Mountains and Uplands

National Survey of Upland Habitats

National Parks and Wildlife Service have commissioned a 3 year project to survey a suite of uplands that commenced in 2010 following a Scoping Study and Pilot Survey (Perrin, et. al, (2009) Scoping study and pilot survey for a national survey and conservation assessment  PDF_icon [13,357KB]). Its chief aims are to:

  • survey a representative sample of the range of upland habitats in Ireland
  • map location and extent of  Fossitt and Annex I habitats
  • map distribution of rare and threatened upland flora for the upland sites
  • conduct a conservation assessment of Annex I upland habitats and establish monitoring plots for periodic re- assessment
  • devise a relevé-based classification system for upland plant communities
  • identify impacts, threats and trends in relation to conservation status of  the following Annex I habitat:
Natura Code        Annex I habitat
4010 Northern Atlantic wet heaths
4030 European dry heaths
4060 Alpine and Boreal heaths
6230 Species-rich Nardus grasslands
7130 Blanket bog
7140 Transition mires
7150 Depressions on peat substrates of the Rhynchosporion
7230 Alkaline fens
8110 Siliceous scree of the montane to snow levels
8210 Calcareous rocky slopes with chasmophytic vegetation
8220 Siliceous rocky slopes with chasmophytic vegetation
8120 Calcareous and calcshist screes of  the montane to alpine levels

 

Croaghaun_cSAC 
Croaghaun/Slievemore cSAC, Co. Mayo (Photo: BEC Consultants)

 

Members of the Scientific Unit can be contacted by e-mailing: natureconservation@npws.gov.ie