Number 59 • March 2008 In Practice Bulletin of the Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management Ecology in Ireland INFORMATION Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management In Practice No. 59, Mar 2008. ISSN 1754-4882 Editor for this issue: Jason Reeves IEEM aims to raise the profi le of the profession of ecology and environmental management, to establish, maintain and enhance professional standards, and to promote an ethic of In Practice is published quarterly by the Institute of Ecology environmental care within the profession and to clients and and Environmental Management. It is supplied to all members employers of the members. of IEEM and is also available by subscription (£30 per year, UK. Patrons: Prof David Bellamy £40 overseas). Prof Tony Bradshaw In Practice will publish news, comments, technical papers, Sir Martin Doughty letters, Institute news, reviews and listings of meetings, events Prof Charles Gimingham and courses. In Practice invites contributions on any aspect Mr John Humphrys of ecology and environmental management but does not aim Dr Duncan Poore to publish scientifi c papers presenting the results of original The Earl of Selborne research. Contributions should be sent to the Editor at the Baroness Barbara Young IEEM offi ce (address below). President: Dr Andy Tasker Opinions expressed by contributors to In Practice are not President-Elect: Prof Steve Ormerod necessarily supported by the Institute. Readers should seek appropriate professional guidance relevant to their individual Vice-President: Dr Eirene Williams circumstances before following any advice provided herein. Secretary: Mr Mike Barker Treasurer: Dr Alex Tait Advertising Executive Director: Dr Jim Thompson Full page: £500, half-page: £250, quarter-page: £125, eighth- Deputy Executive Director: Mrs Linda Yost page: £65, inserts: £400. 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The membership year is 1 October – 30 September. In Practice is printed on Revive Silk, a 100% recycled paper (100% post consumer waste). © Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management IEEM is a member of: The Institute is immensely grateful to those organisations below who have made fi nancial contributions or provided substantial ‘help in kind’ to support its activities during 2007 British Ecological Society EDITORIAL AND CONTENTS CONTENTS Editorial Information 2 Editorial and Contents 3 The Co-Evolution of Ecological 4 - 6 Practice and Employment The Current State of Ecology in Ireland Opportunities in Engineering and Environmental Consultancies in When I was invited to write this piece I felt that my view, from a background of Ireland academic research as a vegetation scientist followed by many years in consultancy, Paul O’Donoghue CEnv MIEEM may not truly reflect the wider scene. So I solicited opinion from many ecologist The Current Status of Habitat and 7 - 9 colleagues - throughout the island of Ireland - on their perception of the current Species Conservation in Northern state of ecology in Ireland. Ireland The volume of replies was gratifying (thanks to everyone) in that it shows the depth James Robinson of commitment and concern amongst ecologists for their profession. Replies came Integrating Nature Conservation and 10 - 13 from both members and non-members; North and South; from individuals in private, Military Training in Northern Ireland state, local government, academia and NGO. In fact the volume was such that I have Sarah Jupp CEnv enough material for a future article in In Practice! So many points were raised that I Little Egret Expansion in Ireland: 14 can only highlight a few here. Cork - A Case Study There have been huge strides forward in terms of knowledge and legislation - both Paul O’Donoghue CEnv MIEEM and Patrick Smiddy EU and National; and considerable progress has been made in the conservation of habitats and species but there are still gaps. A chronic lack of resources in The Habitats Directive and Sewage 15 - 17 terms of funding and ecological personnel means that legislation is not being fully Treatment Upgrades in the Republic implemented. This results in a lack of protection of some of the most vulnerable of Ireland habitats and rare species. In both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland Emma Leacroft CEnv, Hugh Watson shortage of resources means that for example, planning conditions such as CEnv MIEEM and Jo Mosley CEnv MIEEM monitoring requirements, tend not to be followed through. White-Clawed Crayfish: Use of 18 The whole issue of biodiversity is a matter of real concern, because of a lack Drainage Ditches of understanding of what it is and a lack of recognition