Access database and in an ArcView GIS thus enabling
efficient and detailed analysis of data.
Analysis of the data showed that despite potential grouse habitat
occurring in all sites surveyed, a large proportion of the habitat is
likely to be unsuitable for Grouse due to damage that has been caused
by different land-use practices. Sheep grazing has been shown to be the
most widespread land-use occurring on over 70 sites and 20 of these
sites were deemed to be severely damaged by this activity. Coniferous
plantation forestry and mechanical peat extraction are other widespread
land-uses which cover a significant proportion of the total area
surveyed and are likely to impact on the occurrence of grouse within
the sites surveyed.
The data collected during the survey will be of importance in
determining possible habitat associations and requirements of Red
Grouse in Ireland thus enabling well-informed decisions be made
regarding the future conservation of this endangered species. For
further information or for a copy of the final Red Grouse Habitat
Survey report contact BirdWatch Ireland or National Parks
and Wildlife
Service.
Guidelines for a National Fen
Survey of Ireland. Survey Manual
Foss, P.J. & Crushell, P. (2008) Guidelines for a National Fen
Survey of Ireland. Survey Manual. Department of the Environment,
Heritage and Local Government, Ireland & Monaghan County Council.
 This
National Fen Survey of Ireland Guidelines Manual outlines a methodology
and structure for the survey of fens as part of the National Fen Survey
(NFS) of Ireland, which is to be carried out on a county by county
basis by the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS), Department of
the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Ireland.
The manual outlines the key objectives of the NFS, data recording
requirements, and the structure of pre-survey, field survey and
post-survey procedures. The manual provides a list of the deliverables
expected from a completed NFS county survey. Appendices to the manual
are divided into three groups, General Appendices; Survey Appendices
(includes sample forms, field recording cards etc) and Results
Appendices (includes a range of blank templates to be completed
following the NFS).
The manual also includes a list of deliverables and outlines data
analyses that will be required on completion of all county surveys, so
as to produce a national synthesis of all information collected on the
Irish fen resource.
The National Fen Survey of Ireland (NFS aims to undertake a systematic
ecological survey of all known and as yet unsurveyed fen sites in
Ireland.
The aim of the NFS is to collect basic site and fen community information on sites in order to:
• assess the distribution, quality, type and quantity of the Irish fen resource;
• provide updated information on sites identified in the past as containing fen communities;
• locate and evaluate sites with a fen interest that have not yet been identified;
• gather data will also be used as a baseline for any future national monitoring programme of fens;
• provide
adequate site details in order to compare and evaluate sites for their
conservation value on a national scale.
The survey aims to assess sites in the following priority sequence,
based on their present conservation designation (or lack thereof):
• Designated or proposed Special Areas of Conservation (SAC’s)
• Designated and proposed Natural Heritage Areas (NHA’s)
•
Sites with a potential fen interest previously reported to NPWS and
recommended for survey and conservation assessment, with a view to
their designation as NHA’s or SAC’s where considered
appropriate based on survey findings.
•
Additional sites identified during the course of the NFS as potentially
containing fen habitat (by either the proposed Geographic Information
Systems (GIS) Aerial photographic survey, or ground survey).
The data gathered on fen sites from the National Fen Survey of Ireland
will be used to select conservation worthy fen areas, namely Special
Areas of Conservation (SAC), Natural Heritage Areas (NHA) and sites of
local conservation value. The data will also be used as a
baseline for a future national monitoring programme. Therefore, the
procedure used to survey, assess and select sites needs to be
standardised and consistent. For further information or for a copy of
the final NFS manual contact National Parks and Wildlife Service.
Monaghan Fen Survey I & II
Foss, P.J. & Crushell, P. (2007) Monaghan Fen Survey. Volumes
1-3.
Report for Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local
Government, Ireland & Monaghan County Council.
Foss, P.J. & Crushell, P. (2008) Monaghan Fen Survey II. Volumes
1-3. Report for Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local
Government, Ireland & Monaghan County Council.
 The
Monaghan Fen Surveys I & II of fens in county Monaghan was
commissioned by Monaghan County Council and the National Parks and
Wildlife Service (NPWS) of the Department of the Environment, Heritage
and Local Government. The survey was an Action of the Monaghan Heritage
Plan 2006-2010.
