Offaly County Development Plan 2021–2027 (as varied) — Chapter 4: Biodiversity and Landscape

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   Offaly County Development Plan 2021-2027 Chapter 4 Biodiversity and Landscape Page 103 Chapter 4: Biodiversity and Landscape Strategic Aim: Protect and enhance Offaly’s natural assets of clean water, biodiversity, landscape, green infrastructure, heritage and agricultural land. 4.1 Introduction Biodiversity or biological diversity simply refers to all living things on earth; people, plants, animals, fungi and micro-organisms, the ecosystems and habitats which they form part of and their interdependence and interconnectedness with each other. The conservation of biodiversity is an integral part of good environmental management. Natural capital is the earths stock of natural assets which include geology, soil, air, water and all living things. It is from this natural capital that people derive a wide range of services often called ecosystem, services which make human life possible. Current negative trends in biodiversity and ecosystems will undermine progress towards 80% of the assessed targets of the UN Sustainable Development Goals, related to poverty, hunger, health, water, cities, climate, oceans and land. A Strategic Objective of this Co. Development Plan is to contribute, as practicable, towards achievement of these goals. Loss of biodiversity is therefore shown to be not only an environmental issue, but also a developmental, economic, security, social and moral issue as well. Halting and reversing the loss of biodiversity ensures that we are supplied with the ‘ecosystem services’ it provides, that are essential to our well-being. In agriculture, these services include the maintenance of soil structure and the supply of nutrients, pollination and pest control which will guarantee our food security. Outdoor recreation and tourism also relies heavily on ecosystem services and biodiversity to provide the experience of being ‘in nature’ that both local people and visitors to County Offaly increasingly seek out. In line with Regional Policy Objective (RPO) 3.4 of the Eastern and Midland Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy, the Council promotes an ecosystems services approach in the preparation of this County Development Plan. The four main types of ecosystem services are provisioning, regulating, habitat and cultural, each of which are defined in Table 4.1 below.

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   Offaly County Development Plan 2021-2027 Chapter 4 Biodiversity and Landscape Page 104 Table 4.1 Definition of Each Type of Ecosystem Service Type of Ecosystem Services Definition Provisioning services Products obtained from ecosystems such as food, fresh water, wood, fibre, genetic resources and medicines. Regulating services Benefits obtained from the regulation of ecosystem processes such as climate regulation, natural hazard regulation, water purification, waste management, pollination and pest control. Habitat services Provision of habitats for migratory species and to maintain the viability of gene-pools. Cultural services Non-material benefits that people obtain from ecosystems such as spiritual enrichment, intellectual development, recreation and aesthetic values. Offaly has a rich biodiversity and range of ecosystems, including its geology such as the Slieve Bloom Mountains and Croghan Hill, extensive peatlands, wetland landscapes, rivers, Grand Canal, woodlands, grasslands, eskers, trees and hedgerows. Protecting and enhancing our biodiversity and ecosystems is vital not only for our health, well-being, tourism, attractiveness of place, and quality of life of our communities and but is also crucially important in adapting to climate change. 4.2 Legislative and Policy Context This chapter is prepared having regard to the following legislative and policy context: • EU Habitats Directive (92/43/EEC); • EU Birds Directive (2009/147/EC); • EU Water Framework Directive (2000/60/EC); • Wildlife Acts 1976 as amended; • Directive 2011/92/EU, as amended by Directive 2014/52/EU on the assessment of the effects of certain public and private projects on the environment; • Guidelines for Planning Authorities and An Bord Pleanála on carrying out Environmental Impact Assessment; • Convention of Wetlands of International Importance (Ramsar sites); • National Monuments Act 1930 as amended; • Heritage Ireland 2030; • Appropriate Assessment of Plans and Projects in Ireland – Guidelines for Planning Authorities 2009;

