Irish Wildlife Trust Winter 2023

ISSN - 1649 - 5705 • WINTER ’23

IRISH MAGAZINE OF THE IRISH WILDLIFE TRUST

S AND’ IREL

SLIT BIE FE LD E W

AZIN MAG

Lough Neagh a call to us all SPOTTED IN IRELAND: • OSPREY • DEER STAG • HARE

OSPREYS

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LOUGH NEAGH

URBAN OTTERS

RIGHTS OF NATURE

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WELCOME

Chairperson’s Comment

D

Cover Image Credit Otter

by Chris Martin Contents page credits: Osprey by Mike Brown Red clover, Trifolium pratense by iStockphoto Bluebell by Mike Brown Hare by Mike Brown Otter by Mike Brown Common Frog by Kieran Flood

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All articles © 2023 No part of this publication including the images used may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means without written permission from the publisher.

Opinions and comments expressed herein are not necessarily those of the publisher. While every effort has been made to ensure that all information contained in this publication is factual and correct at time of going to press, Ashville Media Group and the Irish Wildlife

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Trust cannot be held responsible for any inadvertent errors or omissions contained herein.

Please recycle this copy of Irish Wildlife

ear Friends of the Irish Wildlife Trust, As the leaves fall from the trees, a magical transformation is happening beneath the surface. Although the trees are bare, the buds are present and are busy preparing for new life in Spring. Like nature, we humans often take time to rest, reflect and renew at this time of year, and this creates space for new growth. In the Irish Wildlife Trust, we too take time to reflect on our progress, and on the journey in front of us.

In September, we gathered in beautiful Killarney to discuss our strategy for the years ahead, to build upon the strength of the organisation and work to date. Together, we arrived at four key pillars to shape our work for the future. These pillars are 1. Advocate for Nature: Seek more legislative & policy change, with strong implementation.

2. Public Engagement: Engage with clear communications and citizen science in communities, while partnering with branches to amplify our impact.

3. Own to Educate: Education using reserves to show best practice with a view to influencing actions across the country.

4. Governance Excellence: Ensure full compliance with the Charity Governance Code.

These pillars each have actions for the immediate term, and will also carry through into the future.

Our next step is to bring these pillars into a workplan for 2024 to ensure effective implementation and impact for nature.

To deliver against this strategy our team will continue to grow, and to build deep expertise, under the leadership of Kieran Flood and our Board. Our team continues to evolve, and we’re delighted to welcome Emily Nolan as our Communications Officer.

We continue to seek new members to bring environmental expertise onto our Board, and we welcome applications from our membership should you wish to apply.

This season’s magazine is rich with content and contributions from many experts and advocates across Ireland - all of who call for more action, faster.

I loved reading Billy Flynn’s article about nature’s transformation on abandoned land, Tim Clabon’s article on the GAA Green Clubs Programmes, and

Anne Sundermann’s article on dormancy - each inspirational, and show there’s so much more we can do. Our partnership with Fair Seas continues to go from strength to strength and the message is clear that more is needed to achieve the goal of 30% Marine Protected Areas by 2030. The need to protect our waters is reinforced by Dr Elaine McGoff who reflects upon the heartbreaking story of Lough Neagh, and the implications both for the environment and for local communities.

It’s important to be hopeful, and to drive action, so it’s wonderful to hear from Mari Margil and Dr Peter Doran about the rights of nature, and their advocacy for legal support for the environment.

This is an important time for our natural world, and we can each play a role in advocating with our politicians, and local representatives.

I hope you enjoy the wonderful content as much as I did, and best of luck in the competition!

On a personal note, in February, my term as Chair of the Board will come to an end, and I will transition responsibility to Anne Hannan, who has acted as Treasurer in recent years. As Treasurer, Anne has ensured strong financial controls for the organisation and has been a very active member of the Management Committee and Board. In this new position, Anne is sure to have a significant impact with her vision, passion and drive to improve our natural world. I’m just thrilled that she is stepping into this role.

Personally, I feel very privileged to have had the opportunity to work with the Irish Wildlife Trust, and in particular as chair. I’m proud of the work we have done to crystallise our strategy, and strengthen our governance and Board. The organisation has deep and long standing roots in Irish society, and I look forward to seeing how it continues to have a positive impact on our natural world.

Wishing you a happy holiday season, and the very best for the year coming. Thank you for your continued support.

Claire Walsh Outgoing Chair of the Board of the Irish Wildlife Trust claire@iwt.ie

Pass it on. If you’re finished with your Irish Wildlife don’t throw it in the bin. Pass it on to someone who you think may enjoy it – or ask your local library or doctor’s office to leave it in the reception. You’ll help the environment and the IWT while you’re at it. Irish Wildlife is 100% recyclable, so if you do choose to throw it out, please put it in the green bin.

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Contents 04 ABOUT US

Discover more about the work of the IWT and how you can get involved.

05 CONSERVATION NEWS

Tim Carbon compiles the latest national and international news from the world of conservation.

07 IWT MARINE NEWS

A Fair Seas update from Grace Carr

10 IWT ACTIVITIES UPDATE Updates from inside IWT

12 WILDART WINNERS

Winner of our kid’s art competition

14 POLICY UPDATE

An update on national and EU nature policy

16 NATURE CAMPAIGNS The Rights of Nature

18 FEATURE

The tragedy of Lough Neagh

22 WILD IDEAS

Wild on the Pitch

24 GORDON D’ARCY

Biodiversity Bonanza

26 THE SCIENCE OF NATURE

Anne Sundermann explains Winter Dormancy

29 CREATIVITY & NATURE

Allotment art by Margaret Byrne

30 WINTER FOCUS

Billy Flynn considers Land abandonment

32 RESEARCH BRIEF

Tim Clabon’s otter survey report

34 FACEBOOK PHOTOS

A selection of images from our monthly photo competition

36 COMPETITION

Your chance to win

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IRISH WILDLIFE TRUST

About Us The Irish Wildlife Trust was founded in 1979 and aims to conserve wildlife and the habitats it depends on throughout Ireland, while encouraging a greater understanding and appreciation of the natural world.

IMAGES THIS PAGE: TOP: Hedgehog. Photo: Mike Browne BELOW: Fungi Forage.

The IWT is dedicated to creating a better future for Ireland’s wildlife through: Motivating and supporting people to take action for wildlife.

Education and raising awareness of all aspects of Irish wildlife and conservation issues.

Research of the natural environment.

Acquiring and managing nature reserves to safeguard species and habitats.

Lobbying decision-makers at all levels to promote policy in Ireland that provides a sustainable future for wildlife and people.

Working in partnership with other organisations to achieve results that matter for conservation.

Irish Wildlife is published quarterly by the IWT.

HAVE COMMENTS? Editorial Team: Kieran Flood & Marion Jammet Magazine queries email: editor@iwt.ie Snail mail: The Irish Wildlife Trust, 8 CABRA ROAD, DUBLIN 7, D07 T1W2 Web: www.iwt.ie Social media: facebook.com/IrishWildlifeTrust twitter.com/Irishwildlife instagram.com/irishwildlifetrust/ Registered Charity Number: 20010966

HOW CAN YOU HELP? You, our members, make the IWT what it is. Through your subscriptions and support we can undertake the projects that are benefiting Ireland’s wildlife. If you would like to help more, here’s what you can do: • Make a one-off donation to the IWT. • Give IWT membership as a gift.

• Volunteer – we are always looking for people to help out. There are lots of ways to get involved, from helping with important admin work in our office to helping us increase membership by volunteering at public events. See our website www.iwt.ie for details or contact the office directly.

Supported by

The IWT encourages action at a local level and has a number of branches around the country: Dublin: dublinbranch@iwt.ie facebook.com/DublinBranchIrishWildlife Trust, dubliniwt.blogspot.ie Waterford: Denis Cullen, iwtwaterfordbranch@gmail.com, deniscullen@eircom.net, irishwildlifetrust. blogspot.ie Kerry: Ger, iwtkerry@gmail.com, www.facebook.com/KerryIWT Limerick: limerickbranch@iwt.ie / https://www.facebook.com / IWTLimerickBranch Galway: Dan, iwtgalway@gmail.com, www.facebook.com/IWTgalwaybranch Laois/Offaly: Ricky, iwtlaoisoffaly@gmail.com, www.facebook.com/IWTlaoisoffalybranch Monaghan: monaghanbranch@iwt.ie

• Do you have land that you would like used for conservation? We are always on the lookout to establish new sites to enhance wildlife or provide education opportunities.

• Remember us in your will. Why not leave a lasting legacy towards conserving Ireland’s natural heritage? The IWT uses all funds towards our campaigns, managing reserves and our education programmes. Please visit www.mylegacy.ie.

• Set up a branch. Are you passionate about wildlife and are in a county that does not have an IWT branch? Contact the office and we can give you the support you need to get up and running.

Keep up to date on all the latest news from the Irish Wildlife Trust on www.iwt.ie 4

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CONSERVATION NEWS

CONSERVATION NEWS

The latest national and international news from the conservation world, compiled by Tim Clabon.

I R I S H N E W S By Emily Nolan, IWT Communications Officer Osprey by Mike Brown

Osprey Reintroduction The resurgence of the Osprey (Pandion haliaetus), also known as "Iascaire Coirneach" or 'tonsured fisherman,' may become a reality within the next decade.

In a momentous occurrence this August in Fermanagh, the first report of a breeding Osprey pair in Ireland since 1779 marked a significant milestone. Following this announcement, 12 osprey chicks were released into the wild as part of the NPWS reintroduction program.

This strategic initiative aims to release fifty chicks over the next five years, kickstarting the recovery of the Osprey population in Ireland. The release locations in Waterford were chosen for their mix of freshwater and saltwater habitats, complemented by purpose-built eyries.

While Ospreys typically nest in conifer trees, their adaptable nature allows them to occasionally inhabit cliff-edges also.

The historic moment is a much-needed cause for celebration, providing hope for conservation efforts in Ireland. However, if we’ve learned anything from the past, it is that we must anticipate challenges to make this moment last.

Once a familiar sight in Ireland, this

medium-sized raptor, celebrated for its spectacular dives to snatch fish, tragically faced extinction in the late 18th century, disappearing from the Irish skies. The osprey's disappearance was attributed to targeted extermination by humans. These birds were considered vermin because of a perceived threat to fish stocks and were subjected to taxidermy, egg collection, and nest destruction.

As we strive to revive this unique species, it is essential to acknowledge the significant threat posed by human activities. The success of this reintroduction hinges on a fundamental shift in behaviour and attitudes towards these raptors and effective management of the ecosystems they rely upon. Anticipating more breeding pairs gracing our landscape in the coming years, it's crucial not to underestimate the vulnerability of these creatures.