There were two principal reasons for undertaking the survey in 2007 and
2008, namely to devise a fen survey methodology which could be applied
to a National Fen Survey of the entire country, to be undertaken by the
NPWS, and the second was to obtain data on existing and newly proposed
fen sites reported in 2006 in County Monaghan to the NPW
S Fen Study
Project (Foss 2007).
The Monaghan Fen Survey 2007 addressed the following research objectives:
• to describe the vegetation of each site with
particular emphasis on the fen communities that are present;
• identify and classify the key fen habitat and
vegetation types present on each site according to the scheme proposed
in Foss (2007), and in this report;
• ascertain the extent of the fen type(s)
present and the overall site extent, and map these fen habitats
together with the other main habitats identified;
• investigate the water chemistry parameters of
each site and relate it to the fen communities that occur;
• measure peat depth associated with the fen types recorded;
• identify the main threats and damage present on the sites, and propose management options;
• to estimate the extent of fen habitat
throughout the county and assess the conservation significance of the
resource;
• rank the conservation importance of sites on
an international/national scale (NHA and SAC) and from a local
biodiversity perspective, and recommend sites for conservation
designation.
The main results that emerged from the sites surveyed in detail as part of the Monaghan Fen Survey I of 2007 are as follows:
- Of
the 42 sites surveyed, 25 were found to contain fen communities, the
remainder contained other wetland habitats including marsh, reedbed and
wet woodland;
- On 11 sites the survey found that the fen habitats believed to be present, differed from those actually recorded;
- Transition
Mire 7140 (PF3) is the most frequently occurring fen habitat type in
Monaghan, with a total fen habitat area of 77.2 ha;
- The total area of fen recorded on sites during the MFS was 95.6 ha, considerably less than that predicted by earlier studies;
- Four
main fen types were recognised in Monaghan, namely Poor fen PF2,
Transition Mire 7140 PF3, Cladium fen 7210 PF1 and Alkaline fen 7230
PF1;
- Petrifying
Spring 7220 FP1, which was believed to occur at one site in the County
was not in fact recorded, and this habitat may not in fact occur within
the County;
- Of
the 42 sites surveyed, 3 sites were deemed to be of International
Conservation Value; 16 of National Conservation Value and 8 of County
Conservation Value; with a further 10 being of Local Biodiversity Value
(High and Moderate local value);
- Future
conservation of these sites will require appropriate designation,
listing and planning control by the NPWS and Monaghan County Council;
- Five
of the sites surveyed cross the international border with Northern
Ireland. Discrepancies in conservation designations occur at each of
these sites which may hinder the long term conservation of these areas.
These issues should be addressed by National Parks and Wildlife Service
(ROI) and the Environment and Heritage Service (NI);
- Three
sites surveyed during the current MFS, which had an existing
conservation designation prior to the survey, were found to have been
seriously affected by drainage activities, resulting in habitat
deterioration and loss of most if not all of their conservation value;
- All
of the fens surveyed during the MFS were found to have been negatively
affected by some degree of damage or modification from their natural
state. The most significant damage observed was from drainage of
wetlands, posible water pollution and infilling associated with land
reclamatation. These issues will need to be addressed to prevent
further degradation and subsequent loss of habitat and conservation
value;
- Due
to the abundance of wetland sites in County Monaghan it was not
possible in the context of the MFS I to survey all sites within the
County. From an analysis of the distribution of wetland units within
the county and the current habitats occurring there, it is likely that
further fen areas still exist within the county that require survey.
The main results to emerge from the sites surveyed in detail as part of the Monaghan Fen Survey II of 2008 are as follows:
- Of
the 34 sites surveyed, 10 were found to contain fen communities, the
remainder contained other wetland habitats including marsh, reed swamp
and wet woodland;
- The total area of fen recorded on sites during the MFS II was 26.7 ha;
- Transition
Mire 7140 (PF3) is the most frequently occurring fen habitat type
recorded during the MFS II, with a total fen habitat area of 25 ha
occurring on 9 different sites;
- Three
main fen types were recognised during the MFS II, namely Poor fen PF2
(1.7 ha), Transition Mire 7140 PF3 (25 ha), and Cladium fen 7210 PF1
(0.1 ha);
- Of
the 34 sites surveyed, 17 are of National Conservation Value (NHA
quality); 11 are of County Conservation Value; with the remaining 6
being of Local Biodiversity Value (Moderate local value);
- Future
conservation of these sites will require appropriate designation,
listing and planning control by the NPWS and Monaghan County Council;
- Three
of the sites surveyed cross the international border with Northern
Ireland. Two sites in Monaghan occur close by recognised conservation
areas in Northern Ireland. Discrepancies in conservation designations
occur at each of these sites which may hinder the long term
conservation of these areas. These issues should be addressed by
National Parks and Wildlife Service (ROI) and the Environment and
Heritage Service (NI);
- All
of the fens surveyed during the MFS II were found to have been
negative
ly affected by some degree of damage or modification from their
natural state. The most significant damage observed was from drainage
of wetlands, possible water pollution and infilling associated with
land reclamatation. These issues will need to be addressed to prevent
further degradation and subsequent loss of habitat and conservation
value.
