New BWI Reserve at Blackditch Wood, Newcastle, Co. Wicklow.

Ireland has a long history of damage to wetlands caused by drainage and agricultural reclamation. The Murrough Wetlands pSCI (proposed Site of Community Importance) on the coast of County Wicklow, to the south of Dublin, has also been degraded and this, in turn, reduces the habitat available for wildfowl, such as the priority Annex I species the Greenland White-fronted Goose.

The Murrough Wetlands is a long but narrow coastal wetland complex, bounded on its seaward side by a shingle ridge, stretching for 15 km but only up to 1 km deep. Within this overall site lies the Kilcoole Marshes SPA and the Broad Lough SPA. General threats to the wetland habitats come from drainage, afforestation and a lack of grazing regimes leading to drier conditions and a loss of biodiversity. SPA areas in Co. Wicklow

The EU-LIFE project, whilst focusing restoration effort on one part of the overall site, which has been purchased by Birdwatch Ireland at the start of the project, will also help to promote conservation needs across the whole site. Although relatively small-scale the project will be a national demonstration of the potential for reversing damage to wetlands in Ireland.

The project aims to restore and manage wetland habitat (particularily calcareous fen) to create ideal conditions for Annex I birds and to improve the integrity of the largest wetland complex on the east coast of Ireland. BirdWatch Ireland has purchased a 89 ha site within the Murrough Wetlands for the restoration of Annex I calcareous fens and for positive management for the Annex I bird species Greenland White-fronted Goose, Whooper Swan, Kingfisher and Little Egret.

In addition to consolidation of the site through purchase, ideal habitat will be delivered through seasonally raising water levels, implementing a seasonal grazing regime, scrub control and clearing and reprofiling the drainage ditches.

Through interpretation, and controlled public access the project aims to increase awareness of the conservation value of the wider area and the purpose and value of Natura 2000 designation. The project also aims to demonstrate the potential for economic benefits for local communities through environmental designations.

Part of the land purchased, currently outside the pSCI, will be added to the site and following restoration, it is expected that the project area will support Annex I birds in sufficient numbers for the area of the Kilcoole Marshes SPA to be extended.

Total budget for the project will run to 2,129,864 € of which EU-LIFE will contribute 1,597,398 € over the period 01-Jul-2003 to 30-Jun-2007.

LIFE is the European Union's scheme which provides financial support for environmental and nature conservation projects throughout the EU, in candidate countries and in bordering regions. The general objective of LIFE is - through the financing of specific actions - to contribute to the development and implementation of EU environmental policy. LIFE has 3 distinct components: LIFE-Environment, LIFE-Nature and LIFE-Third countries. LIFE-Nature was first set up in 1992 to assist the creation of Natura 2000, a pan-EU network of protected areas established under the Birds and Habitats Directives. The 15,000 sites of the network, which cover 15% of the land area of the EU, are due to be designated by the end of 2004. Most LIFE-Nature projects target Natura 2000 sites; others aim to protect species listed in the Birds and Habitats Directives.

Mainly from: http://europa.eu.int/comm/environment/life/project/index.htm

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