Attachment F.1 Supplementary Information

Nature Conservation Area Designation.

Ireland, while a relatively small Island, is home to 28 species of land mammal, over 400 species of birds, more than 4,000 plant species, over 12,000 species of insect and a huge range of other living creatures.

Kildare has a wide diversity of natural and semi-natural habitats such as bogs, wetlands, lakes, river and upland habitats that support a wide range of wild plant and animal species. However, our recent economic developments have put the sites in which these flora and fauna can be found under serious pressure. Declining farming incomes and the need to further intensify has further led to a reduction in “marginal Lands” which were once a haven for such species.

In order to conserve the variety of birds, plant and animal species in it is necessary to conserve the habitats in which they live. Conservation areas are being designated in order to achieve this. Over 10% of land of Ireland is formally and legally designated as being of European importance for nature conservation.

There are three main types of Conservation Site Designation: • Natural Heritage Area (NHA), • Special Area of Conservation (SAC) • Special Protection Area (SPA).

Natural Heritage Areas

Natural Heritage Areas are the primary National designation. In 1981 An Foras Forbaithe identified 27 ASI (Areas of Scientific Interest) in Kildare as part of a

national inventory to identify Forspecial inspection purposesor typical only. landscape/geological features, Consent of copyright owner required for any other use. habitats, plant/animal species and communities. The areas of ecological interest were resurveyed (1991-1994) and designated NHA. The Geological Survey of Ireland (GSI) is compiling a list of geological sites in need of protection through NHA designation. Under the Wildlife Amendment Act (2000), NHA’s are legally protected from damage from the date they are formally proposed. Previous to this the County Development Plans were the primary protection mechanism for NHA's. Kildare has 23 NHA’s (see list below). The process of formal designation of NHAs will began in 2002. NHAs are designated by the Minister without reference to Europe.

NHAs in Site Name Site OS Map Site Name Site OS Map Number Numbers (6”) Number Numbers (6”) Ballina Bog 00390 3 Hodgestown Bog 01393 9, 13

Ballynafagh Bog 00391 13 Kilteel Wood 01394 20 Ballynafagh Lake 01387 13 Liffey at Osberstown 01395 19

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EPA Export 25-07-2013:22:36:13 Barrow Valley at 00858 37 Liffey Bank at Athgarvan 01396 23 Tankardstown Bridge

Carbury Bog 01388 3, 8 Liffey Valley Meander Belt 00393 29 Corballis Hill 01389 38 Mouds Bog 00395 18 Curragh 00392 22,23,28 Pollardstown Fen 00396 23

Derryvullagh Island 01390 31 Oakpark 00810 39/16 Donadea Wood 01391 9 00731 25, 29 Marshes 01772 32, 33 Red Bog 00397 25 Grand Canal 02104 8, 11, 12, Royal Canal 02103 3,4,5,6,11,13 13, 14, 16, 17, 19, 21, 23, 26 35 Rye Water Valley/Carton 01398 6

Special Area of Conservation (SAC)

Special Areas of Conservation (SAC's) represent the prime wildlife conservation areas in Ireland, which are also considered extremely important from a European perspective. The legal basis on which SAC’s are selected and designated in the “Habitats Directive” (92/43/EEC). The Directive was transposed into Irish legislation by the European Union (Natural Habitats) Regulations. In 1997 some NHA's were designated as SAC's. SAC designation gives protection to certain habitats and species. This included priority habitats, which require particular attention. There are currently 7 SAC's designated in Co. Kildare (see list below). Once a site is designated a SAC and publicly advertised it is legally protected. Once designated the site becomes a proposed candidate SAC (pcSAC). Following the three month period during which time landowners may lodge objections to the proposal to designate a site, details of each proposed SAC are transmitted to the EU Commission, after which For inspection purposes only. time it is called a “candidateConsent SAC”. of copyright Once owner approved required for any by other the use. commission, the sites will be formally designated by the Minister. Four of the five sites are candidate SAC and one is a proposed candidate SAC. Certain activities are restricted within SAC’s and can only be carried out with the permission of the Minister for Environment and Local Government. These are called “Notifiable Actions” and vary depending on the type of habitat that is present on the site. When a site is designated landowners are sent copies of notifiable actions that are relevant to their lands.

SAC Sites in Kildare Site Name Designation Site Code OS Map No. (6”) Pollardstown Fen cSAC 391 23 Ballynafagh Bog cSAC 396 13 Ballynafagh Lake cSAC 1387 13

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EPA Export 25-07-2013:22:36:13 Rye Water Valley at Carton. cSAC 1398 6 Mouds Bog pcSAC 395 18 River Barrow and Nore pcSAC 2162 21, 26, 27, 30, 31, 34, 35, 37, 38, 39, 40 Red Bog pcSAC 397 25

Special Protection Areas (SPA's) Special Protection Areas (SPA's) are important bird habitats and were designated under the EU Birds Directive (79/409/EEC). The Directive requires designation of SPA’s for listed rare and vulnerable bird species.

There is one SPA in County Kildare.

Site Name Site Number OS Map Numbers (6”) Poulaphouca Reservoir 00731 25, 29

Planning authorities are required by law to ensure that developments in their area do not cause any significant damage to SACs and SPAs. Developments likely to cause significant damage to the wildlife importance of a designated site must not be allowed. National Parks and Wildlife Service may suggest alternative approaches or will recommend a planning application be rejected. SAC’s do not automatically prohibit development. Developments not causing significant harm to the conservation interest of a site may be permitted.

