News

Processing informal appeals to designations

for Hen Harrier Special Protection Areas (SPAs)

In Britain and Ireland the hen harrier ( Circus cyaneus ) is a species of high conservation concern and is protected in the Republic of Ireland under the Wildlife Act 1976 and Wildlife (Amendment) Act 2000. It is listed in Annex 1 of the European Council Directive 79/409/EEC on the Conservation of Wild Birds (the EU Birds Directive) in Article 3 which identifies how the maintenance of bird populations should be achieved. Of particular relevance is Article 3(2a), which calls for the “creation of protected areas”. 

Hen harriers have specific habitat requirements for nesting and foraging. Irish hen harrier ecology differs from their ecology elsewhere due to our reduced prey base, in particular a lack of microtine voles and greater use of forestry habitats for nesting and foraging. Current SPA boundaries are based on known areas of greater hen harrier occurrence than the surrounding countryside and include biologically relevant habitats for breeding and foraging harriers. 

There are a total of six sites proposed Special Protection Areas (SPAs) for Hen Harrier in the ROI:    

In light of potential disputes over designations e.g. perceived restrictions on planning or forestry thresholds, the boundaries of current SPAs are an emotive subject and it is, therefore, important that such objections are assessed on objective scientific grounds. Since modifications to the boundary may have biological relevance to the habitats available within the SPAs. 

The project, won under competitive tender from the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS), Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government (DOEHLG), aimed to:   

1. Order the appeals into a standardised format with relevant GIS maps
2. Sort, reference and create a database of objections
3. Map areas using aerial photographs
4. Verify Birds Unit Guidelines
5. Map and record boundary modifications
6. Produce a summary report of appeals 

Whilst not strictly biological in nature, this work provides Quercus with a valuable opportunity to gain experience in the administration of governmental tasks associated with site designation, implementation and management.