For further information or for a copy of the final Monaghan Fen Survey
reports (I & II) contact the Heritage Officer, Monaghan County
Council.
National Parks and Wildlife Service Study of the
Extent and Conservation Status of Springs, Fens and Flushes in Ireland
Foss, P.J. (2007) National Parks and Wildlife Service Study of the
Extent and Conservation Status of Springs, Fens and Flushes in Ireland
2007. Internal Report, Department of the Environment, Heritage and
Local Government, Ireland.
The aim of this NPWS Fen Study was to
consolidate information on the Extent and Conservation Status of Irish
Springs, Fens and Flushes on existing information held by the National
Parks & Wildlife Service and by other interested parties
nationally. No systematic national survey of fens has yet been
undertaken in Ireland, in contrast to the situation for raised and
blanket bogs. This study aimed to ascertain our current understanding
of the fen resource in Ireland, and what is currently known about this
resource in terms of the number of sites present, the various fen
vegetation types that occur within these sites and and the extent of
each fen type.
The study addressed the following research objectives:
•
collect and amalgamate data on known fen sites of conservation
importance in Ireland from within the NPWS and following consultation
with external groups;
•
produce a computerised inventory of all sites of known or possible
conservation value to include key data on each site, including the
specific fen vegetation type(s) present; the known or estimated area of
each fen vegetation type; and compile available published and survey
information on sites;
•
collect data on fen sites without a current conservation designation
(outside the NHA and SAC network) but which might be considered for NHA
or SAC designation by NPWS following survey and evaluation;
•
examine where other sites of conservation interest might be located
based on local soil, geological and environmental factors;
• assess the past and present extent of 6 fen and fen-related habitats in Ireland;
•
evaluate each site in terms of its conservation importance, known
area information, known survey information, and assign a survey
priority to each;
• make recommendations for a future national fen field survey.
The
fen study focused on 6 fen habitat types of conservation importance
(four of which are listed in Annex 1 of the EU Habitats Directive, two
of which - denoted with an asterisk - are priority habitats) in
Ireland:
7140 Transition mires and quaking bogs (Fossitt category PF3)
7210 *Calcareous fens with Cladium mariscus and species of the Caricion davallianae (Fossitt category PF1)
7220 * Petrifying springs with tufa formation (Cratoneurion) (Fossitt category FP1)
7230 Alkaline fens (Fossitt category PF1)
Poor Fens - Caricion curto-nigrae (Fossitt category PF2)
Non-Calcareous springs - Cardamino - Montion (Fossitt category FP2)
These
fen habitat types can be found as discrete fen communities in their own
right, or in association with (or within) blanket bog, raised bog,
turlough, dune slack, machair, wet heathland, wet grassland, woodland,
karst areas, lacustrine and riverine habitats and systems.
A
variety of data sources (reports, publications, databases and inventory
lists), groups
and individuals were consulted in the compilation of
information for the NPWS Fen Study database, over an eight month period
in 2006, both within NPWS and from external sources.
The
past extent of fens in Ireland is presented. The original area of
fens in Ireland is estimated to have been at least 92,508 ha. An
estimated 19,660 ha of conservation worthy intact fens,
occurring in 367 discrete sites were recognised in Ireland by IPCC in
2001.
The
total area of estimated fen vegetation recorded in the NPWS Fen Study
amounted to 22,180 ha within 681 discrete sites. In total the NPWS Fen
Study database holds information on 808 sites, where fen habitats are
known or believed to occur.