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   Offaly County Development Plan 2021-2027 Chapter 4 Biodiversity and Landscape Page 105 • European Landscape Convention (Florence, 2000); • National Landscape Strategy 2015-2025; • Project Ireland 2040 – National Planning Framework; • National Development Plan 2018-2027; • Eastern and Midland Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy 2019-2031; • National Adaptation Framework – Planning for a Climate Resilient Ireland, Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment, 2018; • All Ireland Pollinator Plan 2015-2020; • National Biodiversity Action Plan 2017-2021; • Offaly Heritage Plan Key Actions for 2017-2021; and • Biodiversity Action Strategy for Offaly 2005. 4.3 Designated Sites for Nature Conservation There are a number of designations which offer protection or require that particular areas of our natural heritage are managed. These include: • Natura 2000 sites - Special Areas of Conservation and Special Protection Areas • Natural Heritage Areas • Other sites for environmental or ecological protection such as Wildlife Sites (including Statutory Nature Reserves), Ramsar Sites, Flora Protection Order Sites, Wildfowl Sanctuaries, Biogenetic Reserves and Sites designated for the protection of plant species and habitats. 4.3.1 Natura 2000 Sites (European Sites) Both Special Areas of Conservation and Special Protection Areas form part of the ‘Natura 2000’ network of sites throughout Europe, also known as European sites. Special Areas of Conservation (SACs), which are listed in Annex I (habitats) and Annex II (species – not birds) of the EU Habitats Directive have been selected because they support habitats and plant and animal species that are rare or threatened in Europe and require particular measures, including the designation of protected sites, to conserve them. Special Protection Areas (SPAs) which were established under Annex 1 of the Birds Directive, have been selected because they support populations of birds of particular species that are rare or threatened in Europe and require particular measures, including the designation of protected areas to conserve them. The Birds Directive also recognises that habitat loss and degradation are the most serious threats to the conservation of wild birds and therefore places great emphasis on the protection of habitats, such as wetland landscapes, for endangered as well as regularly occurring migratory species.

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   Offaly County Development Plan 2021-2027 Chapter 4 Biodiversity and Landscape Page 106 Figure 4.1 Grey Partridge Table 4.2 Special Areas of Conservation in County Offaly Site Name Site Code All Saints Bog and Esker SAC 000566 Charleville Wood SAC 000571 Clara Bog SAC 000572 Clonaslee Eskers and Derry Bog SAC 000859 Ferbane Bog SAC 000575 Fin Lough (Offaly) SAC 000576 Island Fen SAC 002236 Lisduff Fen SAC 002147 Mongan Bog SAC 000580 Moyclare Bog SAC 000581 Pilgrim's Road Esker SAC 001776 Raheenmore Bog SAC 000582

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   Offaly County Development Plan 2021-2027 Chapter 4 Biodiversity and Landscape Page 107 Ridge Road, South West of Rapemills SAC 000919 River Barrow and River Nore SAC 002162 River Shannon Callows SAC 000216 Sharavogue Bog SAC 000585 Slieve Bloom Mountains SAC 000412 The Long Derries, Edenderry SAC 000925 Table 4.3 Special Protection Areas in County Offaly Site Name Site Code All Saints Bog SPA 004103 Dovegrove Callows SPA 004137 Middle Shannon Callows SPA 004096 Mongan Bog SPA 004017 River Little Brosna Callows SPA 004086 Slieve Bloom Mountains SPA 004160 It is a requirement under the Planning and Development Act 2000 (as amended), for a County Development Plan to include objectives for the conservation and protection of Natura 2000 sites (European sites) and other sites. A Planning Authority must have regard to any European Site when making a decision in relation to a plan or project. All plans or projects, unless they are directly connected with or necessary to the management of a Natura 2000 site, are required to be subject to screening for Appropriate Assessment, to determine if they are likely to have a significant effect on a Natura 2000 site, in view of the sites conservation objectives, either individually or in combination with other plans or projects. A project or plan may only proceed if it can be concluded on the basis of Appropriate Assessment that there will be no adverse effects on the integrity of a Natura 2000 site. If adverse effects are likely, or in cases of doubt, then derogation under Article 6 (4) shall apply, but only in cases of imperative reasons of overriding public interest or based on human health or public safety if it relates to a priority habitat or species.