The recent reintroduction of the WhiteTailed Sea Eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla) offers valuable insights into potential threats to Ospreys. Glengarriff Nature Reserve reports that 50% of known causes of mortality in this fledgling population

result from poisoning, with additional reports of birds being shot. It's clear that some humans have yet to adapt to support the reintroduction of raptors. Human interference is inevitable; hence, a collective effort is imperative to protect these magnificent species. A tragic incident in Wales serves as a stark reminder: in 2021, when Ospreys first arrived at the Brenig nest in the Gors Maen Llwyd Nature Reserve, they were targeted. The evening after the first egg was laid, an individual felled the tree they were nesting in.

While the attitudes and behaviour of some individuals need to be addressed, the health of our ecosystems cannot be ignored. The Osprey is a fish-specialist, feeding on medium-sized fish ranging from 15 to 35 cm in length. To ensure the continued success of the Osprey population, maintaining healthy water bodies is of utmost importance. This means having clean and ecologically sound rivers, lakes, and coastal areas that provide an ample supply of fish.

Unfortunately, recent reports on water quality in Ireland indicate that there is work to be done. A 2022 EPA Water Quality report revealed that only 54% of surface waters were in satisfactory ecological health, with a decline in overall water quality. Nitrate and phosphorus concentrations were found to be too high, leading to eutrophication and impacting the ecological health of rivers and estuaries. Ongoing efforts to improve water bodies in Ireland will only serve to support initiatives such as the Osprey reintroduction.

The revival of the Osprey in Ireland serves as a poignant reminder of the beauty and resilience of nature. It also underscores the need for collective efforts to protect our environment and ensure the survival of remarkable species like the Osprey and the endless list of species that need our help.

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CONSERVATION NEWS

I N T E R N A T I O N A L N E W S By Tim Clabon

Tree Diseases - An emerging global pandemic In Ireland, we have seen extremely worrying trends in pests and diseases infecting many of our trees. Despite claims by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM)* that our forest health status overall is relatively good, a walk among a stand of Horse Chestnut Trees or in a forest of Ash tell a different story. While we do not (yet) have the range of pests and diseases currently found on the continent, we can no longer rely on our island status to protect our trees.

Diseases are among the major causes of tree death globally in both forests and urban environments. New diseases are continually being introduced and also jumping to new hosts, threatening more and more tree species. When a disease moves to a new host tree, emerging diseases can cause mortality previously unseen in the native range.

Not all diseases kill the tree, but they can dramatically affect tree populations, as seen with the Horse Chestnut Leaf Miner. Diseases such as Ash Dieback have the potential to wipe out tree populations and alter the ecosystems and wildlife they support. “The continued emergence and accumulation of new diseases increases the likelihood of a particularly detrimental one emerging, and harming host tree populations,” says Dr Andrew Gougherty, research landscape ecologist at the USDA Forest Service. His research could help predict where new diseases may be most likely to emerge.

Dr. Andrew Gougherty’s work investigates the worrying emergence of infectious diseases globally, looking at over 900 disease reports on 284 species in 88 countries and quantifying how emerging diseases have accumulated geographically and on different hosts. The research shows disease accumulation. “The ‘big data’ approach used in this study helps to characterise the growing threat posed by emerging infectious diseases and how this threat is unequally distributed regionally and by host species,” says Dr Gougherty.

Dr Gougherty’s findings were that the number of emerged diseases has accumulated rapidly over the past two decades.

“The accumulation is apparent both where tree species are native and where they are not native, and the number of new disease emergences globally were found to double approximately every 11 years,” he explains. Among the trees he assessed, pines accumulated the most new diseases, followed by oaks and eucalypts. This, he explains, is likely due to their wide native distribution in the Northern Hemisphere, and the planting of pine forests throughout the globe. Europe, in aggregate, had the greatest total accumulation of new diseases, but North America and Asia were close behind. In addition, overall more emerging tree diseases were found in areas where tree species were native versus non-native.

Unfortunately the research also found that the number of emerging diseases had accumulated rapidly over the past two 6

"NEW DISEASES ARE CONTINUALLY BEING INTRODUCED"

Ash dieback fungus (Hymenoscyphus fraxineus) on European ash Photo: iStockphoto

decades with little evidence of saturation in emergent tree disease accumulation. Global trends show little sign of slowing, suggesting the impact of newly emerged diseases is likely to continue to compound and threaten tree populations globally and into the future,” warns Dr Gougherty. “Climate change is likely also playing a role, both by creating more favourable conditions for pathogens and by stressing host plants.” Dr Gougherty’s research should be required reading for anyone interested in the global threats facing trees.

There are numerous pests and diseases we should be aware of that while not yet present in Ireland pose a significant threat. The Emerald Ash Borer is one such pest, which if it gets over here will likely wipe out Ash completely. But also in France (where forests have been significantly damaged by forest fire) the stenographer bark beetle has caused significant damage to remaining and weakened pine trees in the southwestern region of Gironde. Closer to home the European Spruce Bark Beetle was found in Kent 2019, showing these pests are not that far away.

Read more: *DAFM, Forest Health May 2021, updated September 2023.

- Gougherty AV (2023) Emerging tree diseases are accumulating rapidly in the native and non-native ranges of Holarctic trees. NeoBiota 87: 143–160.

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IWT NEWS

M A R I N E N E W S Grace Carr, IWT Marine Advocacy Officer

Fair Seas team and Stephen Mathews TD outside Dáil Photo: Ó Mearáin Photography

UPDATE 2023: A year in review

I

t’s been a busy year for the Fair Seas campaign from speaking in the Dáil, creating a movement of ocean stewardship, hosting the first of its kind Irish conference on Marine Protected Areas and much more.

In January, the team hit the ground running by submitting a written submission on the General Scheme for the new Marine Protected Area (MPA) legislation.

They also gave an oral submission to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage on the new legislation alongside colleagues from Birdwatch, the Irish Wildlife Trust and the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group. After this pre-legislative scrutiny, where the committee heard from stakeholders across several sectors, the committee put together their 46 recommendations for government for the first draft of the law.

By the end of January, Fair Seas received some very welcome news as their application for Ireland’s first ever ‘Hope Spot’ was approved. ‘Hope Spots’ are special places that are scientifically identified as critical to the health of the ocean. They are the brainchild of Dr. Sylvia Earle, Founder of Mission Blue who was named the first hero for the planet by Times magazine and has been National Geographic’s Explorer in Residence since 1998. The Greater Skellig Coast Hope Spot runs from Kenmare Bay in County Kerry to Loop Head in County Clare and covers around 7,000 km2 of Irish waters. While a ‘Hope Spot’ is not legal protection for the area, it does highlight

the broad range of biodiversity that can be found there, from critically endangered sharks, globally important breeding seabird colonies and migrating ocean giants.

In February, the report on the pre-legislative scrutiny was released and all of Fair Seas recommendations were taken on board. In March, Fair Seas held a briefing for TDs and Senators in the Oireachtas Audio-Visual room presenting on the need for MPA legislation and some of their key asks for the legislation. This month also marked Fair Seas' first birthday as a campaign! In the first 12 months, the campaign engaged fully with the legislative "THIS MONTH ALSO process of the MPA bill, authored several reports, blogs and handbooks MARKED FAIR SEAS' on MPAs and submitted to over 10 FIRST BIRTHDAY AS government consultations. They also A CAMPAIGN" gained thousands of followers online, appeared on TV and radio numerous times and created a short film and several videos engaging with stakeholders on ocean protection. Together, we have well and truly started a movement of ocean stewardship!

In May, Fair Seas was named a United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) champion. 26 organisations across Ireland were named as SDG champions and Fair Seas were recognised for their ongoing work to protect, conserve and restore Ireland’s unique marine environment. SDG 14 looks at ‘Life Below Water’ and Fair Seas objectives align closely with this goal but also with several others such as SDG 15 - Life

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M A R I N E N E W S Grace Carr, IWT Marine Advocacy Officer on Land and SDG 13 - Climate Action. The land and the seas are intrinsically connected and the ocean absorbs around a quarter of annual CO2 emissions and protecting and restoring our seas is one of the greatest tools in the fight against climate change.

Fair Seas also held a Marine Heritage event in Kerry to discuss MPAs with Minister Malcolm Noonan and screen their award winning film ‘The Kingdom of Kerry’. They also launched Ireland’s first ever Ocean Literacy Survey to find out how well the people of Ireland know the waters surrounding them.

This survey will help to inform plans for the future designation and management of MPAs and had world expert in ocean literacy Dr. Emma McKinley analysing the results.

June started off with a bang as the landmark conference on World Ocean Day was held in Cork.

This event brought ocean advocates, global experts, members of government, industry and key stakeholders into the same room to discuss Ireland’s next steps for marine management. This gave everyone a chance to learn from best practices across the globe, with over 175 participants and 50 people joining online. June also saw the publication of Fair Seas’ report ‘Sustainably Financing Ireland’s Marine Protected Area Network’. This report has been reviewed by international experts on the environment, Blue economy and fisheries economics from the World Bank, the University of British Columbia and the Charles Darwin Foundation. It states that 55 million would be needed to adequately fund MPA designation and management until 2030.

Considering Ireland spends over 70 million a year on greyhound and horse racing, this is a pretty good deal to ensure the protection of our seas!

Over the summer, Fair Seas and their partners held several events across the country highlighting the

Scan the QR code to sign

our online petition calling for strong MPA Legislation

"IN OCTOBER, FAIR SEAS HELD ANOTHER EVENT AT THE DAIL CALLING ON THE GOVERNMENT TO RELEASE AMBITIOUS LEGISLATION WITHOUT DELAY"

Dail AV room Photo: Ó Mearái Photography

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rich marine life we have here. The Irish Whale and Dolphin Group ran trips for volunteers on their boat the Celtic Mist allowing people to undertake citizen science and observer work on marine mammals with several talks on the need for MPA legislation to protect these wonderful species and their habitats.

The Irish Wildlife Trust spoke about the new MPA legislation at several events across the country, including Bloom festival in Dublin and an EU Seas at Risk event in Donegal.

In September, Fair Seas released their second short film which explores the coastline from North Donegal to Sligo. ‘Fair Seas: The Atlantic Northwest’ speaks to several stakeholders from different groups such as a local seafood producer, an angler, dive instructor and walking guide. While everyone interacts with the seas in a different way they all want to see marine protected areas in place to conserve the wonderful marine life and the local way of life which has sustained these communities.

For Sustainable Development Goal week in September, Fair Seas and the Irish Wildlife Trust held a webinar showcasing the results of Ireland's Ocean Literacy Survey which was open for respondents all through summer. Almost 1,300 people shared their thoughts and the results show that 98% of people support MPA designation and 99% of people stated that protecting the marine environment is either important or very important to them. 76% of people think that a lack of political will to protect/manage the ocean effectively is the biggest threat to the ocean. Dr. Emma McKinley discussed the results at length, as well as the importance of Ocean literacy and our societal connection with the sea.