of its significance in the Paul O’Donoghue CEnv MIEEM, Ross broader context for society. Macklin and Paul Dansie CEnv MIEEM A particularly worrying trend is the lack of a skill base in certain sectors of private The Internation Institute of Ecology 19 consultancy, not helped by the development of broad-based environmental science and Environmental Management? qualifications. The onus is very much on consultants to consciously maintain an Richard Nairn CEnv FIEEM adequate scientific knowledge base as well as high professional standards. The Healing the Sea - The Role of Marine 20 - 23 ideal perhaps would be to have membership of the IEEM an obligatory requirement Reserves for employment as is the trend in the UK. This is a challenge for Ireland with its two Lisa Chilton jurisdictions and a variety of perspectives on the role of IEEM in this island. Lyme Disease - Mountain or Molehill? 24 - 26 Attitudes to, and perception of, ecology in Ireland have changed vastly in the Cathy Mordaunt CEnv MIEEM 38 years that I have been working as an ecologist. The history of ecological Are the New EIA (Agriculture) 27 - 28 development in the Republic of Ireland is set out by Paul O’Donoghue’s first paper Regulations in England Failing to in this issue, and discussed from the perspective of a large consultancy. There Protect Semi-Natural Grasslands? are many positives, but from experience I know that many practising ecologists Miles King MIEEM, Lucy Rothstein in Ireland take issue with some of the existing Irish-based guidelines in that they and Ian Craft MIEEM do not go far enough; and, for example, the National Road Authority’s guidelines (for ecological impact assessment; and for the treatment of species) are taken Best Practice for the Identification 29 - 33 and the Assessment of UK BAP as absolute and cast in stone rather than as guidelines. Considered best practice Priority Ponds advice from experienced specialists is frequently not accepted in environmental Jim Fairclough MIEEM and Pascale impact statements because it requires more than the guidelines allow for. Nicolet We should not consider ecology in Ireland without looking at the role of IEEM. Institute News 34 Personally I think IEEM is key and am delighted at the growth of membership in Ireland. Surely we all have a recruiting role in our daily contacts with non-member Geographic Section News 35 - 37 ecologists as this enables a one to one explanation of the potential role of IEEM. But SocEnv, EFAEP, EUROPARC and IUCN 38 there is still a worrying uneasiness that it is not an international organisation, which News can accommodate some people’s views in Ireland. This position must be addressed In the Journals 39 - 42 by IEEM, particularly in public at conferences, meetings and in publications. Recent Publications 43 News in Brief 44 - 45 Jenny Neff CEnv FIEEM Tauro-Scatology 46 Director and Principal Consultant, Ecological Advisory and New and Prospective Members 47 Consultancy Services (EACS) Diary 48 Cover image: The Connemara Coast in County Galway, Republic of Ireland. Photography: Richard Nairn CEnv FIEEM Artwork on the cover will normally illustrate an article in, or the theme of, the current issue. The Editor would be pleased to consider any such material from authors. ECOLOGY IN IRELAND The Co-Evolution of Ecological Practice and Employment Opportunities in Engineering and Environmental Consultancies in Ireland Paul O’Donoghue CEnv MIEEM Principal Ecologist, Atkins (Ireland) he practice of ecology in Ireland has undergone Natural Habitats, 1979), the forerunner of the Habitats Directive Tsignificant changes in recent decades. which sought to protect species and habitats across Europe. Traditionally, ecological studies were the remit In the mid-nineties, following a successful legal challenge, the of academic institutions, non-governmental ASIs were replaced by a network of sites called Natural Heritage organisations and freelance ecologists or specialist Areas (NHAs); these are designated to protect habitats, flora, ecological firms. The accession to what was then fauna and geological sites of national importance. Together with the European Economic Community has resulted Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) and Special Protection Areas for birds (SPAs) (Natura 2000 sites) these sites form the in a progressive increase in both the volume and backbone of site-based conservation in Ireland. National Parks, nature of environmental and ecological studies Nature Reserves, Wildfowl Refuges and other designations which are undertaken as part of requirements further add to this network of protected sites, while instruments for planning and for infrastructural development.