Laois County Development Plan 2021–2027

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   Chapter 11 Biodiversity and Natural Heritage 239 | P a g e address climate change by storing carbon in peatlands and other Green Infrastructure. Options to increase the adaptive capacity of biodiversity in the face of accelerating climate change include: • Reducing non-climatic stresses, such as pollution, habitat loss and fragmentation and invasive alien species. • Wider adoption of conservation and sustainable use practices including through the strengthening of protected area networks and Green Infrastructure. 11.4 DESIGNATED SITES The National Parks and Wildlife Service of the Department of Environment, Heritage & Local Government is responsible for designating areas of special biodiversity interest in the context of national and European legislation. These areas include Special Areas of Conservation (SACs), Special Protection Areas (SPAs), Natural Heritage Areas (NHAs) and Statutory Nature Reserves. The county contains: • 8 Special Areas of Conservation, SACs (See Map 11.1) • 2 Special Protection Areas, SPAs (See Map 11.2) • 2 Natural Heritage Areas, NHAs and 28 proposed Natural Heritage Areas (See Map 11.3) • 3 Statutory Nature Reserves (See Map 11.4). “Natura 2000 sites” is the collective name given to Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) and Special Areas of Protection (SPA). These sites contain habitats or species of special European importance. Appropriate Assessment is a requirement of Articles 6(3) and 6(4) of Council Directive 92/43 /EEC on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild flora and fauna, also known as the Habitats Directive. The requirement for an appropriate assessment is not defined by the nature of the scale of the proposed development but solely by its potential to negatively impact on a Natura 2000 site. It is the responsibility of the proponent of a plan or project to carry out an AA at each stage of the proposed development in accordance with Article 6. Appropriate Assessment is not and should not be regarded as a prohibition on new development or activities but involves a case by case examination of the implications for Natura 2000 sites and its conservation objectives in a recorded step wise procedure. 11.4.1 SPECIAL AREAS OF CONSERVATION (SAC) Special Areas of Conservation are prime wildlife areas, considered to be important on a European as well as Irish level. The legal basis on which SACs are selected and designated is the EU Habitats Directive (92/43/EEC), transposed into Irish law in the European Communities (Birds and Natural Habitats) Regulations 209-2015. The Directive lists certain habitats and species that must be protected within SACs. Irish habitats include raised bogs, blanket bogs, turloughs, sand dunes, machair, heaths, lakes, rivers, woodlands, estuaries and sea inlets. The species which must be afforded protection under the Habitats Directive include inter alia all our bat species, Salmon, Pearl Mussel, Common Frog, Pine Marten, Mountain Hare and Otter. There are eight SACs to date in County Laois noted in Table 11.1. Table 11.1 Special Areas of Conservation in County Laois Site Name Site Code Ballyprior Grassland 002256 Clonaslee Eskers and Derry Bog 000859 Coolrain Bog 002332

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   Chapter 11 Biodiversity and Natural Heritage 240 | P a g e Knockacoller Bog 002333 Lisbigney Bog 000869 Mountmellick 002141 River Barrow And River Nore 002162 Slieve Bloom Mountains 000412 Map 11.1: Special Areas of Conservation 11.4.2 SPECIAL PROTECTION AREAS (SPA) These are sites designated under the EU Birds Directive 79/409/EEC as a result of their importance for birds. There are two SPAs to date in County Laois, the Slieve Bloom Mountains SPA designated for the Hen Harrier, but also important for Merlin, Peregrine and Red Grouse and the River Nore SPA whose feature of interest is the Kingfisher. Table 11.2 Special Areas of Protection in County Laois Site Name Site Code Slieve Bloom Mountains 004160 River Nore 004233

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   Chapter 11 Biodiversity and Natural Heritage 241 | P a g e Map 11.2: Special Protection Areas 11.4.3 NATURAL HERITAGE AREA (NHAS) To date, only a selection of raised and blanket bog NHAs have been given formal legalprotection. In County Laois, these sites are: • 000652-Monaincha Bog / Ballaghmore Bog NHA • 002357-Clonreher Bog NHA. The remaining 28 proposed NHA (pNHA) sites in County Laois are given limited legal protection through; inter alia, recognition in the County Development Plan (See Table 11.3).