In October, Fair Seas held another event at the Dail calling on the government to release ambitious legislation without delay. The team turned up with 11,758 signatures form Irish people from a petition they launched to encourage the government to progress with the much anticipated MPA legislation.

The Fair Seas team as well as members from the campaign steering committee and partner organisations attended the event to present to elected officials their key asks for the legislation. Their 3 main messages for the legislation are: 1. Ireland needs strong and ambitious MPA legislation containing mandatory targets committing Ireland to effectively protect 30% of its seas by 2030, including 10% strictly protected.

2. There must be a robust management framework in place for the areas to ensure we are not left with protected areas on paper that don’t actually provide any benefits to the marine ecosystems within them.

3. Early and ongoing stakeholder engagement is also essential for the success of MPAs. This engagement must be high quality, principled and based on transparency, inclusiveness among local and regional stakeholders.

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IWT NEWS

East coast infographic - Lands

Fair Seas and the Irish Wildlife Trust hope to see the next draft of the MPA legislation released before the end of the year and we will be working hard to ensure we get the strongest possible bill we can.

2024 is looking promising to be the year that Ireland finally has the MPA legislation it so desperately needs.

Correction: Within the text of our marine news article in our last issue Niall Mac Allister was mistakenly affiliated with the wrong organisation. We would like to correct that Niall Mac Allister was attending the Fair Seas conference as a stakeholder representing the marine tourism sector and as a spokesperson as part of his work within the field of marine research which he conduct with Marine Conservation Research.

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IWT NEWS

A C T I V I T I E S U P D A T E By Kieran Flood, IWT General Manager

 Dublin Branch visit to Phoenix Park

A look back on some activities at the IWT this winter and autumn STAFF TEAM This autumn we hired a Communication Officer at the Irish Wildlife Trust. In today's world we communicate across a plethora of platforms from social media to YouTube to email newsletters. This is the first time our organisation has had a dedicated communication staff member who will plan and coordinate our digital communication across all these various platforms while also helping us communicate with our branches and membership and help us tell our story to the world. We are delighted to introduce Emily Nolan, our new Communications Officer. You may have already noticed Emily’s first contribution to our magazine in this issue's Irish Conservation News article on Osprey.

Raised in the Glen of Aherlow, Emily grew up immersed in the rural Irish landscape, where she had plenty of opportunities to hike and enjoy the many lakes and forests of Tipperary. With a foundation in Earth Sciences from Trinity College Dublin, she has passionately channelled her expertise into science communication, with a particular focus on inspiring action for wildlife, conservation and sustainability. Emily's 10

Limerick Branch Fungi Forage event

professional journey includes a science communication internship at the Climate Impacts Research Centre in Sweden, a period of time working in academic publishing, and she recently deepened her knowledge with an MSc in Human Evolution and Behaviour from University College London. Emily is dedicated to understanding the natural world from diverse perspectives and looks forward to connecting with fellow nature enthusiasts across the country!

BRANCH UPDATES Our Dublin Branch is seeking new members for their branch committee.

IWT local branches are all run by dedicated volunteer committees and the folks at our Dublin Branch have put the call out for some fresh faces to help run this busy branch of IWT. See a note from our Dublin Branch below.

“Dublin Branch is looking for volunteers to join our committee to help organise our monthly outings, and to help get Green Drinks up and running again.

Green Drinks is a worldwide initiative whereby environmental issues are

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IWT NEWS

discussed and debated in an informal setting like a pub (you can learn more about it at www.greendrinks.org). Dublin Branch had a very successful Green Drinks monthly talk and discussion pre covid, and we would love to get it going again. But we need more committee members to do that, so we would really appreciate your help. The monthly outings are the only "meetings", so the duties of a Dublin branch committee member are not too onerous. If you would like to join the Dublin Branch committee, send an email to DublinBranch@iwt.ie or come up to anyone wearing a Hi-Viz on our monthly outings. Thank you, The Dublin Branch Team.”

BOARD RECRUITMENT You will have seen in our last issue that we are recruiting volunteers for our Board of Directors directly from the Irish Wildlife Trust membership. Thank you to everyone who sent in expressions of interest this autumn. Board recruitment is essentially an ongoing process - as experienced Directors step down we need to replenish our numbers, skills and experience on the Board. If at any point you feel you would like to volunteer to sit on our board, please send a CV and expression of interest to board@iwt.ie .

EVENTS & WEBINARS Our Dublin, Limerick and Waterford branches have been busy this autumn and winter running fantastic nature events.

Among this season's outings our Dublin Branch visited the Phoenix Park to learn about the deer rut when the male deer congregate, and even clash antlers, in a bid to win mates. Our Waterford Branch have been leading guided nature walks on Sunday mornings and this season have visited Duncannon Fort, Coillte na Leacan and the River Barrow.

Our Limerick Branch reached new heights with their guided hike in the Sliabh Felim's in association with Limerick Climbing Club. They also collaborated with the local BirdWatch Ireland branch

"IT IS GREAT TO SEE LOCAL BRANCHES WORKING TOGETHER WITH OTHER ENGOS"  Oonagh Duggan of BirdWatch Ireland with Limerick Branch members

to bring Oonagh Duggan from BWI to Limerick to speak about the Nature Restoration Law, a topic you will have read about in this magazine. It is great to see local branches working together with other ENGOs as we all share the ultimate goal of saving nature in Ireland.

Meanwhile online, our webinars discussed Ireland’s ocean literacy and coastal habitat conservation. In September Grace Carr discussed the result of the Fair Seas Ocean Literacy Survey with researcher Dr. Emma McKinley. Emma is an expert in marine social sciences and sits on the Global Ocean Literacy Expert Group run by the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission. Preliminary results from this survey show that Irish people have a deep connection to the ocean as well as a great concern for its health. The webinar examined what it means for marine governance.

In October I chatted with Dr Catherine Farrell, project manager of the LIFE on Machair project. LIFE on Machair a six year project developed to work with farmers, landowners and local communities in a bid to protect and restore Ireland’s network of Machair systems and associated breeding wader and pollinator communities. This was a fascinating webinar where we learnt about

We look forward to 2024 when we will continue to campaign for nature protection and restoration in Ireland with your help and we’ll hopefully see you at some of our events.

Thank you to all our members for your support in 2023.

Machair, a rare coastal grassland and dune habitat, and the effort to protect and restore it on Ireland’s west and northwest coast. This includes changing grazing regimes, managing recreational impact and experimenting with fencing to promote dune establishment.

To learn more about these and all topic in our webinar check out our YouTube page or our website https://iwt.ie/whatwe-do/communication/webinars/ WILDART This year we ran our annual children's nature art competition over the autumn mid-term break. The WildArt competition is funded by the Heritage Council and sees children up to the age of 16 entering artwork inspired by nature. We started this competition in spring of the first lockdown of 2020 as a way of engaging young people with local nature in a difficult time. The results were so beautiful and inspiring that we decided to keep the competition going. Running it in autumn this year made a real difference to the colour pallet with the rich autumn colour showing through in the work. You can see the four category winners further on in the magazine and check out a selection of the entries on our YouTube page and website.

2024!

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WILDART COMPETITION

WE ARE DELIGHTED TO ANNOUNCE THE WINNERS OF WILD ART 2023!

We wish to congratulate our winners for their fantastic work.

Choosing a winner was a tough decision as we received so many entries from incredibly talented artists.

We wish to thank everyone who entered the competition this year. It is a pleasure to have the opportunity to see such unique and personal expressions of nature from so many talented young people all over Ireland.

We look forward to 2024 when we will continue to campaign for nature protection and restoration in Ireland with your help and we’ll hopefully see you at some of our events.

Thank you to all our members for your support in 2023.

See you in 2024!  Winner 13 to 16: Katie Cowley Lane, 14 years old

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 Winner 6 and under: Levon Downing, 6 years old

"CHOOSING A WINNER WAS A TOUGH DECISION AS WE RECEIVED SO MANY ENTRIES FROM INCREDIBLY TALENTED ARTISTS"

 Winner 7 to 9: Ellen Troake, 9 years old

 Winner 10 to 12: Gabriela Suska, 11 years old

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P O L I C Y U P D A T E By Marion Jammet

Turning 2024 into a Year of Action for Nature  Planetary boundaries 2023. Graph: Azote for Stockholm Resilience Centre, Stockholm University. Based on Richardson et al. 2023, Steffen et al. 2015, and Rockström et al. 2009)

CLIMATE CHANGE CO2 concentration

NOVEL ENTITIES

Radiative forcing

Increasi r s ng risk

regard to the objectives and targets in a National Biodiversity Action Plan”. In simple terms, the National BIOSPHERE Genetic STRATOSPHERIC OZONE Biodiversity Action Plan now carries the same legal weight INTEGRITY DEPLETION as the Climate Action Plan. rating sp e ope ace f Budget 2024 also included some potentially promising a S Functional developments for biodiversity and nature conservation.

First, funding for the National Parks & Wildlife Service (NPWS) increased by more than 27%, with the budget ATMOSPHERIC AEROSOL LAND-SYSTEM of the Service having more than doubled since 2020.

LOADING CHANGE Secondly, the new Infrastructure, Climate and Nature Fund will provide €2 billion investment every year from 2024 to 2030. With up to 22.5% of the fund to be used to Freshwater use Green (Blue water) support climate and nature related projects, it should water OCEAN make investment in nature at a scale possible. This will ACIDIFICATION FRESHWATER CHANGE ensure whoever is in government P N "BUDGET 2024 ALSO after the next general elections will have funds to invest in nature no BIOGEOCHEMICAL INCLUDED SOME FLOWS matter what happens to tax receipts, POTENTIALLY and will have to do so. Both aspects PROMISING are key, and should ensure a steady DEVELOPMENTS he latest update of the planetary investment in nature, preventing boundaries framework published in FOR BIODIVERSITY significant cuts in funding for September shows that six of the nine biodiversity as experienced after the AND NATURE boundaries are now transgressed and that last financial crash. Although the CONSERVATION" the situation is deteriorating. The framework projects to be funded have yet to be identifies processes that are critical for maintaining the decided, these will likely include projects to restore stability and resilience of the Earth system as a whole. habitats, improve water quality in rivers and lakes, and These results suggest that Earth is now well outside of support farmers who undertake nature protection. the safe operating space for humanity and are a reminder Another interesting development that happened this of the urgency to act. Addressing the biodiversity crisis quarter was the announcement of a new National Park, will require strong leadership and collective action - we Boyne Valley (Brú na Bóinne) becoming Ireland’s 7th must act everywhere. This article provides an overview National Park. While the launch of a new national park of recent policy developments at national and European should be welcome, the choice of the Boyne Valley (not levels, as well as a summary of possible actions to give a to mention the fact that our existing national parks face voice to nature in 2024. significant challenges) raised many questions among nature enthusiasts. Located next to the Newgrange NATIONAL UPDATE neolithic tombs, the park is in an area that is an UNESCO As we write this article, the long-awaited “National World Heritage Site, and has real cultural significance.

