After LIFE

The RaptorLIFE project expanded on SAMOK IRD Duhallow ’ s first LIFE project and targeted habitat restoration for annexed species (Hen harrier, Merlin, Atlantic salmon and Brook lamprey) in the Upper Blackwater SAC and the Stacks to the Mullaghareiks, West Limerick Hills and Mount Eagle Special Protected Area (SPA) with a fund of €3 million. This fund was co-financed by the EU. It ran from February 2015 to December 2019.

Merlin have almost disappeared from the Mullaghareirks SPA where much of its habitat has been lost to afforestation, windfarm activity, recreational use of forest tracks including quads and scrambler bikes, all place disturbance pressures on a shy species like Merlin.

Project objectives

This project aimed to work with the local community to achieve a better environment for everyone in Duhallow. "Connecting and restoring habitats for Hen harrier, Merlin, Atlantic salmon and Brook lamprey in Duhallow, Ireland" .

Actions which were integral to this project were changing public attitudes by addressing public perceptions, involving landowners in conservation measures, monitoring of Hen harrier and Merlin. Riparian habitat restoration measures were carried out for Atlantic salmon and Brook lamprey.

Brook lamprey live in our rivers and require clean gravels to spawn in.

The project area comprises of two Natura 2000 sites: the Special Area of Conservation in the River Blackwater for the Freshwater pearl mussel and the Special Protected Area of the Mullaghareirks for the Hen harrier.

AfterLIFE objectives

The AfterLIFE objectives of this project are to ensure the maintenance of the measures carried out in the RaptorLIFE project. The measures are being achieved with assistance of a combination of IRD Duhallow staff, RSS/Tús participants, students/volunteers according to each individual measure. This ensures the longterm effects of the project.

Landowners

Landowners and farmers ‘bought in ’ to the project with habitat restoration, allowing unlimited access on their lands for project actions such as surveys, monitoring, eradication of invasives. IRD Duhallow ’ s integral part in the local community has been paramount in bringing about this ‘buy in ’ and this in turn has heightened the awareness of the project and its aim in the area. This collaboration also helps in the AfterLIFE of the project.

Thirty landowners farming in a designated area and ten farmers who farmed just outside the designated area partook in the survey of‘farming in designated lands ’ . This extensive survey took place in 2016 and was repeated two years later, to catch any change of opinion. A by-product of this survey was the production of a book called ‘Duhallow – A living landscape for farming and wildlife ’ . This publication highlights the issues of farming in designated lands in Duhallow, its history/culture and how these pressures evolved – a farmer ’ s voice. A worthy read depicting the changing face of the countryside through intensification of farming practices, expansion of conifer plantations, the ever-increasing construction of wind farms. This together with the conflicting agricultural policies and environmental designations result in negative effects on the local communities, habitats and annexed species. This book is available in IRD Duhallow.

Project actions and AfterLIFE

The Project produced a management plan for Hen harrier and Merlin in a designated site. Also developed was a guide to habitat management and invasive species management. The Afterlife plan of the project was also compiled. This plan included the maintenance of the habitat restoration, the monitoring and the project dissemination.

A number of stakeholders had supported the project during the course of its lifetime. IRD Duhallow, implemented other actions through the Rural Social Scheme and Tús. Volunteerism also plays an important role and university/college placement students aided some of the actions.

The continued support roles of students, volunteers ensure the maintenance of a certain number of these actions. They help deliver actions such as winter roost and nest monitoring of Hen harrier. Along with others assisting in invasive species eradication. Rural Social scheme and Tús participants play key roles in the roll out of the AfterLIFE plan, primarily in the treatment of the highly invasive Japanese knotweed, both on the rivers* and two infested streams (83.3km)and road network (298 stands over 300km of roads). Also the eradication of riparian Himalayan balsam on 126.2km on the *Upper Blackwater and the River Owentaraglin.

The publication ‘Duhallow – A Living Landscape for Farming and Wildlife ’ was funded by IRD Duhallow under the LEADER programme Rich biodiversity of hummocks of sphagnum and other heath flora.

The Hen harrier and Merlin sign erected in Meelin adjacent to the Mullaghareirks.

Volunteers at one of the training days for Hen Harrier and Merlin monitoring.