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   Chapter 11 Biodiversity and Natural Heritage 242 | P a g e Map 11.3: Natural Heritage Areas Table 11.3: Proposed Natural Heritage Areas (pNHAs) SITE NAME SITE CODE MAIN HABITAT OR SPECIES Annaghmore Lough Fen 000413 Calcareous fen with willow and birch scrub Ballylynan 000857 Grassland, wet meadows Barrow Valley At TankardstownBridge 000858 River, canal, grassland, marsh Clonaslee Eskers And Derry Bog 000859 Esker, raised bog Clopook Wood 000860 Ash/hazel woodland, limestone hill Coolacurragh Wood 000862 Birch/alder woodland, fen peat Coolrain Bog 000415 Midland raised bog (with Knockacoller Bog, these two bogs are the most southerly intact examples of true Midland Raised Bogs in the country) Cuffsborough 000418 Grassland used by Greenland White-fronted Geese The Curragh And Goul River Marsh 000420 Wet meadow, river, winter feeding site for Greenland White-fronted Geese Delour River Nr Lacca Manor 000864 Oak/birch woodland, river, wet grassland

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   Chapter 11 Biodiversity and Natural Heritage 243 | P a g e SITE NAME SITE CODE MAIN HABITAT OR SPECIES Derries Wood 000416 Disturbed raised bog, disused gravel pit, conifer Plantation, lake, reedbed, important insect populations Dunamaise Woods 001494 Limestone hills, oak/ash woodland Emo Court 000865 Semi-natural mixed (oak/ash with beech) woodland, lake, parkland, amenity grassland Forest House Wood 000874 Grand Canal 002104 Canal, wetland, grassland Granstown Wood and Lough 000417 State-owned nature reserve. Lake in transition through fen to alder/willow. Important invertebrate fauna The Great Heath of Portlaoise 000881 Kilteale Hill 000867 Limestone hill, hazel/ash woodland Knockacoller Bog 000419 Midland raised bog, Birch and alder woodland. One of the few intact bogs south of the Slieve Blooms Lisbigney Bog 000869 Raised bog Mannin Wetland 00868 Species-rich fen Ridge Of Portlaoise 000876 Esker ridge, ash/hazel woodland, species-rich grassland, disused gravel pits River Barrow And River Nore 002162 River, wetland, woodland River Nore/Abbeyleix Woods Complex 002076 River, site for Freshwater Pearl Mussel (international importance), Twaite Shad (Vulnerable), wet grassland, mixed deciduous woodland of great antiquity and species diversity, with specimen oak Rock of Dunamaise 000878 Shanahoe Marsh 001923 Slieve Bloom Mountains 000412 Old Red Sandstone mountains, mountain blanket bog, Peregrine Falcon, Hen harrier, red grouse Stradbally Hill 001800 Timahoe Esker 000421 Esker ridge, Hazel/Ash woodland

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   Chapter 11 Biodiversity and Natural Heritage 244 | P a g e 11.4.4 STATUTORY NATURE RESERVES A Statutory Nature Reserve is an area of importance to wildlife, which is protected under Ministerial order. All four Statutory Nature Reserves in Laois are State-owned. 11.4.4.1 Grantstown Wood and Grantstown Lough Nature Reserve These reserves are situated about 8km north-west of Durrow, County Laois and provide rare examples of wet woodland on base-rich soils, while Grantstown Lough is a classic example of a lake which has gradually infilled through fen to alder carr. Animals and plants of interest include Kingfishers, Cormorants and Otter. The wood is composed of native tree and shrub species, especially Oak, Ash, and Birch, along with Hawthorn, Guelder Rose, and Spindle. 11.4.4.2 Slieve Bloom Mountains Nature Reserve This high mountain blanket bog, unlike many other bogs in Ireland, has been spared severe burning and grazing. It formed about six thousand years ago when the climate became wetter and bog began to blanket the mountain slopes. Animals and plants of interest include Ling Heather, Deer Grass and Sphagnum Moss. The mountains are important for populations of Red Grouse and Hen Harrier. 11.4.4.3 Timahoe Esker Nature Reserve This is one of the few esker ridges left in the country which still carry native woodland. It is planned to expand the native woodland using appropriate management techniques. 11.4.4.4 Coolacurragh Wood This reserve is an example of wet woodland on base-rich soils. It is dominated by alder, ash and birch with hawthorn in the shrub layer. The herb layer is dominated by bramble, nettle and meadowsweet. Fish in the lake provide Kingfishers, Cormorants and Otter with food