Biodiversity Action Plan - 2023-2027” remains to be Despite homing some endangered species of birds, such published, and it’s still unclear how many of the Citizens’ as Grey Partridge (Perdix perdix), Yellowhammer Assembly on Biodiversity Loss’ recommendations will (Emberiza citrinella) and Woodcock (Scolopax), the be implemented (and in what format). However, it’s results of a recent nature survey, however, show that its encouraging that the Wildlife (Amendment) Act 2023 current natural value is questionable. The announcement - passed in July, now gives legal weight to the “National that the park will be used to demonstrate nature-friendly Biodiversity Action Plan”. Article 59B states that a “public agricultural practices to a wide audience and innovation body shall, in the performance of its functions, have for biodiversity in a farming landscape also raises

T

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questions. In 2021, Ireland had the third lowest share of organic farming areas in the European Union (about 2% vs an EU average of 9.9%), and nitrates water pollution remains a significant issue. There is no doubt that further education on this topic is needed. My visit to the Centre for Alternative Technology (CAT) in Wales over the summer, convinced me of the importance of this type of education centre. Being able to touch biobased insulation materials and to look at green roofs, all make it more tangible, but with limited resources, we may need to have a conversation on the objectives of our national parks.

To conclude this update on national policy developments, I would like to remind readers that all local authorities across Ireland have to publish their first climate action plans by February 2024. Many of the plans, which cover the 2024-2029 timeframe, include a section on biodiversity and are currently open for public consultation. If you haven’t done it yet, I would encourage you to have a look at your county’s draft climate action plan and ensure nature has a voice.

EU UPDATE Since its appointment in 2019 and the launch of the European Green Deal, the current European Commission has worked on ambitious climate and nature policies.

The European Green Deal is a package of policy initiatives, which aims to set the EU on the path to a green transition, with the ultimate goal of reaching climate neutrality by 2050. This includes the publication of the EU's biodiversity strategy for 2030, and subsequent specific commitments and actions, including the Nature Restoration Law (NRL) and the sustainable use of pesticides regulation (SUR).

However, amidst elections in Europe, and as illustrated by recent u-turn on key green targets in the UK and by Macron’s call for “a European regulatory pause” on environmental constraints, proposals to implement the green transition seem to be increasingly met with pushbacks. In July, members of the European People’s Party (EPP) vociferously opposed the Nature Restoration Law. The NRL, which aims to restore 20% of the degraded land and marine ecosystems in the EU by 2030, and to repair all ecosystems in need of restoration by 2050, only survived the European Parliament’s vote thanks to the mobilisation of 1 million citizens. A provisional agreement was reached between the Council and the Parliament in early November, and a vote is expected in plenary in the new year, but the text has been significantly weakened - See previous issue of the magazine for further details.

The Commission’s proposal on sustainable use of pesticides regulation (SUR) was rejected outright by the European Parliament in November. Pesticides use has been associated with significant declines in bee and other pollinator populations in recent decades. The regulation proposed the adoption and achievement of national targets, which, together, added up to an overall 50% reduction of pesticides use at EU level by 2030. After months of back and forth, many amendments were introduced (many of them put forward by the conservative right wing of the Parliament) to scrap the core elements

of the SUR. This led to an entire rejection of the text in plenary. As a Parliament rejection of a Commission’s proposal at first reading without a referral back to the leading committee is extremely rare, next steps on this important text are now uncertain.

CONCLUSION With 80% of key habitats in poor or bad conditions across the continent (European Environment Agency, 2020) and significant biodiversity decline over the last decades, recent developments in Europe are concerning. The scale of the challenge requires collective action, as well as bold leadership. Nature conservation can no longer be sacrificed for short-term political gain. The EU Nature Restoration Law wouldn’t be where it is now if it wasn’t for the 1 million people (including many IWT members) who emailed politicians and voiced their support for a strong NRL. With European and general elections around the corner, it’s important to get our voices heard and to stress to any candidates that nature matters to us.

About the Author: A board member of the IWT, Marion is passionate about biodiversity conservation and greening our towns and cities. She holds a MSc in Environmental Sustainability and a MA in European Public Affairs.

"MANY OF THE PLANS, WHICH COVER THE 20242029 TIMEFRAME, INCLUDE A SECTION ON BIODIVERSITY AND ARE CURRENTLY OPEN FOR PUBLIC CONSULTATION"

Front cover of Draft National Biodiversity Action Plan

 Green roof at Centre for Alternative Technology (CAT) in Wales..

Photo: Marion Jammet

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C A M P A I G N U P D A T E By Mari Margil and Dr. Peter Doran

The Rights of Nature in Ireland

I

n 2022, the Government created the Citizens’ Assembly on Biodiversity Loss to provide an innovative and independent civic voice on a matter of pressing concern to Ireland – biodiversity loss and its underlying drivers – and to make recommendations to address this crisis.

The Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) – of which Ireland is a member – issued its “Global Assessment Report” in 2019. The report found that species extinction rates are accelerating, due to human activity, with one million species currently facing extinction. We are at a point in our planet’s history that many are calling the “Sixth Great Extinction”.

Biodiversity loss is integrally tied to the acceleration of species extinction and other ecological crises that are occurring worldwide, including habitat destruction, the collapse of coral reefs and other ecosystems, and of course, climate change. Biodiversity loss is also linked to the loss of diversity in cultures, languages, and Indigenous knowledge systems, and is, in this sense, linked to deep historical trends with which the people of Ireland are intimately acquainted.

THE RIGHTS OF NATURE The Citizens’ Assembly report makes a number of recommendations to address biodiversity loss. This includes developing and implementing a national biodiversity plan, as well as amending Bunreacht na hÉireann – the Irish Constitution – to recognize the human right to a healthy environment and the rights of the environment itself.

Recognizing the constitutional rights of the environment – or what’s more often referred to as the “rights of nature” – represents a fundamental shift in humankind’s relationship with the natural world.

Western legal systems have long considered nature as an infinite resource, and have treated the natural world as if it exists for human use.

Under these systems, environmental laws authorize certain uses of nature, including the contamination of millions of gallons of fresh water at every frack well, the blowing up of mountaintops to mine coal, and the burning of fossil fuels which pollute the atmosphere and cause global warming.

The predominant right exercised by the powerful since the Industrial Revolution has been the right to destroy – not to preserve – nature. This is why the former chair of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and the IPBES, Bob Watson, suggested to the Citizens’ Assembly that the fundamental question we face today is how long are we going to license the right to destroy nature?

What we learn from this, put simply, is that environmental laws legalize environmental harm. The consequences of this are proving devastating.

The Citizens’ Assembly recommendation to enshrine the rights 16

Front cover of Report of the Citizens’ Assembly on Biodiversity Loss

of nature in the Constitution represents an acknowledgement that we need to make meaningful changes in how we govern ourselves towards the natural world, and in how nature itself is treated in law. This comes with the understanding that when we harm nature, we harm ourselves. Further, that we are dependent on nature, and that we must protect nature to protect ourselves.

THE FIRST RIGHTS OF NATURE LAWS The Citizens’ Assembly recommendations come fifteen years after the first laws to recognize the rights of nature were enacted.

In 2006, Tamaqua Borough, Pennsylvania, in the United States, adopted the first rights of nature law in the world. Facing the dumping of toxic waste that would impact the health of humans and nature, community members looked to environmental laws to protect them. However, they found that those laws, rather than protecting the community and the environment, were in fact authorizing the very harm that they wanted to stop.

This has been an eye-opening experience for communities across the U.S., and in our experience, communities around the world, who face environmental threats but find no solutions or help from

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environmental laws. Rather, they find that environmental laws and regulations authorize the use and exploitation of nature, and thus authorize the harm of nature.

The community of Tamaqua, and the more than three dozen U.S. communities that followed, realized that they needed to forge a new path forward if they were to protect themselves and protect nature. This meant recognizing the need to change our relationship with nature, how we govern ourselves toward nature, and how nature itself is treated under the law – from being considered a thing, a resource, without even the most basic right to exist, to being recognized as a living entity with legal rights.

The first country to recognize the rights of nature was Ecuador, which in 2008 enshrined the rights of nature — Pacha Mama — in its national constitution.

National laws are now in place in Bolivia, Panama, Spain, and Uganda. Local and state laws have been established in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, and Brazil. In addition, courts in Colombia, India, and Bangladesh have recognized legal rights of rivers and other ecosystems.

Tribal and First Nations have also protected the rights of nature.

This includes the White Earth Band of Ojibwe in Minnesota, within the U.S., and the Innu Council of Ekuanitshit in Quebec, Canada.

These laws, policies, and court decisions recognize rights, including the rights of nature to exist, flourish, regenerate, evolve, and be restored. Rights specific to the needs of a particular part of nature have also now been recognized, including the right of wild rice to freshwater habitat and the right of rivers to flow.

THE RIGHTS OF NATURE IN IRELAND In 2021, Donegal County Council adopted a rights of nature policy, the first in Ireland.

In Northern Ireland, district councils, including Belfast and Derry and Strabane, have also adopted rights of nature policies.

This includes very recently, amidst the growing ecological crisis with Lough Neagh which is experiencing toxic blue-green algae blooms, local councils have adopted resolutions calling for the recognition of the rights of the Lough.

Furthermore, Irish diplomats at the United Nations played a key role in enabling and facilitating Bolivia’s longstanding efforts to introduce consideration of the rights of nature into U.N. discussions in the context of Agenda 2030 and the U.N. Sustainable Development Goals.

The Irish Parliament tasked its Joint Committee on Environment and Climate Action with reviewing the Citizens’ Assembly’s report and recommendations. The Joint Committee held a series of hearings and is expected to issue its report and recommendations on the Citizen’s Assembly’s proposals by the end of 2023.

We were invited to appear before the Joint Committee in October, for a session it held focused on the Citizens’ Assembly’s recommendations to amend the Constitution to protect the rights of nature. We shared with the Joint Committee how and why the rights of nature movement is growing globally, in the face of overlapping environmental crises, taking on the need to advance meaningful change to protect the natural world.

We described our work in Ecuador, where in 2008, we were invited to consult with Ecuador’s Constituent Assembly that was formed to draft a new national constitution. Facing threats to its fragile ecosystems – from the Amazon to the Galapagos, and to

species in a country renowned for its biodiversity – we worked with Constituent Assembly delegates and civil society to draft rights of nature constitutional provisions.