In
relation to the fen habitat types classified within the present NPWS
Fen Study, the following number of sites and estimated area (ha) of fen
vegetation have been recorded:
• 7210 *Calcareous fens with Cladium mariscus: 122 sites with a fen area of 1,486 ha
• 7230 Alkaline fens: 380 sites with a fen area of 6,830 ha
• Poor Fens: 379 sites with a fen area of 11,841 ha
• 7140 Transition mires and quaking bogs: 173 sites with a fen area of 1,955 ha
• 7220 * Petrifying springs: 112 sites with a fen area of 36 ha
• Non-Calcareous springs: 33 sites with a fen area of 32 ha
Annex
1 fens (i.e. Alkaline fen, Cladium fen, Transition mire, and Petrifying
spring) which more closely relates to the fen types identified in
previous studies, was estimated to cover 10,307 ha or 46% of the total
fen area estimated in the present study. This is an indication that
Annex 1 fens are less widespread than previously estimated.
The
most abundant fen type found in the course of this study was Poor fen
with an estimated national cover of 11,841 ha or 53% of the total area
estimated in the present fen study.
12. These fens can be categorised, in terms of their current conservation designation, as follows:
The number and area (ha) of fens which have been designated for Annex 1 fen habitats under the Habitats Directive: 68 discrete sites with an area
of 2,190 ha of designated fen habitat; representing 10% of the
total estimated fen resource in Ireland; or 21% of the total Annex
1 fen resource estimated for Ireland
The number and area (ha) of fen sites which are within designated Natural Heritage Areas (NHA) or proposed candidate Natural Heritage Areas (cNHA): 363 sites with an area of 4,384 ha; representing 20% of the total estimated Irish fen resource
The number and area (ha) of fen sites which are located within designated Special Areas of Conservation (SAC) or proposed candidate Special Areas of Conservation (cSAC): 362 sites with an area of 14,086 ha; representing 64% of the total estimated Irish fen resource
The number of fen sites which have been “newly” discovered or reported to the NPWS Fen Study and have no current conservation designation at present: 88 sites with an area of 3,794 ha; representing 17% of the total estimated Irish fen resource
It
is very probable that sites with conservation worthy fen communities
exist outside of the sites which have been identified in the present
NPWS Fen Study.
To
identify zones and counties where potential new fens might occur, two
analyses were undertaken as part of the NPWS Fen Study; a county
wetland analysis and a digital fen soils analysis.
The
county wetland analysis was designed to identify those counties most
likely to contain additional fen sites (from alkaline to more acid fen
types). This analysis was based on the past and present fen and
bog resource status within the county, soil type, geology and
geomorphological land form suitability, past survey work on wetlands,
the number and extent of lakes present, and the number of new fens
notified to the present NPWS Fen Study. This revealed the following
counties which had the highest probability that additional fens might
be discovered: Galway, Leitrim, Limerick, Monaghan, Mayo, Offaly, Sligo
and Westmeath.
The
digital fen soils analysis compared the original and known distribution
of peat soils in each county with an overlay of the existing network of
conserved areas (NHA and SAC) and the fen sites identified in this
study. A series of regions were identified, where fen soils occur but
fen sites are lacking. Assuming favourable environmental conditions are
present, these zones might be likely to reveal additional fen sites of
conservation value, following a detailed fen field survey, and merit
further investigation. The counties with the most significant
potential fen zones included: Clare, Galway, Kildare, Leitrim, Laois,
Mayo, Offaly, Tipperary and Westmeath.
Based
on the results of these two analyses, this study recommends that the
following counties should be prioritised as part of any future NPWS Fen
Field Survey: Clare, Galway, Kildare, Leitrim, Limerick, Mayo, Offaly,
Roscommon and Westmeath.
In
relation to the 808 fen sites identified in the NPWS Study, one key
result to emerge is that significant gaps exist in relation to our
knowledge of this resource. Specifically, the following issues
have been identified:
Fen type identification: our knowledge in relation to the specific fen type(s) present, is considered
wholly lacking or inadequate (confusion over one or more fen types) for
268 (33%) of sites identified in the present NPWS Fen Study database.
Extent
of fen types: our knowledge in relation to the extent of fen type(s)
present on sites, is considered wholly lacking for 102 sites (13%), and
inadequate for a some further 600 sites (i.e. 74%, where only
estimated data on fen extent is presently available) identified in the
NPWS Fen Study database.
Our
incomplete knowledge of many Irish fens makes a systematic survey of
existing and newly reported sites a priority, if conservation worthy
sites are to be identified and the best examples put forward for
conservation under the Natural Heritage Area or European Habitats
Directive Natura 2000 (SAC) network.
For further information or for a copy of the final Fen Study report contact the National Parks and Wildlife Service.
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