SAC’s and SPA’s collectively form part of “Natura 2000”, a network of protected areas throughout the EU. Sites, which receive designation, will receive the protection they deserve. However, it is not simply enough to leave nature conservation in Kildare to these sites. Equally important habitats for bird, plant and animal species throughout the wider countryside are woodlands, ancient hedgerows, lakes and fens. They all contribute to the rich diversity For inspection of speciespurposes only. and habitats within our county. It is Consent of copyright owner required for any other use. important that these areas are well managed.

See below for 6” map listings of the designated sites.

You can view the extent on the Council GIS by clicking on Duchas sites then NHA and SAC.

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OS Map and sheet numbers of Natural Conservation Areas 6” Map No Site Name Site Number 6” Map No Site Name Site Number 3 Ballina Bog 00390 21 Grand Canal 02104 Royal Canal 02103 Carbury Bog 01388 4 Royal Canal 02103 22 Curragh 00392 5 Royal Canal 02103 23 Grand Canal 02104 Curragh 00392 Liffey at Athgarvan 01396 Oakpark 00810

6 Royal Canal 02103 25 Poulaphouca Reservoir 00731 Rye Water Valley/Carton 01398 Red Bog 00397 8 Carbury Bog 01388 26 Grand Canal 02104 Grand Canal 02104 River Barrow 02162 9 Donadea Woods 01391 27 River Barrow 02162 Hodgestown Bog 01393

11 Royal Canal 02103 28 Curragh 00392 Grand Canal 02104 12 Grand Canal 02104 For inspection purposes29 only. Poulaphouca Reservoir 00731 Consent of copyright owner required for any other use. Liffey Valley Meander Belt 00393

13 Royal Canal 02103 30 River Barrow 02162 Ballynafagh Bog 00391 Ballynafagh Lake 01387 Grand Canal 02104 Hodgestown Bog 01393

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14 Grand Canal 02104 31 Derryvullagh Island 01390

16 Grand Canal 02104 32 Dunlavin Marshes 01772 17 Grand Canal 02104 34 River Barrow 02162 18 Mouds Bog 00395 33 Dunlavin Marshes 01772 19 Grand Canal 02104 35 Grand Canal 02104 Liffey at Osberstown 01395 River Barrow 02162

20 Kilteel Wood 01394 37 Barrow Valley at Tankardstown 00858 Bridge River Barrow 02162 21 Grand Canal 02104 38 Corballis Hill 01389 River Barrow 02161 River Barrow 02162 22 Curragh 00392 39 OakPark 00810 River Barrow 02162 23 Grand Canal 02104 40 River Barrow 02162 Curragh 00392 Liffey at Athgarvan 01396 For inspection purposes only. Consent of copyright owner required for any other use. Oakpark 00810

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Site Name Site OS Map Numbers 6” and 25” Site Name Site Number OS Map Numbers 6” and 25” Number Ballina Bog 00390 3/3, 3/7 Hodgestown Bog 01393 9/14, 9/15, 13/2, 13/3

Ballynafagh Bog 00391 13/7, 13/8 Kilteel Wood 01394 20/6 Ballynafagh Lake 01387 13/3, 13, 13/7 Liffey at Osberstown 01395 19/5 Barrow Valley at 00858 37/6, 37/10 Liffey Bank at Athgarvan 01396 23/1, 23/2, 23/5, 23/6 Tankardstown Bridge Barrow River 02162 21, 26, 27, 30, 31, 34, 35, 37, 38, 39, Liffey Valley Meander Belt 00393 29 40 Carbury Bog 01388 3/13, 3/14 Mouds Bog 00395 18/9, 18/10, 18/11, 18/13, 18/14, 18/15 8/2 Corballis Hill 01389 38/11 Oakpark 00810 39/16 Curragh 00392 22/8, 22/12, 22/16, 23/9, 23/10, Pollardstown Fen 00396 23/1, 23/2, 23/5, 23/6 23/13, 23/14., 23/15 28/1, 28/2, 28/3, 28/7 Derryvullagh 01390 31/10 Poulaphouca Reservoir 00731 25/9, 25/13, 29/8 Island Donadea wood 01391 9/8, 9/12 Red Bog 00397 25/2 Dunlavin Marshes 01772 32/8, 33/1, 33/5 For inspectionRoyal purposes Canal only. 02103 3/3, 3/4 Consent of copyright owner required for any other use. 4/3, 4/4 5/1, 5/5, 5/6, 5/10, 5/11, 5/15, 5/ 16 6/13, 6/14, 6/15, 11/2, 11/3, Grand Canal 02104 8/2,8/13, 8/14 Rye Water Valley/Carton 1398 6/9, 6/10, 6/13, 6/14 11/15, 12/3, 12/7, 12/8, 12/12,1 2/16 13/9, 13/10, 13/13, 13/14, 13/15, 13/16 14/13, 16/16, 17/3, 17/4, 17/6, 17/7, 17/8 17/9, 17/10, 17/12, 17/13,

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19/1, 19/2, 19/3, 19/6, 10, 19/13, 21/, 21/11, 21/12, 21/15, 23/4, 23/8, 23/12, 26/3, 35/1, 35/5, 35/9

For inspection purposes only. Consent of copyright owner required for any other use.

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