Lower Lough Erne Lough Erne Basin An amazing place for people Our work so far and for wildlife We are already working hard with local Rising in Monaghan, the River Erne travels landowners, farmers and public bodies northwest, flowing through Upper and to sustainably manage 39 islands in Lower Lough Erne in Fermanagh before Lower Lough Erne and wet grassland draining into Donegal Bay. The Loughs, habitats around Upper Lough Erne for and their catchments, have been selected the benefit of breeding waders. Good to be a part of the RSPB’s Futurescapes quality wet grasslands fulfil a number programme because they sustain a of natural functions, including water stunning array of natural habitats, birds filtration and flood alleviation. But they and other wildlife. are under threat. Land management practices, such as drainage and under- From rare plants, such as fen violets and and overgrazing are damaging the extent Irish lady’s tresses orchids, to vulnerable and quality of wet grassland sites, and breeding populations of wading birds, it is vital that we continue to make including curlews, golden plovers, the subtle changes that make a big lapwings and redshanks, and iconic difference. Recent counts indicate that mammals such as otters and red squirrels, wader numbers have increased in our this landscape and its habitats support a project areas – a great achievement DECLINECreating a of haven wonderful diversity of life enjoyed by considering the declines recorded in the for the lapwings Capercaillie those who live, work and visit here. wider countryside. CapercaillieKnown affectionately are woodland in rural grouse, areas The Lough Erne Basin also provides Sliabh Beagh – an area that straddles the confinedas “peewits”, to native lapwings pine areforest and valuable natural resources, such as food, boundary between the Lough Erne and somedistinctive commercial and much-loved conifer farmland clean water, flood defence and recreation Lough Neagh Futurescapes – has also plantations.birds. In recent Their years needs we arehave not seen opportunities, and it supports a thriving been highlighted as a special landscape straightforwarda significant decline as they in their require numbers vast tourism industry. The cultural and natural in need of an enhanced conservation expansesdue to the of loss suitable of their habitat. favourite Males wet heritage of this landscape reaches back approach. This area is a favourite breeding aregrassland black, habitat.huge and Favourable unmistakable, land over centuries. It is an area shaped by ground for red grouse, hen harriers and especiallymanagement so whenpractices they on gather our to people and its once unspoilt habitats have golden plovers, and it supports rare performreserves theirand projectmating areasritual areat become marginalised in recent years. invertebrates, such as upland beetles. traditionalstarting to lekmake sites. a difference They spend and a lot In order to help protect the precious ofwe time have feeding seen an on increase blaeberries in the on We want to work together with other species that call this landscape home thenumber ground, of breeding but may pairs. also beBut found the stakeholders and communities to conserve we have come together with the Truagh inhard trees, work feeding can’t stop on pine there. needles. It is vital the unique qualities of the Lough Erne Development Association and Sliabh Thethat UKwe capercaillieadopt a landscape-scale population and Basin long into the future. We can do this Beagh Environment Committee to rangeapproach has in declined the wider rapidly, countryside and the by helping people to reconnect with produce the Sliabh Beagh Conservation speciesto protect is andnow restore at risk essentialof extinction. nature, protecting raised bogs, improving Management Plan. This sets out steps for Conservationbreeding habitat and for restoration both lapwings of the water quality, returning designated sites sustainable management and promoting habitatand other is essentialwading birds if they to thriveare to in, to their full potential, and assuring these the importance of conservation for the thrivenow and once into more. the future. activities continue for future generations. environment, society and the economy. NORTHERN IRELAND Beleek Beleek ! Irvinestown Irvinestown Enniskillen Produced by RSPB CDMU © Crown Copyright. All rights reserved. RSPB licence 100021787 Enniskillen REPUBLIC OF IRELAND Lisnaskea ! Lisnaskea KEY main road Futurescape area Special Protection area Lough Erne Basin “ Lough Erne’s reputation as one of the most scenic areas in the UK is well deserved. It is a havenSource fors: Es riboth, DeLor mewildlife, NAVTEQ, andUSGS, visitorsIntermap, iPC, who NRCAN, enjoy Esri Japa n,its ME quiet,TI, Esri Ch ina (Hong Kong), idyllic landscape. It isEs riimportant (Thailand), To mT omto, 20conserve12 the natural balance between people and the environment that allows tourism to continue to flourish, while preserving the habitats, plants and animals that make the region so successful as a destination.” Conor McKinney, Living Landscapes Manager, Ulster Wildlife What’s next? Get in touch Crucial habitats and species data have helped us to identify We want to hear your ideas about how we can work a number of priority sites for future landscape-scale together to make the Lough Erne Basin even better for conservation within the Lough Erne Basin. We will continue people and wildlife. to use project areas as demonstration sites and, alongside our partners, will develop further projects to produce Futurescapes Project Officer Country Director a suite of well-connected, quality habitats for wildlife, Sheila George James Robinson providing a range of natural resources and supporting T 02890 690851 T 02890 491547 sustainable livelihoods. We will also continue to advocate the value of these landscapes, at both delivery and policy Futurescapes Community RSPB Northern Ireland level, to ensure their protection into the future. Engagement Officer Headquarters Maeve Rafferty Belvoir Park Forest, T 02890 491547 Belvoir Drive, Belfast BT8 7QT T 02890 491547 Futurescapes is the RSPB’s contribution to landscape-scale Natura 2000 – Europe’s Futurescapes is The RSPB is a member conservation throughout the UK. nature for you. We are generously supported of BirdLife International, working together across the by the EU Life+ a partnership of conservation The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) is a EU to safeguard Europe’s rich Communications organisations working to give registered charity: England and Wales no. 207076, Scotland no. and diverse natural heritage Programme nature a home around the world for the benefit of all SC037654. Images: Lower Lough Erne and lapwing by Andy Hay (both rspb-images.com). Maps produced by RSPB CDMU © Crown Copyright. All rights reserved. RSPB licence 100021787. 020-1-1242-13-14.