Transcript Management Plan for BoCCI, Migratory

Action Planning for Irish
Bird Conservation
Peadar O Connell
Species Policy Officer
BirdWatch Ireland
Background

Funded through the environment fund of the Dept.
of Environment, Heritage & Local Government

The project aims to deal with some of the issues
raised by the European Court of Justice in their
ruling against Ireland in December 2007

Specifically the protection of priority bird species and
their habitats in the wider countryside
Goal & Objectives of the Project

To produce species and habitat conservation
Actions for birds which, when implemented will
lead to the protection and recovery of nationally
and internationally important birds in the wider
countryside.
– To create Action Plans for priority Irish birds and their habitats in
the wider countryside
– To inform policy on bird conservation with particular emphasis
on their requirements
– To create strong, mutually beneficial partnerships with
stakeholders thereby aiding the implementation of Actions
A Framework for Bird
Conservation in Ireland
An Overview of the Framework

An ecosystem approach focusing on birds and their habitats
throughout the country is required

We face an unique problem although the basic idea of our
approach is not untested (North American Bird Conservation
Initiative, Danish & Dutch Group Species Action Plans)

Species Action Plans will be the main focus

Broad Habitat documents give the SAPs context in the wider
countryside and will contain the following headings:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Bird Conservation
Ecological processes
Land Ownership and Management
Implementation
Broad Habitat Objectives
The Framework
Broad Habitats
Coastal & Marine
Groups
Marine & Cliff Birds (inc. small offshore islands)
Shore & Lagoon Birds (inc. mud/sand flats & beaches)
Dunes & Sandy Grassland Birds (inc. Machair)
Freshwater Wetlands
Lake, Fen & Turlough Birds
Riparian Birds (inc. canals)
Farmland
Lowland Farmland Birds
Grassland Birds
Human Sites
Urban/Suburban Birds
Woodland & Scrub
Broadleaf, Mixed Woodland & Scrub Birds
Plantation Woodland & Scrub Birds
Bogs & Heaths
Upland, Blanket Bog, Heath & Grass Moor Birds (inc. cutaway BB)
Raised Bog Birds (inc. cutaway RB)
Species Action Plans

Group SAPs will cover all species
–
Adapted BirdLife International format
1.
2.
3.
4.

Biological assessment
Threats
Treaties, legislation and policies relevant for management
Framework for Action (group Objectives, Actions etc.)
Single SAPs will be created for species which
are not adequately covered in the GSAPs.
They will be short and concise & will be linked
to their respective GSAPs
Stakeholder Involvement

Stakeholder involvement will be essential if
Actions are to be implemented

Stakeholders can be separated into species and
habitat experts (e.g. NPWS, universities, NGOs),
landuse and resource stakeholders (e.g. IFA,
Coillte, An Bord Pleanála), Government
departments (e.g. DoEHLG, DoCENR, DAFF) and
other interested parties.
Workshops

Each GSAP will require a workshop
attended by the relevant stakeholders.

Each workshop will aim to cover all topics
within the Action Plan and reach
consensus on the main threats and the
best ways of overcoming these
Outputs and Time Scale

The completed Framework will be available online on
an interactive user friendly website which will be
reviewed and updated when necessary, this will be
universally accessible to all stakeholders and the
general public.

Hardcopy documents of each plan will also be
developed although they will not be updated as
regularly

Work on the first Action Plan will begin at the end of
October