Environment The environment has been one of the 4 pillars of IRD Duhallow strategic plan since our inception under the stewardship of Chair Michael Doyle, the working group has made great strides in developing a range of projects across Duhallow focusing on the Environment. We are the only Local Development Company to have secured two major EU Life programmes. We continue to promote smaller projects that positively impact the environment we live in. One of the key objectives of the Environment Working Group is to raise awareness about environmental issues with an emphasis on safeguarding endangered species and habitats
Swift Towers were erected in Swift Towers communities across Duhallow The working group applied for LEADER including Kiskeam. funding to install six innovative nesting structures in six towns across Duhallow for Swifts. Once in place, the nesting structures are monitored to measure the impact of the intervention. Information panels have been drawn up and will be installed at each site detailing the ecology of the swift and purpose of the project. Leaflets will also be distributed to community groups as a supporting awareness raising exercise. We also created a series of short videos which present a ‘birds-eye’ view of the local area as would be seen by a swift. These videos also compliment the webcam footage when the species occupies the new nesting structure.
A selection of some of the flora in Barna Bog: A. Cranberry (Vaccinium oxycoccus) producing abundant berries amongst Sphagnum. B. Single bush of the non-native sea rosemary on cutover bog cropped C. Spotted Orchid
Bog Feasibility Upland and lowland blanket bog are under serious threat and have disappeared over much of Ireland, especially in the last 50 years due to large-scale afforestation on peatlands, commercial peat extraction and latterly, increased fragmentation due to industrial scale windfarms. The Environment Working Group secured LEADER funding to undertake a feasibility study to explore the baseline data of flora, fauna and bats in Duhallow Bogs and to put together an action plan for best practice bog conservation. This action plan will develop a previous feasibility study and other sources to establish an action plan for conservation actions for a number of key bog land sites in Duhallow including Mount Eagle and Barna Bog. EPA Conference Each year, the EPA hosts an annual water conference in June and this year because of the COVID pandemic, an online version was held on the mornings of June 17th and 18th. Our CEO Maura Walsh spoke at the virtual conference under the theme of Communities in Action examining how as a Local Development Company we involved communities on the ground in the protection and improvement of water quality through our work in LEADER and our two EU Life project’s and EIP Project.
Biodiversity Training Through the LEADER programme, the working group is running workshops on introductions to biodiversity, asset mapping and draft community plans. Each community will be offered specific training in areas of need identified in phase 1 at a central training location for the purposes of efficiency and lack of duplication. This training is intended for all communities in Duhallow Supported by our Tús with an interest in Biodiversity and specifically aimed at Tidy Towns Groups Schemes, the swift towers and Community Councils who may lack an were erected in conjunction in-depth understanding of the issues and with the local Community and over seen by Brin possible actions. Phase 2 topics include McDonnell of our Bird Watch practical and classroom based instruction Group and Stefan De Beer on topics such as Pollinator Planting, Hedge of Genesis Net Boxes, who laying, Edible Biodiversity, Wildflower manufactured the boxes. Meadows, Rainwater Harvesting, Best Working with Water & Biodiversity Practice Tidy Towns guidelines etc. IRD Duhallow through ILDN, the National Local Development Network and LAWPRO supported the development of a guidance book for Barn Owl Conservation communities in environmental projects that can be funded through the The Barn Owl was once a much more LEADER Programme 2014-2020.The guide examines training analysis common sight in the Irish countryside. Due A Barn Owl Chick. IRD and development and capital projects including tree planting, riparian to extensive declines in their breeding population and Duhallow is currently management, river restoration, fish passage, Invasive species control, range over recent decades they are categorised as a undertaking a Barn Owl silt trapping and Red-listed Bird of Conservation Concern in Ireland. Project in conjunction Our working group have secured LEADER funding to with Birdwatch Ireland. citizen science. develop resources on Barn Owls in Duhallow to include a children’s book, IRD Duhallow online resources and a video which will use the Barn Owl to explore the through ILDN local environment and a range of important environmental topics such as supported the food chains, adaptations, predators and prey, habitats, poisons, pollution and publication of the climate change. The design and content of the resources will be appealing to “Working with Water and Biodiversity” children while promoting active learning. We will also host a series of events Guide in conjunction to showcase the wonders of Barn Owls and other wildlife in Duhallow to with LAWPRO. local children and families. Through this project we will also assess the threats to the local Barn Owl population to inform conservation plans to ensure the future health of the population in this important stronghold.
page page 1113