Later that year, Ecuador held a national referendum on the proposed constitution. It was adopted with nearly 70% approval. With this, Ecuador became the first country in the world to enshrine the rights of nature in its constitution. Since then, the constitutional rights of nature have been enforced and upheld within Ecuador, including to protect fragile ecosystems and at-risk species in the country’s cloud forests.

MOVING FORWARD We know that this is an uncertain time. It can seem overwhelming, knowing that we face biodiversity loss, climate change, and other environmental threats. We can wonder what we can do.

The Citizens’ Assembly, to its great credit, faced this head on, and developed a set of recommendations to move forward in Ireland in a way that is proactive, to restore and protect biodiversity and the natural world. Protecting the rights of nature in the Irish Constitution, as the Citizens’ Assembly recommends, we believe is an integral part of this.

At the time of writing the Joint Committee is moving towards writing up its report to the Taoiseach, we invite everyone, to let the political parties and members of the Committee know that there is popular support for the Citizens’ Assembly recommendations on bringing the rights of nature – our landscapes, our communities of species, our rivers and coasts – into the embrace and protection of the Constitution. To paraphrase the great Indian writer, Amitav Ghosh, Nature has and is increasingly a subject of history….let it be so!

ABOUT THE AUTHORS: Mari Margil is the Executive Director of the Center for Democratic and Environmental Rights (CDER). She works with civil society, governments, as well as Tribal Nations and Indigenous communities in the U.S., Ecuador, the Philippines, Nepal, and elsewhere, to advance Rights of Nature frameworks.

Dr. Peter Doran is a Senior Lecturer in the School of Law at Queens University Belfast. Peter combines research and policy interests in the fields of sustainable development, the commons, and the attention economy.

LEARN MORE The Citizens’ Assembly report may be found at this link: https://citizensassembly.ie/wp-content/uploads/ ReportonBiodiversityLoss.pdf To learn more about the rights of nature, including how this movement has grown around the world, visit: https://www.centerforenvironmentalrights.org/ To engage in the effort to protect the rights of nature in Ireland. To lodge your support for the rights of nature and become involved, visit: https://mindfulcommons. org/support-the-citizens-call-for-rights-of-natureadd-your-organisations-voice-today/

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FEATURE

The tragedy of

LOUGH NEAGH the tragedy of the commons

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"LOUGH NEAGH IS MANY THINGS: THE LARGEST LAKE ON THE ISLAND OF IRELAND, AN INCREDIBLE FRESHWATER HABITAT, A PROTECTED AREA OF SPECIAL SCIENTIFIC INTEREST AND THE SOURCE OF 40% OF NORTHERN IRELAND’S DRINKING WATER"

Lough Neagh, Northern Ireland. Photo: iStockphotos

By DR. ELAINE McGOFF

L

ooking at a map of Ireland, one couldn’t fail to notice the vast breadth of blue in the middle of Northern Ireland. It has been described by some as akin to an inland sea, with the far shore only faintly visible from the other side. Lough Neagh is many things: the largest lake on the island of Ireland, an incredible freshwater habitat, a protected area of special scientific interest and the source of 40% of Northern Ireland’s drinking water. For centuries communities have lived on its shores, earning a living by and on the lake. It is an immense and beautiful ecosystem, and one that is of huge importance to the local community. It is also dying in plain sight, and over the past few months it has been the site of one of

the biggest ecological disasters we have seen on this island. The lake is choked with an algal bloom, one which has been recurrent every summer for years, which, despite being highlighted by concerned locals and environmental groups, has never been addressed.

This year the bloom reached epic, stinking proportions.

An algal bloom indicates there is a nutrient pollution problem, where there is too much nitrogen or phosphorus in a waterbody. When combined with warm weather, you can end up with a luminous green mat of algal bloom on the surface of lakes and other still waters.

To call these algae is a misnomer, algal blooms are actually caused by a type of bacteria, cyanobacteria.

And these bacteria produce toxins of various types, some of which can be incredibly toxic to animals and humans. Dogs are particularly susceptible to the toxins and can die from exposure to a very small amount.

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Neagh is also impacted by the invasive zebra mussel, which further upsets the ecosystem.

The impacts on the local community have been severe.

Lough Neagh is traditionally an eel fishery, but that has all but collapsed this year. Water sports businesses have shut up shop, as it’s no longer safe to bring people onto the water. Local "IN THE swimmers can no longer use the lake.

REPUBLIC WE The sight and smell of the decomposing ARE SEEING algal bloom is hugely off-putting for any YEAR ON YEAR waterside tourism or recreation. The DECLINES locals are all but in mourning at the demise of a once beautiful lake. Our IN OUR waterways are our commons, they WATERWAYS, belong to us all, and as the journalist ON FOOT OF Ella McSweeney once said, rivers are INCREASING the ultimate truth tellers - whatever POLLUTION" happens in the catchment will end up showing up in the waters. What terrible truths are we learning about Lough Neagh?

While the human impact is immense, the ecological damage is even greater. Algal blooms suck up the oxygen in the water, leaving dead zones underneath. Fish die from lack of oxygen, and other aquatic plants die from lack of light. The famous Lough Neagh fly, a type of chironomid fly, has dwindled from the lake this year, where previously there would have been great clouds of them. While sometimes viewed by humans as a pest, their demise is worrying. Those flies would have fed other animals, like birds, bats and fish, with them gone all the species that depended on them may also dwindle from the lake. Lough Neagh has essentially been turned into a dead zone, ecologically speaking. A once thriving treasure of a habitat reduced to a toxic mass of stinking algal bloom and zebra mussels. As a local environmentalist James Orr has said, Lough Neagh isn’t just dying, it’s being killed by those with the responsibility for safeguarding the lake, choosing to prioritise the interests of industry profits from sand dredging and intensive agriculture over the health of the lake.

There is no quick fix for the pollution in Lough Neagh.

Much of the algal bloom will die away in the colder months of winter, but the nutrients remain in the system, settling in the sediment until the weather and water warms and the nutrients are resuspended, to bloom again. It has been estimated that it would take decades to undo the damage, but even at that it would require significant policy change and political will, and given  Algae bloom at Blessington Lakes. the current situation with the Northern Irish Executive, Photo: Elain McGoff it’s hard to see how that will happen until the Executive is up and running again.

Humans aren’t immune either, and although it doesn’t Lough Neagh is not a one off on the island of Ireland, kill us, it can make us very sick. Algal blooms can we’ve seen smaller algal blooms on lakes throughout produce neurotoxins, which impact on our livers and the Republic, in the Blessington Lakes in Wicklow, kidneys, and they also commonly cause gastrointestinal Lough Leane in Killarney and Keeldra Lough in Leitrim symptoms such as vomiting and diarrhoea. Even to name just a few. Water pollution is often invisible to touching an algal bloom can cause your skin to break the untrained eye, until it gets to the level of triggering out in a rash. The catastrophic pollution in Lough Neagh an algal bloom, which, given the lurid green colour, is was decades in the making, and is a result of a hard to ignore. In the Republic we are seeing year on combination of factors, including agricultural run-off, year declines in our waterways, on foot of increasing wastewater and sand dredging within the lake. Lough pollution. The EPA has identified that half of our rivers 20

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SWAN, SUSTAINABLE WATER NETWORK The Irish Wildlife Trust is a proud member of SWAN. The Sustainable Water Network (SWAN) is an umbrella network of 25 of Ireland’s leading environmental NGOs, national and regional, working together to protect and enhance Ireland’s water environment.

SWAN seeks to influence water policy so as to secure maximum protection for Ireland’s aquatic resources. They also work to influence other related policy areas, such as agriculture and marine planning, to bring them in line, as much as possible, with the requirements of the Water Framework Directive and Marine Strategy Framework Directive to protect and restore our rivers, lakes, marine waters and groundwater. They do this through advocacy and engagement.

SWAN also works to raise awareness of the immense value of our water environment, as well as the threats faced

by Ireland’s waterbodies and key causes of water quality declines. SWAN shares and promotes solutions to key challenges facing our water environment with the public and other stakeholders.

and lakes, and 2/3 of our estuaries are polluted in the Republic, half of our bathing spots were closed (1) at some point during the summer season, and 1 in every 30 private wells (2) are contaminated, so we’re very much on a similar trajectory to what we’re seeing in Northern Ireland. In a nutshell, we are drinking, swimming in, and living beside polluted water. The ecological disaster that is Lough Neagh is what awaits us at the end of the path we’re currently following, with our year on year declines in water quality over the last decade.

In the Republic we do have an opportunity to address this, with the plan for how we manage water (the River Basin Management Plan) currently being drafted by our Government. The pressures on water quality are similar throughout the Republic as what we’re seeing in Lough Neagh. Intensive agriculture is the main driver of nutrient pollution, compounded by failures to provide adequate urban wastewater treatment (including the release of raw sewage into our waters at 26 locations (3), and septic tank failures. Forestry also has a significant impact on water quality in some catchments.

None of these issues are insurmountable, but as in Northern Ireland will take political will to address, as the solution requires substantial funding in the case of urban wastewater treatment, and a change in how we manage land to better safeguard water quality. In many cases, these measures will not be politically popular.

We all live in catchments, we all share the water - our precious commons, and any single person’s actions could compromise our water quality, impacting those downstream. Catchment is the new community, we depend on each other to protect it, and it’s critical that

we recognise that. Politicians say that people rarely talk to them about water quality, that it doesn’t seem to feature high on people’s agendas. Yet all life depends on access to clean water, what could be more fundamental? If we want to avoid seeing the catastrophe that is Lough Neagh being repeated in lakes in the Republic, then it’s time to stop taking clean water for granted, raise our voice and speak up for our precious waterways. Our rivers, lakes and seas are an incredible resource, we should be fiercely protective of them. It’s time to reclaim our commons and call on the Government to take their protection seriously.

Níl beatha gan uisce, there’s no life without water.

1. Alice Chambers, Swimming restrictions hit over half of all Irish bathing waters this summer, The Journal, October 2023 2. EPA, 2022, Drinking Water Quality in Private Group Schemes and Small Private Supplies - 2022 3. EPA, 2022, Urban Waste Water Treatment in 2022" About the author: Dr. Elaine McGoff is Head of Advocacy with An Taisce and Vice Chair of SWAN, Sustainable Water Network.

"THE PRESSURES ON WATER QUALITY ARE SIMILAR THROUGHOUT THE REPUBLIC AS WHAT WE’RE SEEING IN LOUGH NEAGH"

 Algae bloom at Blessington Lakes.

Photo: Elain McGoff

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WILD IDEAS

GAA Green Clubs Programme

WILD on the PITCH

GAA pitch in Belfast showing trees and the value of green spaces in urban areas.

