Machairs in Mayo - a rare dune ecosystem.

Northwest Ireland has several areas of rare machair dunes including those stretching from Mulranny salt marsh to Rosmurrevagh peninsula in Clew Bay, Co.Mayo.

Machairs are fertile, low-lying dune areas - a unique form of coastal grassland (described as 'raised beaches' by Wikipedia). They are formed when sand catches in coastal vegetation, such as marram grass. Consequently, the plants gradually move upward, more sand is caught, and the land's surface is raised.

Although little research has been done into machairs, they are known to support a rich variety of species including many birds and insects (such as the belted beauty moth). Machairs also provide habitat for up to 150 species of flower, some of which are endangered and protected, including the Irish Lady's Tresses.

Machairs are vulnerable to erosion and rising sea levels. In 2007, Mulranny village received the inaugural Notice Nature Biodiversity Award, part of Ireland's Tidy Towns competition. The award recognises over a decade of conservation work to protect and restore local machairs. The Mulranny Causeway loop walk provides access to part of the machairs.

• Wikipedia article on Machairs
• Read about the Belted Beauty Moth
• Irish Lady's Tresses Species Action Plan (36 pages, 239KB, PDF).

Blanket Bog Restoration Project

The Blanket Bog Restoration Project project aims to restore some of active blanket bog in Ireland - including bogs at:

• the MacGillycuddys' Reeks, Co. Kerry
• Slieve Aughty, Co. Clare
• Nephin Beg, Crossmolina, Glenamoy and Bangor-Erris in Co. Mayo
• Barnesmore Gap and Lough Golagh in Co. Donegal
• the Ox Mountains in Co. Sligo, and
• the Slieve Blooms in Co. Laois.

The website provides information about the project, its bogs, and restoration techniques. Clickable maps of Ireland enable you to locate and find out more about the 20 project sites. The bog restoration project is managed by Coillte, and funded under the under the EU LIFE- Nature Programme.

Save our squirrels

In many parts of Ireland, red squirrels are being outcompeted by non-native grey squirrels. However, a pilot project that is taking place throughout 2007, aims to preserve healthy populations of red squirrels in the West of Ireland. Here, the Shannon forms a natural barrier, inhibiting the spread of greys from East to West.

The project involves identifying suitable woodland habitat, and relocating red squirrels from other areas where they are at risk. In February, the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) managed the relocation of 15 red squirrels from Portumna National Park in Co Galway to Derryclare Wood in Connemara. Squirrels are also due to be relocated to Belleek Wood in Co Mayo. The relocation approach conforms to strict International Union for the Conservation of Nature guidelines.

Conserving Ireland's 50,000 red squirrels

The IUCN's Red List categorises the Eurasian Red Squirrel as Near Threatened. The species is widespread, but suffering from habitat fragmentation and competition from introduced grey squirrels. It is estimated that for every 1 red squirrel in Ireland there are 5 greys (around 50,000 reds to 250,000 greys). However, a pilot relocation project West of the River Shannon (where there is less pressure from the greys) aims to restablish healthy populations in new habitats.

In Co. Galway, 15 red squirrels have recently been trapped and relocated from Portumna National Park to Derryclare Wood in Connemara. A second translocation of squirrels to the Coillte owned Belleek Wood in Co. Mayo has been approved by the Minister for the Environment Dick Roche. It is thought that Beleek Wood could support a population of 65 red squirrels but before any are introduced the Belleek Wood Enhancement Group and Coillte are improving the wood as squirrel habitat.

The Department of the Environment's National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) is overseeing the work within guidelines from the International Union for the Conservation of Nature.

• Read the Proceedings of the Irish Red Squirrel Conservation Symposium, 2005 (PDF, 19 pages, 106KB)

Ireland has 12 of 13 major European wild brown trout habitats

Ireland has 12 of the 13 significant natural wild brown trout lakes that remain in Europe. These rare and relatively large lakes have certain characteristics that, since the last ice age, have made them the perfect habitat for wild brown trout: alkaline, unpolluted and with extensive shallow areas and an abundance of insect life.

The Corrib river and lake system in the West of Ireland harbours the largest and most important of these 12 lakes: Loughs Corrib, Mask and Carra. These, the Great Western Lakes, have a surface area of 265 sq km and constitute an environmental resource of major international importance.

Depressed brown trout stocks
A scientific survey indicating that wild brown stocks were depressed prompted the establishment of wild brown trout development programmes for these lakes. The programme aims to implement measures to foster the growth of wild brown trout stocks. It addresses water quality and environmental issues by facilitating riverine surveys, river and stream development and stock management.

You can find out more on the Western Regional Fisheries Board website

National Parks in Ireland

There are six national parks in Ireland, covering a combined area of 596 sq km, or only 0.86% of Ireland's total land area (68890 sq km). The criteria and standards for national parks are laid down by the World Conservation Union (also known as IUCN - International Union for the Conservation of Nature). Much of the land is also designated as a SAC (Special Area of Conservation (PDF format)) under the EU Habitats Directive.

Travelling clockwise around Ireland from Dublin the national parks:

1. Wicklow Mountains National Park, Co. Wicklow (159 sq km)
2. Killarney National Park, Co. Kerry (103 sq km)
3. The Burren National Park, Co. Clare (17 sq km)
4. Connemara National Park, Co. Galway (30 sq km)
5. Ballycroy National Park, Co. Mayo (118 sq km)
6. Glenveagh National Park, Co. Donegal (170 sq km)