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Mr John Gormley, TD, Minister for the Environment, Heritage
& Local Government has announced that two new species
action plans (SAPs) have been published by the National Parks
and Wildlife Service (NPWS) of his Department.
One of the plans covers nine species of bats and the other
relates to the rare Killarney Fern.
Although recent surveys suggest that most bats are doing
well in Ireland, significant declines in some species have
been reported elsewhere in Europe. The new plan outlines the
conservation actions needed to secure the future of bats throughout
the island of Ireland over the coming five years.
Thirty-seven specific actions are listed - including the
provision of grants for home-owners who manage bat roosts,
an expansion of the current national bat monitoring programme,
improved woodland management practises for bats and the creation
of bat awareness and education packs for schools.
Welcoming the launch of the bat SAP, Minister John Gormley
emphasised the need for further education about bats. “I am
glad to see that education is given such a high priority in
this plan” - he said. “There are many myths circulating about
bats, but bats are intelligent, social animals. They use a
very sophisticated sonar system and I think if more people
had a chance to see these animals up close, I am sure they
would be converted.”
The Minister went on to highlight the importance of bats
as barometers of countryside health. “Bats act as indicators
for many other species and for many of our habitats” - he
said. “When bats are doing well, then we know that the countryside,
in general, is in good shape.”
The second SAP covers the Killarney Fern. The Killarney Fern
is a slow-growing fern that lives in deeply shaded habitats
such as dripping caves, crevices on cliffs, gullies by waterfalls
and occasionally on damp woodland floors.
The Killarney Fern is a rare species only found in Ireland,
Great Britain, Madeira, the Canaries and the Azores and a
handful of other countries. Widespread fern-collecting
during Victorian times is one of the main reasons why the
species became rare. The species is now strictly protected
under Irish and EU law. “Ireland is a stronghold for the Killarney
Fern” - said Minister Gormley - “and this action plan is a
recognition of Ireland’s international responsibility to look
after the species.”
The two action plans are the result of close collaboration
efforts between the NPWS in the south and the Environment
and Heritage Service [EHS] in Northern Ireland and, during
the launch, Minister Gormley highlighted the necessity for
all-Ireland cooperation on species conservation matters.
“The Killarney fern and our bats are subject to same pressures
in the North as they are in the South” - he said - “and a
co-ordinated approach to their conservation makes sense. Staff
in my Department will continue to work closely with our colleagues
in the Department of the Environment in Northern Ireland to
secure the future conservation of these important species.”
Previous all-Ireland species action plans have been developed
for the hare, the corncrake, Irish lady’s tresses orchid and
the pollan – a rare fish found only in Ireland. Implementation
of these plans is underway. A further all-Ireland SAP for
the red squirrel will be published shortly.
For further information - Click
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