Monitoring survey of Annex I sand dune habitats in Ireland
Ten Annex I sand dune habitats occur in Ireland. Under Article 17 of the EU Habitats Directive, Ireland is required to monitor and report the conservation status of these habitats every six years. The Monitoring survey of Annex I sand dune habitats in Ireland began in 2011 and will be completed in 2012. The project aims to survey a sample of forty sites, to assess the conservation status of the Annex I habitats present, to produce a national conservation assessment for each of the ten Annex I habitats which occur on sand dunes in Ireland…
Irish Semi-natural Grasslands Survey
Following on from the 2007 pilot semi-natural grassland survey of Counties Roscommon and Offaly, in 2008 BEC Consultants began the first phase of a nationwide research project into the grasslands of Ireland, surveying 250 semi-natural grassland sites in counties Cork and Waterford. This included collecting botanical and environmental data from 2,773 relevés. The semi-natural grassland habitats within each site were digitally mapped and presented in ArcGIS…
National Survey of Upland Habitats
The uplands form Ireland’s largest expanses of semi-natural habitats and are of major conservation importance, with fourteen habitat types listed under Annex I of the EU Habitats Directive being recorded in these areas. However, drainage, agricultural improvement, extensive afforestation and overstocking of sheep have resulted in the widespread degradation of upland habitats, while wind energy development and climate change are likely to present further threats…
National Survey of Native Woodland in Ireland
BEC Consultants organised this large, multidisciplinary project from February 2003 through to March 2008. The project involved field ecology, GIS technology, soil analysis and statistical data analysis. During the field survey the ecological teams recorded data on trees, shrubs, herbs, ferns, mosses, liverworts and lichens along with important structural and regeneration data. 1,320 woodland sites were surveyed and over 70,000 tree stems were measured…
The Conservation of the Protected Species Irish Fleabane (Inula salicina)
Irish fleabane (Inula salicina) is a rare native plant species which has been reduced to only one small population growing on the shores of Lough Derg, and is therefore threatened with extinction in Ireland. This project aimed to ensure the continued existence of Irish fleabane on the shores of Lough Derg through a conservation project that involved the local community, the National Botanic Gardens, National Parks & Wildlife Service and BEC Consultants…
Mitigation Measures for the Nationally Threatened Triangular Club-rush
This rare and legally protected Club-rush is recorded in Ireland only from the River Shannon and a few of its tributaries (the Maigue and Owenagarney rivers) in counties Limerick and Clare. There has been a dramatic decline of the species in Britain. The development of the Limerick Southern Ring Road, including the Limerick Tunnel, will impact populations of this plant within the Shannon estuary. BEC Consultants developed mitigation measures to minimise the impacts…
Rare Vascular Plant Records Database
In 2004, BEC Consultants commenced work on a project for the National Parks & Wildlife Service with the aim of establishing a database of records of rare and threatened species of vascular plants. This was achieved using the Recorder 2002 computer package. Previously, records for these species were mostly available in paper format only. The advantages of the Recorder 2002 database include improved data management capabilities and a facility for generating distribution maps.
Ballyseedy Wood Management Plan, Co. Kerry
In 2008 BEC Consultants prepared a 50-year management plan for Ballyseedy Wood with the aim of facilitating a structured and balanced approach to management, taking into account the presence of EU Annex I alluvial woodland areas and the requirements of recreational and educational users. The plan laid out recommendations for practical works to be carried out within the woodland over a 50-year period to enhance the internationally important native woodland…
National Survey and Assessment of the Conservation Status of Irish Sea Cliffs
All sea cliffs in Ireland are included within the EU Annex I habitat Vegetated Sea Cliffs of the Atlantic and Baltic coasts. Vegetated sea cliffs can be divided into two broad categories: hard cliffs and soft cliffs. Different plant communities occur on sea cliffs in horizontal zones, from maritime communities at the cliff base to Festuca-dominated grassland at the cliff top. This project refined and developed methodologies for surveying and assessing the conservation status of sea cliffs in Ireland…
Biostrat - Developing the EU Biodiversity Research Strategy
BioStrat is a Specific Support Action funded by the EU Sixth Framework Programme. The project, co-ordinated by the Institute of Ecology and Botany of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, involves 34 partners from 32 EU member states and aims to develop the EU Biodiversity Strategy by making use of existing support structures. BEC Consultants are the Irish representative to the BioStrat project and in this capacity represent Irish biodiversity research needs…