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   Offaly County Development Plan 2021-2027 Chapter 4 Biodiversity and Landscape Page 108 Figure 4.2 River Shannon 4.3.2 Natural Heritage Areas and proposed Natural Heritage Areas Natural Heritage Areas (NHAs) are designated sites of national importance for habitats and species in Ireland. NHAs are established under the Wildlife (Amendment) Act, 2000, but are conserved and protected under the Wildlife Acts, 1976 (as amended). In addition, there are 51 pNHAs in County Offaly, published on a non-statutory basis in 1995, which are of significance for wildlife and habitats but have not since been statutorily proposed or designated. Table 4.4 Natural Heritage Areas in County Offaly Site Name Site Code Black Castle Bog NHA 000570 Cangort Bog NHA 000890 Clonydonnin Bog NHA 000565 Daingean Bog NHA 002033 Hawkswood Bog NHA 002355 River Little Brosna Callows NHA 000564 Screggan Bog NHA 000921

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   Offaly County Development Plan 2021-2027 Chapter 4 Biodiversity and Landscape Page 109 Table 4.5 Proposed Natural Heritage Areas in County Offaly Site Name Site Code All Saints Bog and Esker 000566 Annaghmore Lough Fen (Offaly) 000413 Ballintemple Bog 000882 Ballyduff Esker 000885 Ballyduff Wood 001777 Banagher (domestic dwelling, occupied) 000567 Birr (domestic dwelling No. 1, occupied) 000569 Birr (domestic dwelling No. 2, occupied) 000658 Brackens dwelling, near Whiteford 002058 Camcor Wood 000889 Charleville Wood 000571 Clara Bog 000572 Cloghanbeg 002059 Clonad Wood 000574 Clonlyon Glebe Bog 000893 Clonfinlough Esker 000892 Clorhane Wood 000894 Derrykeel Meadows 000897 Doon Esker Wood 001830 Dovegrove Callows 000010 Drumakeenan, Eagle Hill and Perrys Mill 000900 Drumakeenan National School 002064 Ferbane Bog 000575

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   Offaly County Development Plan 2021-2027 Chapter 4 Biodiversity and Landscape Page 110 Fin Lough (Offaly) 000576 Golden Grove Woods 000903 Grand Canal 002104 Kilcormac Esker 000906 Kinnitty (domestic dwelling, occupied) 000579 Lough Boora 001365 Lough Coura 000909 Lough Nahinch (Tipperary) 000936 Lough Nanag Esker 000910 Miltown, Shinrone 002065 Mongan Bog 000580 Mount St. Joseph Woods 000913 Moyclare Bog 000581 Murphys Bridge Esker 001775 Pallas Lough 000916 Pilgrims Road Esker 001776 Raheen Lough 000917 Raheenmore Bog 000582 Ridge Road, SW of Rapemills 000919 River Shannon Callows 000216 Roscrea Bog 000583 Ross and Glenns Eskers 000920 Sharavogue Bog 000585 Slieve Bloom Mountains 000412 St. Josephs, Mountheaton 002063

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   Offaly County Development Plan 2021-2027 Chapter 4 Biodiversity and Landscape Page 111 The Long Derries, Edenderry 000925 Woodfield Bog 000586 Woodville Woods 000927 Figure 4.3 European and National Designated Sites

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    Offaly County Development Plan 2021-2027 Chapter 4 Biodiversity and Landscape Page 112 Figure 4.4 Grand Canal 4.4 Other Sites for Environmental and Ecological Protection There are a number of other sites across the county that have been designated for environmental and/or ecological protection. It is imperative that these sites are protected and conserved for the protection of flora and fauna, for their significant amenity value and for their ongoing educational resource value. There are four Statutory Nature Reserves in County Offaly as listed in Table 4.6 below. Statutory Nature Reserves have been given a priority designation in association with the EU Habitats Directive. The Ramsar Convention on Wetlands came into force for Ireland on 15 March 1985. Ireland presently has 45 sites designated as Wetlands of International Importance and 4 of these are located in County Offaly covering a total area of 2,979 hectares. Biogenetic Reserves are designated by the Council of Europe and are natural habitats which are especially valuable for nature conservation in Europe. There are currently fourteen Biogenetic Reserves in Ireland, four of which are in County Offaly. Table 4.6 Statutory Reserves in County Offaly Nature Reserve Area (hectares) Main Habitats Slieve Bloom Mountains 2,300 Blanket bog Clara Bog 460 Raised bog Mongan Bog 119 Raised bog Raheenmore Bog 162 Raised bog

Source Offaly County Council: Offaly County Development Plan 2021–2027 (as varied) — Chapter 4: Biodiversity and Landscape (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.