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   Chapter 11 Biodiversity and Natural Heritage 245 | P a g e Map 11.4: Nature Reserves Policy Objectives for Biodiversity and Designated Sites BNH 1 Protect, conserve, and seek to enhance the county’s biodiversity and ecological connectivity. BNH 2 Conserve and protect habitats and species listed in the Annexes of the EU Habitats Directive (92/43/EEC) (as amended) and the Birds Directive (2009/147/EC), the Wildlife Acts 1976 and 2010 (as amended) and the Flora Protection Orders. BNH 3 Support and co-operate with statutory authorities and others in support of measures taken to manage proposed or designated sites in order to achieve their conservation objectives and maintain the favourable conservation status and conservation value of Sites under National and European legislation and International Agreements and maintain and /develop linkages between them where feasible. BNH 4 Protect and maintain the conservation value of all existing and future Natural Heritage Areas, Nature Reserves, Ramsar Sites, Wildfowl Sanctuaries and Biogenetic Reserves in the county.

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   Chapter 11 Biodiversity and Natural Heritage 246 | P a g e Policy Objectives for Biodiversity and Designated Sites BNH 5 Projects giving rise to significant cumulative, direct, indirect or secondary impacts on Natura 2000 sites arising from their size or scale, land take, proximity, resource requirements, emissions (disposal to land, water or air), transportation requirements, duration of construction, operation, decommissioning or from any other effects shall not be permitted on the basis of this Plan (either individually or in combination with other plans or projects)[1]. Screening for AAs and AAs undertaken shall take into account invasive species as relevant. BNH 6 Assess, in accordance with the relevant legislation, all proposed developments which are likely to have a significant effect (directly or through indirect or cumulative impact) on designated natural heritage sites, sites proposed for designation and protected species. BNH 7 Protect Natural Heritage Areas (NHA) from developments that would adverselyaffect their special interests. BNH 8 Recognise and protect the significant geological value of sites in County Laois and safeguard these sites, in consultation with the Geological Survey of Ireland and in accordance with the National Heritage Plan and “Geological Heritage Guidelines for the Extractive Industry”. BNH 9 Engage with the National Parks and Wildlife Service to ensure Integrated Management Plans are prepared for all Natura sites (or parts thereof) andensure that plans are fully integrated with the County Development Plan and other plans and programmes, with the intention that such plans are practical, achievable and sustainable and have regard to all relevant ecological, cultural, social and economic considerations and with special regard to local communities. BNH 10 Support the objectives of the All Ireland Pollinator Plan 2015-2020 by encouraging the planting of pollinator friendly trees and plants within grassverges along public roads and existing and future greenways, new hedgerows, public parks and public open spaces in towns and villages, including part of mixed use and residential developments. BNH 11 Support measures to protect Swift population such as the creation of Swift nest cavities in all new commercial and public buildings (schools/libraries, etc). BNH 12 Supports the efforts of the Midland Transition team to: • Pursue funding opportunities and actions to mitigate the impact of the Bord na Móna job losses on the individuals concerned, and the impact on the local and regional economy; and • Position the region to develop alternative forms of employment, attract investment and maximise existing employment opportunities and resources. BNH 13 It is an policy objective of the Council to require new developments to identify, protect and enhance ecological features by making provision for local biodiversity (for example, through provision of swift boxes or bricks, bat roost boxes, green roofs, etc.) and improve the ecological coherence of wider green infrastructure. BNH 14 It is an objective of the Council to protect existing swift roosts as identified in the County Swift Survey and ensure existing nest sites are not lost through inappropriate renovation or destruction.

