Inishbofin Community Nature Plan 2016 – 2021 Inish bó fínne. Photo by Marie Coyne with kind permission Contents Inishbofin Community Nature Plan......................................................................................................... 1 Introduction ............................................................................................................................................ 3 Heritage and Community .................................................................................................................... 4 Biodiversity in Inishbofin ..................................................................................................................... 6 The scope and vision of the local nature plan .................................................................................... 7 Actions of the Inishbofin Local Nature Plan ........................................................................................ 8 Resources and Further information ...................................................................................................... 11 Key Contacts...................................................................................................................................... 11 Biodiversity-related resources .......................................................................................................... 11 Funding ............................................................................................................................................. 14 Acknowledgements: The support and assistance of all the participants in the development of the Community Nature Plan for Inishbofin is gratefully acknowledged including those who attended workshops and meetings and who made contributions by phone or email. Thank you to the Inishbofin Community Centre for hosting the meetings and the launch. Thank also to Eco Tourism Ireland for supporting and encouraging the development of the Plan and to Galway County Council and NUI Galway for facilitating the plan through the Galway County Biodiversity Project. Photographs were are reproduced with the kind permission of Marie Coyne and Anthony McGeehan. Dumhach Beach (Photo: Marie Coyne, with permission) Introduction Biodiversity is the term used to describe the variety of life on earth. This includes the differences among and between all the living organisms on earth such as plants, animals and micro-organisms like bacteria and fungi. Biodiversity also includes the differences between the different habitats that these species live in and the ways in which living organisms interact with each other and the world around them or simply the ‘Web of Life’. People too are part of biodiversity. We depend on a range of other species for food, clothes, medicine and other raw materials and to provide a healthy, stable environment for us to thrive. A local biodiversity or nature plan provides a framework for communities to set priorities and deliver actions for biodiversity at the local level. These plans adopt a bottom up approach to nature conservation as they are developed co-operatively by local people and will be managed and delivered at this level. Local nature plans offer an opportunity to develop partnerships between local communities and local authorities, state agencies and NGOs and other bodies. This plan was developed as part of the wider Eco-Tourism Project under way on Inishbofin. The development of the plan was facilitated by the manager of the Galway County Biodiversity Project Elaine O’Riordan. The consultation process involved 3 workshops. The first workshop served as a ‘brainstorming’ session where local community representatives met and identified biodiversity features of interest, local issues and resources. Other persons with an interest or statutory role in biodiversity conservation on the Island were contacted by email or phone for input also. From this a broad list of possible actions was produced which were discussed and refined at the second and third workshops. Further consultation on the draft plan was carried out by email/phone and a final list of actions for the plan was agreed. The plan is for 5 years from 2016 to 2021. A biodiversity working group led by the Inishbofin Nature Trust and local volunteers will meet regularly to progress the plan and monitor the results. The plan was formally launched on 26th May by Dr Liam Lysaght of the National Biodiversity Data Centre. Inishbofin grasslands. (Photo: Leonie BT Flickr CC BY-NC-ND 2.0) Heritage and Community Inis Bó Fínne or the Island of the White Cow lies approximately 10km from the County Galway Coast. Down through its history, Inishbofin has sustained itself on the traditional industries of fishing and farming. It is difficult to imagine now, but at the height of its population in the 19th Century, the island supported over a thousand people. Inishbofin was also used as a base for many more fishermen from the surrounding islands and Connemara coast. To this day, locals still engage in cattle and sheep farming among other agricultural practices, and there remain some local crab and lobster fishermen. However, the primary industry that has developed on the island nowadays is tourism. This is a market which, from the first semi-regular passenger trips run by the poet Richard Murphy in the 1950’s, has slowly and steadily grown to accommodate around 40,000 visitors each year. Inishbofin receives visitors year-round, but the season begins in earnest from Easter through to October. The island has much to offer visitors in the way of outdoor pursuits and much of the attraction for many tourists is the opportunity to explore the nature and landscape of Inishbofin. Biking, Hiking and horse riding all afford the visitor the chance to get close to nature. While kayaking or snorkelling along the Blueway Trail in Inishbofin’s natural harbour enables visitors to explore the incredible marine and coastal biodiversity of the Island. A recent project, initiated by the community and run by EcoTourism Ireland, has brought a determination to promote tourism which is sustainable, environmentally-conscious and benefits the local economy. The island is moving towards being as self-sufficient as possible, reducing its impact in terms of waste production, running projects aimed at recycling materials and generally trying to do things the right way to ensure a future that does not negatively affect the beautiful natural environment. Inishbofin is Ireland’s first ‘Leave No Trace’ island, partnering with the Leave No Trace outdoor educational organisation to promote responsible tourism. It is the first Fairtrade Island and first Eco Certified Island in the Republic of Ireland, and has developed its own unique Inishbofin Fairtrade coffee. The Island hosts a diverse schedule of festivals throughout the summer celebrating every aspect of the island’s culture, including its music, arts, seafaring and food. This brings a whole host of Irish and international artists, writers, musicians and thinkers to Inishbofin every year. Each July the Island becomes an outdoor classroom for the Connemara Summer School which is a course on the ecology, archaeology and heritage of Inishbofin. Old church and Graveyard. (Photo: Marie Coyne, with permission) The local community on Inishbofin are very dynamic and a number of local organisations work to develop all aspects of Island life to ensure that it remains a vibrant, thriving community socially, environmentally and economically. The Inishbofin Community Development Company is central to this as they administer the various social initiatives on the Island in conjunction with other groups and individuals on the island. The Inishbofin Nature Trust (previously known as Inishbofin Conservation Initiative) is a voluntary, non-profit organisation which was established in 1998 to help fund local conservation initiatives. Its work over the coming years will be guided by the Nature plan with all projects advised by an expert advisory committee. Corncrake. (Photo: Anthony McGeehan with permission) Biodiversity in Inishbofin Inishbofin has a wealth of biodiversity with a fantastic array of habitats and species, many of which are now scarce on the mainland. The traditional land use of low level agriculture has helped to maintain the landscape and habitats such as species rich grasslands and the animals that depend on them including many insects and birds. Low intensity agriculture is the main land use on the island with grazing for sheep and cows mostly but also some hay meadows which support a great diversity of grasses and wildflowers such as Yellow-rattle, Red Clover, Creeping Buttercup, Sheep’s Sorrel, Ribwort Plantain, Hogweed, Silverweed, Hedge Woundwort, Selfheal, Meadow Vetchling and Wild Carrot. Much of the land on Inishbofin is commonage and supports wet and dry heath habitats with species such as heathers, Carnation Sedge, Wild Thyme, various grasses and the rare Spotted Rock Rose. Patches of bog and marsh are found throughout the island. There are several small lakes on the island though the largest water body, Lough Bofin is actually a lagoon as it has brackish water due to regular inputs of seawater through the cobble barrier which separates it from the sea. It has some very special plants including the Foxtail Stone wort and two species of Tassleweed which are all lagoon species. The coastline of Inishbofin is diverse and includes wonderful sandy beaches at Dumhach and Cloonamore Strand which have been awarded the Green Coast flag by