NATURA 2000 VIEWER
Natura 2000 is an ecological network of protected areas, set up to ensure the survival of Europe’s most valuable species and habitats. Based on the 1979 Birds Directive and the 1992 Habitats Directive, it provides safeguards for numerous ecosystem services and ensures that Europe’s natural system remain healthy and resilient. If you’ve ever wanted to explore […]
ZEBRA MUSSEL CONTROL
Here’s a press release from IT Sligo on trials for Zebra Mussel Control measures. Moore Group provided assistance. Scientific Trial on Grand Canal May Mean Breakthrough in Zebra Mussel Control Scientists from the Institute of Technology, Sligo are this week carrying out a trial on the Grand Canal, to establish the effectiveness of an innovative […]
HERITAGE WEEK IN GALWAY
This in our inbox from the Galway County Biodiversity Project Manager (www.galwaycountybiodiversity.com). Events for Heritage Week in Galway. ‘You are probably aware that next week is Heritage Week and events are being run throughout the Country to celebrate. Of course Galway’s local heritage organisations have been very busy planning a variety of events around the […]
OLD MOORE GROUP AD NO. 2
By 2005 we had built a great deal of experience in environmental consultancy, and we advertised this service a little more seriously with this advert designed by Bloom Advertising in Dublin.
WHAT THE FRACK?
There’s been mention recently in the Irish and International media of the controversial process of gas extraction using hydraulic fracturing or ‘fracking’ as it’s come to be known. Two companies have been issued onshore petroleum licences in the area of Lough Allen (Tamboran Resources and Langco). Put simply the fracking process involves pumping a mixture […]
BIODIVERSITY DAY AT RINVILLE
The blog lately has become a series of announcements and press releases from other agencies and organisations. This is mostly because, despite everything that’s going on in the country, we’re still very busy. Of course, there’s fewer of us, and a bigger workload, but that’s a good complaint, I suppose. We’ll get back to blogging […]
MOORE GROUP’S RESOURCE CENTRE
Our Resource Centre aims to be an open-source comprehensive tool and source of relevant information to anyone undertaking a range of activities or projects on the Island or off the shore of Ireland. The Centre will address the areas of planning, cultural heritage, coastal and marine issues, the natural environment and biodiversity and related issues. Stage 1 […]
NEW VERSION OF EUROPEAN ATLAS OF THE SEAS
Via the Marine Institute: A new and improved version of the European Atlas of the Seas is now available on the website of DG Maritime Affairs and Fisheries: http://ec.europa.eu/maritimeatlas It includes 24 new maps ETC… New maps include: Natura 2000 protected maritime sites Pollution response vessels Coastal GDP The atlas is an easy way for students, […]
HABITAT MAPPING GUIDELINES (HC)
From the Heritage Council: ‘The final version of the Heritage Council’s Best Practice Guidance for Habitat Survey and Mapping is now available on our website at www.heritagecouncil.ie This publication presents current best practice guidance for survey and mapping of habitats in the Republic of Ireland, and is aimed primarily at those who conduct or commission habitat surveys. Its […]
BIOBLITZ
This just in from http://www.biodiversityireland.ie/ ‘BioBlitz is a scientific race against time. The aim of this fun event is to find as many species as possible within a park over a 24 hour period. During last year’s event, the champions, Connemara National Park recorded a massive 542 species over a 24 hour period. Again this […]
Invasive Species, Lagarosiphon
Lagarosiphon major, Curly leaved pond weed or African pondweed, was first identified in Lough Corrib in April 2005. Native to southern Africa, the plant quickly overtook native plant growth and threatened fish stocks in the lake. Not only does it threaten the biodiversity of Lough Corrib, but its biomass can interfere with navigation and water-based […]
New Website section
We’ve added a new section on our main website detailing the appropriate assessment requirements. What is Appropriate Assessment and when is it needed? Article 6(3) of the Habitats Directive requires that: ‘Any plan or project not directly connected with or necessary to the management of the site but likely to have a significant effect thereon, […]
Appropriate Assessment
The Department of Environment, Heritage & Local Government has issued recent Guidance on Appropriate Assessment, A copy of the Guidance Document can be downloaded here. Appropriate Assessment is defined as: ‘An assessment carried out under Article 6(3) of the Habitats Directive of the implications of a plan or project, either individually or in combination with other […]
Irelands environmental scorecard
Overall, the OECD’s recent report on Ireland’s environmental performance, part of their Economic Survey of Ireland 2009 which was published yesterday (available online as a pdf here), presents a reasonably positive review of the achievements here over the past few years. Indeed the report highlights the fact that ‘Ireland generally has good air and water […]
Friday Flora & Fauna
Well bloggers, it’s time to get the spade out and throw some shape on that quagmire excuse for a garden. Every year I think the same thing, I’m going to fill it in with gravel and deck the edges, it’s just a bit of bog anyway. But then I don’t get around to it and […]
Friday Flora & Fauna – Whooper Swans
Well bloggers, it seems not everyone is that taken with the joys of nature. Declan is losing sleep over it! You see he lives beside a roost of Whooper Swans. ‘But’, I hear you say, ‘swans aren’t that noisy’ ….well these are, have a listen to the video. There’s no picture because it’s night but […]
Friday Flora and Fauna
Well bloggers, today’s entry will be a short one as I’m up to my eyes (thank feck). While researching the (Draft) Galway County Development Plan 2009 – 2015 for policy on visual impact assessment and protected views, I reviewed the section on Guidelines for Heritage, Landscape and Environmental Management and noticed that Galway County Council […]
Friday Flora and Fauna
Well bloggers, Sunday is the 1st day of Spring, we’ve done it, survived another Irish winter. Doesn’t seem that long since the 21st of December and the depth of it. So things are stirring, birds are getting noisier in the morning and the daffodil shoots are well on the way in the garden. The grey […]
Friday Flora and Fauna
Well bloggers, there is a lot of chat about the unfortunate Fin whale stranded in Courtmacsherry Bay, Co Cork yesterday. Before you all go rushing to comment with the adolescent (‘I suppose his parents didn’t understand him!’) teenage suicide off the coast of Cork not Portugal puns, here’s a thought. Why would a whale intentionally […]
Christmas Afternoon festivities
No Friday Flora and Fauna this week as we’re off for a quiet, relaxing afternoon off and polite evening meal somewhere in town. FFF will be in hibernation until after the Christmas. Photo owned by wetwebwork (cc)
Friday Flora and Fauna
Well bloggers. Seeing as this is the first post in a new thread, I thought I’d start with the topic of communication. Blogging , obviously, is a form of communication or display. A way of sort of putting yourself out there and waiting to see if you’ll attract some or any attention. Let’s leave the […]
Dolphin Sighting
As of 2001, 24 cetacean species have been recorded in Irish waters (Berrow, 2001) of which the Harbour Porpoise is the most common. This past summer has been a busy year for dolphin and whale spotters, most notably the three sightings of blue whale in recent weeks. In 1991 the Irish government declared all Irish […]
Assemblage IV
Gathering stuff from the internets on Beer, Archaeology, the Environment, Aquaponics and anything else that strikes us as interesting, since May. On Charles Krauthammer and drilling oil in the Arctic, U2’s planning permission, binge drinking and the nanny state, the origins of Heather Ale, and God, hate crime and the desecration of the host. Sometimes […]
The Common Lizard
Posted by Niall Pictured above is a common lizard (Lacerata vivipara), Irelands only native reptile – one of a number of individuals spotted in the Ballycurren area of Headford by Nigel recently. The common lizard is seldom spotted but considered to be widespread in Ireland. The distribution and requirements of the species are currently being […]