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   Chapter 11 Biodiversity and Natural Heritage 247 | P a g e Policy Objectives for Biodiversity and Designated Sites BNH 15 In dealing with applications for new developments, the Planning Authority will have regard to the following: • Inclusion of swift nesting opportunities in new buildings through use of swift brick or swift nest boxes where appropriate BNH 16 Work with relevant stakeholders such as the Office of Public Works (OPW) and local stakeholders to develop a Landscape Conservation Assessment in relation to the Heath and its attributes during the plan period. BNH 17 The Great Heath of Portlaoise The Great Heath or The Heath is a rare example of unenclosed natural grassland in Ireland interspaced with small lakes and turloughs. It has one of the most sensitive and valuable landscapes in laois. It is unique as a natural areas (one of the last heathlands to develop in Europe , grazed but unfertilized for hundreds of years , a geological area (a rare example of karst and wetland ecosystem), an archaeological area, an ecological area , a historic area and a widely used amenity area. The area has many interested stakeholders and it requires a study to develop a Landscape Conservation Assessment which would provide a framework for its protection and development into the future. BNH 18 Preserve, protect and, where necessary, enhance mass rocks and holy wells

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    Chapter 11 Biodiversity and Natural Heritage 248 | P a g e Development Management Standard for Designated Sites DM BNH 1 DEVELOPMENTS IN PROXIMITY TO PNHA Where a development is of a significant scale or in close proximity to apNHA, the Council will require an Ecological Impact Assessment to determine the impact of the proposed development on the designated site or natural heritage. DM BNH 2 APPROPRIATE ASSESSMENT Article 6(3) and 6(4) of the Habitats Directive requires an Appropriate Assessment of any plan or project whether within or outside a designated Natura 2000 site, which does not directly relate to the management of the site but may impact upon its conservation objectives. All planning applications shall be screened for Appropriate Assessment and a Phase II Appropriate Assessment carried out if necessary. Where full Appropriate Assessment is required, the assessment shall be based on best scientific knowledge, by a person with ecological expertise. It shall address the potential impacts of the plan or project on the conservation objectives of any Natura 2000 site. The impacts assessed must include the indirect and cumulative impacts of approving the plan or project, considered with any current or proposed activities, developments or policies impacting on the site. The potential impacts of policies outside Natura 2000 sites butpotentially impacting upon them (known as ‘ex situ’ impacts) must also be included in the assessment. (Refer to: Appropriate Assessment of Plans and projects in Ireland, Guidance for Planning Authorities, DEHLG (2009). 11.5 GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE (GI) Green Infrastructure is broadly defined as “as a strategically planned network of high quality natural and semi-natural areas with other environmental features, which is designed and managed to deliver a wide range of ecosystem services and protect biodiversity in both ruraland urban settings26. Similarly Blue infrastructure refers to a network of assets which are linkedto water such as rivers, canals, lakes, reservoirs, ponds and wetlands. The GI network is a network of parks, green spaces, gardens, woodlands, rivers and wetlands, as well as urban greening features such as street trees and green roofs, which is planned, designed and managed as a multifunctional resource capable of delivering a wide range of economic, environmental and quality of life benefits for local communities: • promote healthier living, providing spaces for physical activity and relaxation • address climate change adaptation • create a strong sense of place • filter pollutants to improve air and water quality • make streets clean, comfortable and more attractive to encourage walking and cycling • store carbon in soils and woodlands 26 Except as provided for in Article 6(4) of the Habitats Directive, viz. There must be: a) no alternative solution available, b) imperative reasons of overriding public interest for the project to proceed; and c) Adequate compensatory measures in place.

Source Laois County Council: Laois County Development Plan 2021–2027 (2021–2027) · Licence the publisher's termsText read from the publisher’s PDF; tables, maps and drawings do not survive as text, and page numbers are the PDF’s (its first page is 1). Check the original before relying on a passage.