By TIM CLABON

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id you know that the GAA Green Clubs programme started in 2020? The programme covers five key areas of environmental concern: energy, water, waste, travel and biodiversity.

Out of 2,200 clubs over 45 clubs participated in the first phase of the programme.

The Green Club Programme is a partnership between the GAA, LGFA, Camogie Association and local authorities across Ireland. This partnership had its origins in the Sustainable Development 22

"OUT OF 2,200 CLUBS OVER 45 CLUBS PARTICIPATED IN THE FIRST PHASE OF THE PROGRAMME" Goals (SDG) Champions Programme launched by the Department of Communications, Climate Action, and Environment in September 2019.

Phase one ran from 2021 to 2023. Clubs taking part formed “Green Teams” to work on the goals of the programme. These clubs performed audits and engaged in sustainability projects within the community. Experience from this led to the development of the GAA’s Green Club Toolkit, in partnership with the National Biodiversity and Data Centre, with an emphasis on the All Ireland Pollinator Plan.

Phase two of the programme is currently underway with over 200 clubs across all

counties taking part. Applications for phase three are expected to begin in late 2024.

GAA TOOLKITS The toolkits offer practical advice on how clubs participating in the programme can make their club more sustainable with regard to the use of energy, water, waste, travel and biodiversity. Clubs are very much independent in how they use the toolkits, which areas they work on and how they achieve their sustainability goals.

The toolkits for biodiversity contain some really fantastic information on how clubs can support biodiversity within their grounds from creating nature trails, reducing herbicide use, managing

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hedgerows and planting trees. A particularly nice one is “Plant in Club or County Colours” which really combines the value of biodiversity with the sport and community at large.

Many clubs around the country have taken the initiative on the biodiversity front.

For instance, Mullingar Shamrocks (Co. Westmeath) has been engaging in biodiversity actions for many years.

Projects include native tree planting, a biodiversity walkway, a sensory garden, community partnerships, a herbicide elimination project and community partnerships for biodiversity.

Culloville Blues (Co. Armagh) extended their club walkway, planted native hedging, pollinator-friendly plants and nearly 1000 native trees. They also installed recycled benches and educational signage, and stabilised a sloped bank naturally with wildflower hydroseeding.

Ballycumber GAA (Co. Offaly) replaced leylandii hedging with biodiversityfriendly native trees, saving on maintenance and reducing the number of footballs and sliotars lost to the thick leylandii while also creating a new colourful biodiversity area in the club. The club also planted a Pocket Forest, dedicated to the memory of a valued club member, and developed areas of pollinator friendly growth around their pitch.

Wild on the Pitch

The majority of open space on club lands is dedicated to sport with Perennial Ryegrass (Lolium perenne) and/or fescue species being the main species present. However, a look at many sports fields shows other species such as Broad Leaved Plantain (Plantago major -a really hardy species) and clover (Trifolium) can be present (either as part of a seed mix or incidental). For more information, please see the Field Studies Council’s “Playing Field Plants Guide” which covers common species occurring on and around the pitch, excluding grasses.

Lamh Dhearg (Co. Antrim) focussed their activities around the idea of ‘Neighbours in Nature’, partnering with local community organisations and encouraged club members to adopt areas of the club grounds to develop for biodiversity in a colourful, lively club project where biodiversity goes hand in hand with health and wellbeing.

St Annes (disclaimer: My local club) based on the periphery of the Dublin

Hurley’s in Peril Ash dieback is a major concern affecting native forests here, in Europe and in the UK. It is a fungal disease that can kill ash trees. Ash (Fraxinus excelsior) has a cultural significance for the GAA, being the wood hurleys have traditionally been made from. Ash wood from other countries is imported as not enough tree saplings are produced in Ireland (approx 80% of hurleys made come from imported ash wood), but the war in Ukraine has impacted the import of Ash wood. Alternative woods have been used to make up the shortfall.

Making a hurley requires an ash

Red clover, Trifolium pratense

tree that is at least thirty years old.

Traditional cutting methods by hand are required to get the correct cut at the root to give the hurley its turn and strength. Understanding this, and the impact Ash Dieback is having on our native ash population, then you realise how significant and damaging this disease is.

Many clubs already have an equipment swap initiative where boots, tops and hurleys can be reused as younger players grow. Given the threats facing Ash, reusing hurleys has become more critical.

urban landscape led guided wildlife walks for club members, left areas around the pitch uncut for a couple of months during the flowering period, put up bird boxes and developed an information board on biodiversity around the club.

The toolkits combined the experiences of several clubs, including some from those above which took the initiative in promoting biodiversity within their grounds. They are aimed at clubs both in urban and rural settings, showing what can be achieved by clubs, no matter where they are based.

While the main focus has been around creating a rich diverse habitat centred around pollinator friendly species, it is hoped that future toolkits will cover other areas of wildlife such as soil ecology, bats and composter species.

One of the main challenges with regard to biodiversity is groundskeeping; through mowing practices, pitch treatment and hedgerow management. Striking a balance between a usable playing field and the needs of biodiversity will remain an issue, but one that the programme aims to address.

The programme is expected to run indefinitely and hopefully give future generations of GAA members clubs that both cater to the sport and the need for environmental stewardship.

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GORDON D'ARCY

BIODIVERSITY

By GORDON D'ARCY "WITHIN THE 3.5-KILOMETRE RADIUS OF THE LITTLE SOUTH GALWAY VILLAGE IS AN EXTRAORDINARILY DIVERSE MIX"

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here may be other Irish parishes with natural diversity comparable to that of Ballinderreen but there cannot be many.

Though perhaps it’s just a matter of looking! Within the 3.5-kilometre radius of the little south Galway village (population c. 500) is an extraordinarily diverse mix: a coastal commonage; an expanse of limestone karst, two fen/lakes; a collection of turloughs and a substantial mature woodland.

The little oakwood (from which the village gets its name) still exists, owing its survival to its location on rough ground, a distance away from the nearest road. The other woodland; the 25ha Cloghballymore estate, though containing nonnatives (sycamore, horse chestnut and beech) should be described as semi-natural. An understorey of hazel, holly, spindle, guelder rose and ground cover of wild garlic, bluebell, woodrush and rarities such as bird’s nest orchid,

testifies to this. The wealth of butterflies including fritillaries and hairstreaks, woodland birds, and mammals such as red squirrel, pine marten, red/sika deer and lesser horseshoe bat confirm its status as a Special Area of Conservation (SAC).

A 200ha expanse of karst, Cuildooish, has been described as south Galway’s ‘mini-Burren’ due to its topographical resemblance to the famous north Clare region. This open landscape of limestone grassland, heath and scrub, offset with turloughs and fen/lakes is a priceless unspoiled habitat within walking distance of the village. More than 200 species of plants including Arctic/Alpines and rare orchids; more than two dozen butterfly species; scarce and declining birds (skylark, meadow pipit and

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GORDON D'ARCY Bluebell. Photo: Mike Brown Hare. Photo: Mike Brown

cuckoo) and mammals, including Irish hare and stoat, are all found here.

Two limestone lakes (which are also fens) are found in the study area. Though subject to fluctuating water-levels they are not turloughs.

Important aquatic vegetation including some of the county’s largest stands of great fen sedge occur providing hidden habitats for many invertebrates like dragonflies and wetland warblers, as well as reed buntings. Water rails and snipe attract avian predators such as wandering hen harriers and buzzards in winter.

The cluster of turloughs, typical of south Galway’s limestone country, are important habitats in their own right: Pockets of livestock grazing land in summer (when dry), they attract migrant wetland birds in spring and autumn.

Flanking the study area to the west and covering some 20ha along the south side of an inlet and estuary in Galway Bay, an area of commonage provides rough grazing for up to 100 sheep. Habitat-specific salt-resistant plants (thrift, sea aster, lavender and a dozen others) grow above the high-tide line. Myriad invertebrates (worms, crustaceans, molluscs) inhabit the adjacent muddy fringes and provide food for about a thousand wintering wildfowl and waders. More than a hundred bird species have been identified here. Otters and seals, in pursuit of inshore fish are regularly seen.

Occasionally also, something extraordinary has turned up – a loggerhead turtle (in the 1990’s) and a young white-tailed eagle (2023).

Since 2022, the Ballinderreen branch of the Community Foundation Ireland has undertaken a biodiversity survey of the study area (shown on the map). All four sites were visited in spring and autumn and individually on other dates with the objective of compiling an inventory of the flora and fauna. Naturally, the list is not

"WHO KNOWS WHAT NATURAL RICHES EXIST OR ARE YET TO BE DISCOVERED IN ONE’S NEIGHBOURHOOD. IT’S JUST A MATTER OF ‘GETTING OUT’ THERE AND LOOKING"

complete; many species will have been missed due to their micro-scale and due to seasonal mistiming. However, as a bench-mark of nature’s diversity in a certain place at a particular time, the value of this work cannot be overstated. To date more than 500 species have been identified and the list has been submitted to the National Biodiversity Data Centre.

Important as the fieldwork undeniably is, as important though in a different sense, is the collaborative exercise that made it happen. The core group of Tidy Towns volunteers aided and abetted by other enthusiasts including transition year students from a local school who acted not only as species recorders but also in digitalising maps etc., adding a welcome youthful contribution. The group photographer, using identification apps where necessary, created hundreds of images. The ecologist’s role was to lead the field outings, meet with other scientists and prepare the flora and fauna lists for submission. Other ecological duties include the preparation of a report and the presentation of the findings to the local community.

In these days of apparent helplessness in the face of biodiversity decline and climate change, getting involved in the national biodiversity project is the ideal antidote. Who knows what natural riches exist or are yet to be discovered in one’s neighbourhood. It’s just a matter of ‘getting out’ there and looking.

 Map of Ballinderreen (Co. Galway) -

Biodiversity Study Area

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HOW IT WORKS

THE BIG SLEEP: Dormancy Helps Irish Animals Survive Winter’s Worst

"MANY ANIMALS AND INSECTS TAKE ADVANTAGE OF DORMANCY TO SURVIVE HARSH ENVIRONMENTS SUCH AS HIGH OR LOW TEMPERATURE, LACK OF RAINFALL, AND OTHER EXTREME CONDITIONS"

By ANNE SUNDERMANN

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hen the winter temperatures drop, Ireland’s animal species can’t dive under the duvet for a few months or curl up with a book by the fire. Many animals and insects take advantage of dormancy to survive harsh environments such as high or low temperature, lack of rainfall, and other extreme conditions.

