A 2,000 hectare biodiversity restoration project for the Glenasmole Valley in the Dublin Mountains has been launched by the Government.
It will be led by the National Parks and Wildlife Service.
The measures include re-wetting blanket bog and planting native trees in gullies to support biodiversity, water quality and flood management in south Dublin.
Today is International Biodiversity Day and Eamon Ryan, the Minister for Environment, Climate and Communications, as well as his Green Party colleague Malcolm Noonan, the Minister for Heritage and Electoral Reform, were on hand in Glenasmole to launch the project.
This picturesque part of the Dublin mountains is the catchment for the River Dodder and adjoins the Wicklow Mountains National Park which is now being extended to incorporate it.
The Dodder's three large tributaries, the Slade Brook, Cat Brook, and Mareen Brook flow for most of their course within the Wicklow Mountain National Park.
The river then feeds the Bohernabreena Reservoirs, providing a vital supply of water for Dublin’s population and accounting for millions of litres of drinking water per day.
We need your consent to load this rte-player contentWe use rte-player to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review their details and accept them to load the content.Manage Preferences
Prior to the economic crash of 2008 and the subsequent banking collapse, this 2,000 hectare site at the top of the Dublin Mountains was privately owned by a developer.
Following the crash, it was acquired by the National Asset Management Agency (NAMA) before being acquired by the National Parks and Wildlife Service for a small consideration in 2016.
The primary habitats in the area include wet heath, dry heath and blanket bog.
Birds of prey including peregrine falcon and merlin regularly hunt in the area, while merlin also breed on the site.
The catchment-based restoration plan launched today includes measures to re-wet blanket bog and plant native trees in deep gullies to support biodiversity, water quality and flood management in south Dublin.
It will also provide measurable benefits in terms of increased carbon storage, reduction in soil erosion and improved water quality.
The works will result in important ecosystem services to the wider catchment, specifically in terms of flood risk alleviation and improvements in water quality in relation to the River Dodder and the Dublin water supply at Bohernabreena.
The measures currently envisaged under the Biodiversity restoration plan include:
- Establishment or protection of river gully woodland.
- Bog Restoration.
- Environmental clean-up
- Control of invasive species
- Management of heather and bracken
- Restricting un authorised access.
The site at Glenasmole has been actively farmed for generations and these practices continue today in the National Park.
Local farmers, who will have an important role to play in the proposed works, already have experience in active conservation through a recent SUAS (Sustainable Uplands Agri-environment Scheme) project.
Improvements in habitat while increasing biodiversity will also offer improved grazing and shade for grazing animals on site, thereby delivering benefits for both wildlife and livestock, long into the future.
Welcoming the announcement, Mr Noonan said: "It’s fantastic to see the National Parks and Wildlife Service leading on this ambitious project and working closely with local farmers to deliver results - collaboration is key in ensuring meaningful biodiversity action.
"The project will have benefits for rural communities at the top of the catchment and as well as those living downstream in the city."
Mr Ryan said that "nature and people both win here".
"Bog restoration and native tree planting will not only help wildlife and reduce emissions, but it will also ensure better water quality for the people of Dublin and help to mitigate flooding, which is a significant issue for people living along the River Dodder - which flows all the way from this Valley to the city centre," he said.
