FEATURE
wild Dublin M As a cherished protected biosphere, recreational activities must be managed at Bull Island to ensure habitats aren’t damaged, writes DONNA COONEY
ost Dubliners are very familiar with Bull Island and many know that it is part of the Dublin Bay UNESCO biosphere, but most of the public are not aware that it is the most protected site for nature in Ireland. This Special Protection Area (SPA) has 18 priority species under the Birds Directive! The National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) published its Conservation Objectives for the North Bull Island SPA in 2015. Who is responsible for implementing these objectives? Dublin City Council is the Local Authority that manages the island under its Parks section but European and national legislation places a collective obligation on Ireland and its citizens to maintain habitats and species in the Natura 2000 network at a ‘favourable conservation condition’. The Government and its agencies 32
are responsible for the implementation and enforcement of regulations that will ensure the ecological integrity of this site. Dublin City Council has drafted a management plan for the next five years and an oversight forum for the implementation of the North Bull Island Action Plan has been established and has met twice to-date. The forum includes various stakeholders including Birdwatch Ireland, An Taisce Clean Coasts, the NPWS, Bull Island Action Group, Irish Seal Sanctuary, Councillor’s chair and vice chair of North Central, Dublin Naturalists’ Field Club, a number of residents’ groups, Port Scouts, Dublin City Council parks officials, head of parks and biodiversity officer and other recreational users. There is a real need to inform the public of the importance of Bull Island as a protected biosphere and to manage recreational use so that habitats are not damaged. In 2020 ground
nesting birds returned to North Bull Island, but were nearly destroyed by fires on the dunes. There have already been fires in the most sensitive sites on the northern dunes this year. More people than ever are enjoying the outdoors and being close to nature and Bull Island is a wonderful amenity for Dublin’s citizens and visitors. As the only capital in the world with a designated UNESCO biosphere, it’s truly a unique space. The oversight forum has looked at some of the management challenges around balancing people and nature and maintaining natural processes (such as the hydrology of the island and intertidal area and the conservation of rare habitats and species, including the management of invasive alien species). Issues that need addressing are the impacts of recreational disturbance on wildlife caused by people letting their dogs off leads, which is damaging habitat in the dunes and disturbing
Irish Wildlife Summer ‘21
032_IWT Summer_2021_Bull Island V2 REV3.indd 32
20/05/2021 15:30