MECHANICS OF DORMANCY Dormancy is the blanket category for different adaptations that slow or stop metabolism for days, weeks, or months, either prior to or in response to inhospitable environmental conditions. This inactive state—known as torpor—has characteristics that include reduced heart rate, respiration, body temperature, and brain activity. There are several common forms of dormancy:

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HOW IT WORKS Common Frog Photo: Kieran Flood

Hedgehog Photo: Mike Brown

"IRELAND’S ONLY FROG SPECIES, THE COMMON FROG (RANA TEMPORARIA), OVERWINTERS UNDER LEAF PILES AND COMPOST HEAPS, AND PLACES THAT PROVIDE SHELTER FROM EXPOSURE TO FROST AND PREDATORS"

» Winter hibernation and its summer counterpart

(estivation) promote various forms of torpor, offer a temporary stop to many biological processes, and can include periods of sleep and wakefulness. Hibernation conserves energy during times when resources are not available. » Diapause is when animals, insects, and invertebrates such as butterflies and snails delay development during times of adverse conditions such as drought, flooding, or food scarcity. During diapause, an insect's metabolic rate can drop to as low as one-tenth of normal. » Brumation is hibernation for cold-blooded animals, such as frogs and lizards. These animals achieve dormancy through different metabolic processes than warm-blooded animals.

Dormancy is a survival strategy that likely evolved as

animals developed the capacity to self-regulate their internal temperatures, increasing the impact of external temperature fluctuation. As response to adverse environmental conditions, dormancy requires considerable investment of resources, including effort spent gathering substantial fat stores. In return, the individuals conserve energy and promote survival in times of lean food supplies. Although dormancy offers many advantages and protections, there are also vulnerabilities, such as potential increase in mortality from predation.

SURVIVAL TACTICS Although Irish species avoid the subarctic temperatures that drive many species’ winter survival strategies, several take advantage of this evolutionary process. Just as each species adapts to adverse environmental triggers, many often put their own spin on the solutions.

Hedgehogs (Erinaceus europaeus) undergo a true period of hibernation, usually from October to March or April.

During the dormant period, the animals will often leave their underground sanctuary, known as a hibernaculum, to forage for food. Hyperphagia, or rapid weight gain, adds fat stores for the hedgehog’s hibernation.

True hibernators, Ireland’s bats have a long winter dormancy, from November often until May. Body temperatures can drop as low as 8°C, and heart rates are often under 15 beats per minute. Different species have hibernacula or roosts in varied habitats, from caves to hollow trees, barns, and attics. Pipistrelles (Pipistrellus pipistrellus and Pipistrellus pygmaeus) prefer tree splits, loose bark, or rotted wood. Brown long-eared bats (Plecotus auritus) stay closer to the ground, sheltering in vegetation, while Natterer’s bats (Myotis nattereri) prefer woodlands or hedgerows for their roosts. The lesser horseshoe bat (Rhinolophus hipposideros) is the classic cave-dweller.

Ireland’s only frog species, the common frog (Rana temporaria), overwinters under leaf piles and compost heaps, and places that provide shelter from exposure to frost and predators. As hibernation/brumation ends in later winter, the frogs congregate, and the mating and reproduction cycle begins.

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HOW IT WORKS Ireland has four species of butterflies and several species of moths that fold their wings and find a dark sheltered place to spend the colder months. Recent research posits that the exposure to daylight acts as a trigger for diapause in butterflies. The small tortoiseshell (Aglais urticae) is a common winter guest in Irish wardrobes and attics. The diapausal resting period allows individual small tortoiseshells to live 10 months on average.

A longer lifespan allows two mating cycles for some individuals, and offers more mating selectivity for females. The downside is that the small tortoiseshell is particularly vulnerable to predation by rodents and other predators.

WHY SO SLEEPY? Winter prep often begins as a reaction to scarce food resources, lower temperatures, and/or shorter daylight hours. The reduced body temperature of hibernating mammals induces torpor, creating alterations at all levels, from molecules to cells to organs. For example, some frogs and insects, such as the small tortoiseshell, produce an excess of glucose that acts as a sort of anti-freeze that protects the internal organs from sub-zero temperatures. These changes affect the animal’s living conditions, both internal and external, that provide the equilibrium needed for survival of an organism (i.e., homeostasis).

Bats generally have a long lifespan for their small size, averaging 8 years, due in part to a positive genetic effect of hibernation.

Recent research from University College Dublin shows the genetic and evolutionary impacts of bat hibernation, as evidenced by the shortening of telomeres as a consequence of frequently interrupted dormancy. Telomere length is related to ageing: The more a cell divides, the shorter the telomeres. The research showed that hibernation acts like a molecular-level fountain of youth, where the telomeres increase in length during hibernation, likely stalling the bat’s ageing process. The warming effect of climate change has the potential to shorten the bat

 Lesser horseshoe bat. Photo: Mike Brown

"BATS GENERALLY HAVE A LONG LIFESPAN FOR THEIR SMALL SIZE, AVERAGING 8 YEARS, DUE IN PART TO A POSITIVE GENETIC EFFECT OF HIBERNATION"

hibernation season, and thus have a negative effect on telomere length and lifespan.

As temperatures fall, and food supplies dwindle, and Irish dormancy-loving species settle into their long winter’s nap, it is important to be mindful of their vulnerability to disturbance. Warm temperatures from home heating will break the dormancy of moths and butterflies sheltering indoors. If the human hosts open a window or door, the butterfly or moth will perish in the colder temperatures outside. Preserving outdoor winter habitats such as the hedgehog’s fields and hedgerows, and roosts for hibernating bats is critical to the survival of these native species.

Resources: Andrews, M.T. Molecular interactions underpinning the phenotype of hibernation in mammals. J Exp Biol. 2019 Jan 25;222(Pt 2):jeb160606. doi: 10.1242/jeb.160606. PMID: 30683731.

Power, M. L., Foley, N. M., Jones, G., & Teeling, E. C. (2022). Taking flight: An ecological, evolutionary and genomic perspective on bat telomeres. Molecular Ecology, 31, 6053–6068. https://doi.org/10.1111/mec.16117 Power, M.L., Ransome, R.D., Riquier, S., Romaine, L., Jones, G., Teeling, E.C. 2023. Hibernation telomere dynamics in a shifting climate: insights from wild greater horseshoe bats. Proc. R. Soc. B 290: 20231589. https://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2023.1589 Wiklund, C., Lehmann, P., Friberg, M. 2019. Diapause decision in the small tortoiseshell butterfly, Aglais urticae. Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata 167,5 433-441 Willis, C.K.R., Trade-offs Influencing the Physiological Ecology of Hibernation in Temperate-Zone Bats, Integrative and Comparative Biology, Volume 57, Issue 6, December 2017, Pages 1214–1224, https://doi.org/10.1093/icb/icx087 28

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CREATIVITY & NATURE

Painting THE DAWN Artist: MARGARET BYRNE

M

argaret describes listening to the dawn chorus as “being in heaven”, the European robin (Erithacus rubecula) being her favourite bird.

A member of Irishtown’s Tidy Town, Margaret started painting Irish garden birds that can be seen in her allotment and nearby on stones during the first lockdown. She subsequently put some of them around her Dublin’s allotment, and the painted stones quickly became very popular with fellow allotment holders.

Margaret offered many of them to neighbours, adding a beautiful touch of colour (and art) to this small urban nature heaven.

Great Tit by Margaret Byrne

Robin by Margaret Byrne

Cormorant by Margaret Byrne

"MARGARET DESCRIBES LISTENING TO THE DAWN CHORUS AS “BEING IN HEAVEN", THE EUROPEAN ROBIN BEING HER FAVOURITE BIRD"

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WINTER FOCUS

ABANDONMENT ISSUES

By BILLY FLYNN

 Nature regenerating at Duga Radar Village

- Chernobyl Exclusion Zone

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WINTER FOCUS

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ery near my home in rural Co. me thinking: Should we be thinking about bucking European trends.

Monaghan, there is a little piece abandoning such land and permanently Closer to home, rural depopulation is of woodland. It’s an odd shape, handing the lease to nature? So, I looked very much a reality in Spain, Portugal, Italy nearly triangular but not quite. into this a little more. and France. Could these areas be part of It’s not very old, as you can tell It turns out that this is already happening. the solution to both our biodiversity and from the size of the many willows While our headlines are often (quite climate crises? Why not? Much of the and occasional alders that make up this rightly) filled with images of forests cleared farming of marginal land in Europe is only little patch. It’s not terribly remarkable, for beef production and tropical mountains ‘viable’ because of subsidies. What would except for the birdsong that can be heard being taken over for palm oil, it seems that stop European taxpayers from funding a here in spring and early summer. Out for the reverse is also happening. Humans are hands-off policy on lands where farming a walk along this boreen, the badly shorn ceding formerly agricultural lands back to was inefficient, costly and destructive? We hedgerows, bland agricultural grassland nature. Unlike the Amazonian incursions, could use these lands to provide habitat, and later the stands of conifers are just this isn't really a faraway phenomenon. It’s improve watershed management and store about silent in comparison with this woody happening right here in Europe. An exodus carbon all at once; a landbank that would concert hall full of wrens, blackbirds and of people from the land and rural areas only improve at these tasks as it ages. It is visiting warblers. If you go a few fields over, generally has seen truly vast areas of acknowledged here that some management there is another stand-out area. Much farmland being simply abandoned. The would be necessary. For example, to prevent larger, it is a field (or maybe several small rise in city living and modern jobs in new abandoned lands being taken over by fields, it’s hard to tell) that also stays under and emerging industries has vacuumed up invasive species (a trip to Ballycroy or the radar for much of the year. It’s wet, like rural populations and left farms unwanted Glenveigh will convince you of this), or much of the land here but unlike the and untended. becoming a wildfire risk that would release surrounding fields, it hasn’t been drained This is almost certainly most striking in more carbon than it has stored up, but we for many years, if ever at all. In the early the former Soviet states where agriculture are paying for management of these lands summer it seems to turn a simmering pink pre-Iron Curtain fall was on collective already… as ragged-robin (Lychnis flos-cuculia) farms, was inefficient, laborious and is no Abandoning the cultivation or grazing bursts into its unmistakable flower. Later, longer attractive to a younger population. lands would not mean abandoning care. it turns the colour of frothy cream as Bulgaria, for example, has seen a massive We would need ongoing and expert Meadowsweet (Filipendula ulmaria) depopulation, most of this from rural areas. management to maintain these lands in flowers all the way into early some ways. However, Nature "UNLIKE THE AMAZONIAN autumn. While completely would have the helm and INCURSIONS, THIS ISN'T REALLY different, these two areas have one ultimately full rein to return A FARAWAY PHENOMENON. IT’S common element. They have been biodiversity to areas that people abandoned. In one case (I am HAPPENING RIGHT HERE IN EUROPE" no longer feel the need to work or told), no-one knows who owns are obliged to wrest a living from. the land and no-one has claimed it. The The massive farm collectives were not Those landowners that wish to remain in other (again, I am told) belonged to a man (perhaps could not) be taken on by private connection with the landscape might find who died intestate and no-one has come farmers and so millions of acres of former more meaningful employment in managing forward to say that it is rightfully theirs. Soviet Union lands are now simply left such areas for long-term benefits rather Whatever the cause, any ‘productive’ use untended. Across Poland, Slovakia and than for an eked-out living. of these lands has long ceased and wild Ukraine, something like 16 percent of the Earlier this week, I was leading a field trip species are instead reaping the benefits. once-farmed land is now uncultivated. In for Transition Year students on Slieve Beagh, Last week, I was sent to survey a site in Latvia, the figure is over 40 percent*. the only real bit of Co. Monaghan that could an upland area of Co. Cavan. The land for Globally, it is reckoned that over the last be called ‘uplands.’ On the descent I got farming here is poor and the small fields, 30 years, an area half the size of Australia chatting to A, a young man born in bounded by stone rather than hedgerows has been abandoned*.

