Louth has a fantastic diversity of plant and animal life. A healthy and diverse biodiversity is essential for human life and is necessary to help produce the food we eat, for the clean air we breathe and water we drink.
This biodiversity is under severe threat however, for a number of reasons, including the loss of wild spaces with habitat loss and degradation, increasing pressure from pollution, invasive species and climate change. The National Biodiversity Action Plan 2023 – 2030 was launched earlier this year, as part of the Government’s response to our biodiversity crisis.
At a local level, Louth County Council's Biodiversity Officer, Helen Hanratty, is working hard to help fight the biodiversity crisis and is helping us understand more, the rich diversity of life in Louth and how we can help protect it. The Dundalk Democrat spoke to Helen to understand more about our local biodiversity, its importance to us and how at a local level action can be taken to help support our native flora and fauna.
“Louth has a fantastic wealth of biodiversity which is reflected in the suite of national and international protected sites that have been designed across the county”, says Helen. “Our coasts, shorelines and estuaries are particularly rich in wildlife with extensive sand and mudflats, wetlands and saltmarshes supporting large numbers of wintering and breeding birds.”
Above: Dundalk Bay Saltmarshes. Pic: Helen Hanratty
Above: Blackrock Mudflats. Pic: Helen Hanratty
It is not just our coastline however, that is notable for its importance to our flora and fauna. “The Carlingford Mountain range, the Cooleys”, Helen explains, “is our only upland area in the county. The area is geologically important and has a valuable mosaic of wet and dry heaths, acidic grasslands and includes some areas of alkaline fen wetland systems. “Carlingford Mountain is notable for the occurrence of certain alpine plants, including the rare Parsley Fern, several rare “Red List” bryophytes and for the presence of Peregrine Falcon.”
Helen continues, “outside of our protected sites we have many fabulous biodiversity hotspots across the County in our wetlands, hills, rivers, estuaries, forests, farms and gardens. The rich tapestry of habitats we have and the wildlife corridors created by hedgerows and rivers all provide homes for wildlife.”
Highlighting the impact the biodiversity crisis is having on wildlife numbers, Helen says that “more than half of native Irish plant species have declined in the last 20 years. A fifth of breeding and 52% of key wintering bird species are declining. Extinction threatens 48 species living in the Irish marine environment.
Above: Helen Hanratty, Biodiversity Officer, Louth County Council
Looking at some of the work done locally, Helen reveals, “Grants from the National Parks and Wildlife Service and the Heritage Council are helping to support the delivery of biodiversity research in Louth. Locally a number of Louth specific surveys have been carried out on specific habitats and species recording baselines and tracking trends in the county.
“The Little Tern Conservation Project in Baltray has been carrying out wardening and monitoring of the species for many years recording and publishing changes in their annual reports. Their work has helped to track population trends at the site and shows the value of local conservation work in helping to protect a migratory species vulnerable to the threats that come from human disturbance and increased storminess associated with climate change.”
One part of the fight against biodiversity loss that people can get involved in, is collecting local data. Helen explains, “garden birds are a fantastic indicator of the health of nature and through citizen science initiatives like the Birdwatch Ireland Irish Garden Bird Survey data collected by volunteer recorders help to determine local trends in biodiversity.
“Volunteering to collect data and submit records of the flora and fauna recorded in the county, taking part in so called “citizen science” projects can be a really valuable way to contribute to helping to build the evidence base nationally and locally.
“The National Biodiversity Data Centre (NBDC) operates a number of citizen science driven monitoring programmes that generate high quality, scientifically robust insights to track change in Ireland’s biodiversity including everything from butterflies, bumblebees, rare plants, hedgehogs, squirrels, otters and marine biodiversity. You can find out more about how to take part and where to submit biodiversity records on the National Biodiversity Data Centre website.”
Photo: Helen Hanratty
“We all have a role to play in responding to the biodiversity crisis. It was perhaps put best by the Children and Young People’s Assembly on Biodiversity Loss when they reminded us to “treat the earth like it was a member of the family or a friend”.
She continues, “there are so many people already doing their part for biodiversity in Louth. Everyone from those working in the environment sector, farmers managing their land for biodiversity, gardeners, growers, volunteers managing local green spaces in their own gardens and communities under initiatives like the Tidy Towns programme and those volunteering to survey, monitor, protect and enhance specific species and habitats for NGO and community led conservation projects.”
At a local authority level there are plans to support local initiatives. Helen explains, “Louth County Council have earmarked €150,00 over the next three years for the support and development of community gardens and allotments under a new 'Louth Community Garden Fund'.
“This initiative will help to promote the importance of community gardens in helping to foster improved environmental stewardship and sustainability, providing opportunities for people to develop locally specific actions that can be taken to address climate change and biodiversity loss. It will help communities by providing access to low cost, locally produced food, encouraging greater social inclusion and improved physical and mental wellbeing.”
She adds, “Over the coming year Louth County Council will be focusing on updating the Local Biodiversity Action Plan for County Louth, setting up a Biodiversity Working Group and consulting with the public to agree a shared vision for biodiversity in Louth. With funding support from the Heritage Council, this work will help to ensure that our County Plan aligns with the National Biodiversity Action Plan, reflecting Louth’s contribution to the national biodiversity effort.”
Helen makes an important point about how overwhelming the idea of biodiversity loss can be and how it might seem that at a local level there isn't much we can do: “whilst it can feel overwhelming it is important to remember that no action is too small for biodiversity. We can all play a part in helping to reverse the loss of biodiversity.
“Consider what actions you can take for biodiversity in your home, garden, school, workplace and community. Work with others by joining a group, this can really help to make an impact and opens up lots of opportunities to share knowledge, resources and apply for funding.”
When considering the sort of things we can do in our own gardens, Helen suggests, providing a succession of pollinator friendly plants all year round is particularly important for making sure that our bees and insects, and the animals that feed on them, always have access to food. When it comes to planting, variety is particularly important to ensure that there is something available for every species when needed.
“Reducing mowing allows native wildflowers to naturally return over time, letting them flower, set seed and renew their natural cycle and maintain the native seedbank within the soil, helping to restore species-rich grasslands and providing important safe spaces and food sources for wildlife.
“Sowing wildflower seed mixes can be detrimental to our native wildflowers as many mixes contain non-native species or species not suited to the particular location they are grown. It is important that such seed mixes are kept to the garden and that native wildflowers are allowed to naturally regenerate by reducing mowing.
“Planting native trees and species rich hedgerows with species like Hawthorn, Rowan, Crab Apple, Holly and Willow in gardens and public spaces will bring a wealth of wildlife into our gardens and public spaces.”
Helen adds, “The Louth County Council biodiversity website www.louthcoco.ie/en /services/environment /biodiversity/ has lots of information about the actions that can be taken for biodiversity, giving advice on where people can learn more about the biodiversity in their area and the most appropriate actions to take to protect and enhance it, and signposting to various training and workshops available nationally and locally.”
“The All-Ireland Pollinator Plan website has fantastic resources available that help people to take really simple actions to help improve biodiversity in their own gardens and communities. Initiatives like “No Mow May” and “Let it Bloom June” help to raise awareness of the importance of leaving space for nature and to value our wild places for the wealth of biodiversity they can support.”