Lithuania but brought up in Ireland, here – rock being plentiful here - were scarcely We’ve probably all seen the dramatic in Monaghan. We discussed the differences grazed. Although long past peak floral transformation of the deserted Chernobyl between the two countries. He regaled me diversity season, it was clear that where and surrounding lands where deer abound with tales of deer-hunting with his sheep had been excluded – either by design, and their predators now own the night. grandfather and of wolves and wolf-packs accident or neglect – the flora was verging Striking changes may also be seen in lands he had seen. His mother was born in the on being of European importance. Looking east and west of the former Iron Curtain capital, his father was a rural dweller who around at the small holdings and very few that were once used for military training had moved there. Why did he move, I asked. cattle, it was hard to see how this could be and exercises for battles that were thankfully Because everybody was, A stated simply. economically viable or even a useful way never fought. Much of these lands are now His grandparents remain in the countryside to expend human time and energy. It got wilderness and biodiversity hotspots, because, said A, “they love it”.

Reference: 1. Kuemmerle, T., Hostert, P., Radeloff, V.C. et al. Cross-border Comparison of Post-socialist Farmland Abandonment in the Carpathians.

Ecosystems 11, 614–628 (2008) 2. Daskalova GN, Kamp J. Abandoning land transforms biodiversity. Science. 2023 May 12;380(6645):581-583. doi: 10.1126/science.adf1099. Epub 2023 May 11. PMID: 37167371 Irish Wildlife Winter '23

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RESEARCH

RIVER DODDER OTTER SURVEY 2023

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By TIM CLABORN

he occurrence of otters in the Dublin urban landscape is well known. Dublin supports a network of waterways that otters have been using to some extent, despite the ever increasing pressures of the urban environment surrounding them. In September 2023, a volunteer from the Irish Wildlife Trust undertook a otter survey of the River Dodder to look at any changes since the installation of the Greenway and since the previous survey carried out in 2016. This is a short update on some "OTTERS USE findings from this volunteer survey.

BURROWS IN THE RIVER BANK CALLED HOLTS AS WELL AS CREATING SMOOTH PATHS IN AND OUT OF THE WATER CALLED SLIDES"

METHODOLOGY The survey was completed over two days starting at Sean Walsh Park and covering the Whitestown Stream to the M50 on day one, and Old Bawn to Donnybrook on day 2. The focus was on urbanised locations. Overall, approximately 37 km of riverside was investigated on foot.

The methodology used replicated those of previous studies completed by the Irish Wildlife Trust. It followed methodologies used by the NPWS and Chanin P. (2003), “Monitoring the otter (Lutra lutra).

Conserving Natura 2000 Rivers Monitoring” Series No. 10, where each accessible bridge was checked upstream and downstream for signs of otters. The banks on either side of bridges were also checked for evidence of otters.

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 Otter. Photo: Mike Brown

Evidence of otter activity was recorded by taking a photo using a smartphone. Smartphones have the ability to mark where the photo was taken, so this is a useful tool for mapping otter signs. Combined with a macro feature on their camera, they are a really useful tool when studying wildlife, especially in poor weather conditions!

There are a number of otter indicators. Otters use spraints (droppings) as territory markers depositing them on prominent places such as boulders, bridge footings and tree logs. These spraints are extremely useful for confirming otters’ presence. Otters use burrows in the river bank called holts as well as creating smooth paths in and out of the water called slides. Trails and possible prints were considered as secondary indicators as within urban settings many other creatures can cause similar signs.

The weather on the second day was far from ideal with high water levels and torrential rain. This meant that overall signs of otters would be missed, leading to under-reporting of otter presence. The wind and high water levels also meant that access to the river was restricted due to health and safety concerns.

WHITESTOWN STREAM - TALLAGHT Thinking of otters, Tallaght in Co. Dublin is not the first place that comes to mind. However, since 2016 otters have been found to be using at least part of the Whitetown Stream. Whitestown stream is heavily channelled and runs through a highly urbanised environment. Understandably, water quality is not ideal.

The section where evidence of otters were found is

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RESEARCH

 Otter slide. Photo: Tim Clabon

moderately screened, providing cover for the movement of otters. It is thought that it is just used by an otter moving through territory.

RIVER DODDER: OLDBAWN - DONNYBROOK As expected there was ample evidence of otter activity on this section. Throughout the route a couple of possible holts were identified, though one of the holt sites found in 2016 seems to have become unused.

Spraints were also found indicating the activity of an otter in the area. The number of spraints recorded was lower than that of 2016, but this may have been due to the weather conditions which made survey access difficult and would have impacted otter movement.

Several trails showed regular use by an otter, though sadly one section of bank which had a well used slide had been cleared of bushes and trees and the slide was no longer present. Otter activity also seemed to have declined once reaching into the city, as found in the last survey, but the last two bridges checked had no access and water levels were higher than ideal.

No spraints were found under or around new bridges installed as part of the Dodder Greenway. That is not to say that these bridges have made the area unsuitable, just that they are not yet being used. There are several factors why they may not yet be used by otters. Future surveys may show their use however observations on the Grand Canal show how disturbance can impact otters.

Otters had been observed regularly along the Grand Canal on the Kildare/Dublin border, and regularly sprainted under bridges along the canal. Since the construction of the Greenway along the canal which involved raising the footpaths under the bridges and laying tarmac, otters stopped sprainting in these areas, and overall otter activity has reduced. Though there are still trails leading into the water these could be from other creatures, as dog owners let dogs into the canal, but currently the lack of spraints or observations of otters in this area is worrying.

There are several factors that may have led to this decline: Direct disturbance from the construction works, modification of the sprainting site, and the loss of one of their main food sources, crayfish due to Crayfish Plague (though there is still plenty of fish present, and evidence of otters eating fish here had been found in the past). One other possibility is that the laying of new tarmac would have put off otters as the smell of tarmac masks the scent of their spraint. Dr Paul Yoxon from the International Otter Survival Fund suggests a combination of all factors may have caused the decline, but there has been little research into the impact of disturbance to spraint sites on otters.

It is hoped this absence along the canal is temporary or that the tracks and signs of otters have "THE SECTION been overlooked. While it seems WHERE EVIDENCE no research on the effect of smells OF OTTERS on otter sprainting has been WERE FOUND performed, it is said that some chemical odours can be used to IS MODERATELY put otters and other mustelid SCREENED, species off from areas with mixed PROVIDING COVER results. If spraints are found once FOR THE MOVEMENT more under the canal bridges in OF OTTERS" the near future it would indicate that the smell of fresh tarmac may well have been a factor, or an indication of the time it takes for an elusive creature like the otter to get used to a change in its territory.

Overall the Dodder still supports an otter population and with the exception of the removal of trees and bushes in places, and the installation of new paths and bridges, little has changed. Hopefully the next time this area is surveyed the weather is better.

Note: The National Parks and Wildlife Service is currently performing a national otter survey to assess the status of the species throughout Ireland. The survey will be finished at the end of 2024, with the report published in early 2025.

About the Author: Tim Clabon is an IWT volunteer.

Otter spraint. Photo:Tim Clabon Using smartphones to study wildlife Irish Wildlife Winter '23

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PHOTO OF THE MONTH

IWT PHOTOS OF THE MONTH

1

2

4

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PHOTO OF THE MONTH 3

1. Four Small tortoiseshell

by Eamonn McGowan 2. Red Squirrel by Noel Southcott 3. Stag at sunset by Liam Reddall

4. Swans flying by Sinéad Craig 5. Blue tit hunting by Bob Golden 6. S haggy ink cap mushroom

by Ror y O’Doherty

5

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COMPETITION

COMPETITION Your chance to win a new book as well as one of our IWT branded t-shirts!

We have three copies of ‘Wild Ireland’ to give away.

A Nature Journey from Shore to Peak By Carsten Krieger Author and photographer Carsten Krieger takes us on a journey across Ireland to explore the nature we pass by every day, and that which is buried deep in the bog, high in the mountains and under crashing waves.

Discover alpine flowers blooming in the Burren, meet ferocious anemones on our shorelines, and visit the Shannon Dolphins, who have had a place in local legend for centuries. Fly with our ocean birds and experience their ever-more challenging search for food. Hear the dawn chorus in Killarney, surrounded by giant, ancient oaks, and look closely at our hedgerows, home to countless plants and animals.

With respect and curiosity, Carsten Krieger lifts the veil on our delicate natural world and the dangers it faces due to human interference.

Join him on his journey, in words and dazzling images, across Ireland to explore the wild and wonderful nature that surrounds us.

To win one of these great prizes just answer this question: “What is the term for the summer equivalent of hibernation?”

Send your answer, name, address and prize preference (the book OR a t-shirt - if you choose the t-shirt, tell us the size, colour and design preference) to magazinecomp@iwt.ie by 10th March 2024. You can view our t-shirt selection on https://iwtclothing.com/ 36

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Check CCh heeeccck h ko ou out utt o u ou our urr ssh u shop ho h op o p ffo for orr a o rra an a ng n gee o g off CCh hrrriiissstttm h ma m ass gi a gif g ifftttss iid deeea d ass. a s... range Christmas gifts ideas...

.... .. p pe perfect eerrrfffeeeccctt ffo for orr tth o the hee n h na nature atttu a urrree llo u lover ov o veeerr v iin ny yo you ou o urr li u llif iifffee! iiwt.ie/shop your life! w ee///sssh h oop p iw wtt..iiie ie/s ho

Introducing the new Irish Wildlife Trust membership card.

Please fill in your name, cut out and keep your new membership card to present at talks and other events

Membership Card 2024

Individual members, please fill in your full name. Family members, please fill in your family name. Card valid until end of 2024.

Cards valid until the end of 2024

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The Badger Club

Our Junior IWT Membership subscription

€15 Only

r

per yea

Join the Badger Club to recieve our quarterly Junior Magazine Full of fun facts and features about nature PLUS an A3 poster each issue

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