4.3 Terrestrial Ecology
4.3.3 Existing Environment
A desk study based on online resources and biological records that can be reasonably acquired or provided through consultation with the relevant statutory bodies will be undertaken over a broader corridor centred on the Scheme. The following data sources were consulted and where relevant have been mapped in the biodiversity constraints map in Volume II, Figures (Constraints – Biodiversity):
• Designated sites - National Parks and Wildlife Service website http://www.npws.ie/
• In addition to this the National Biodiversity Centre’s Biodiversity Maps online viewer was queried for those datasets that have a restricted status.
4.3.3.1 Designated Sites
The Biodiversity constraints mapping in Volume II, Figures provides an indication of the designation within a 5km and 10km radius of the Scheme. Table 4.1 below lists the designated sites, their qualifying features and their conservation objectives.
Table 4.1: Conservation Interests and objectives of designated sites with 10km of Glenties Site Code Site Name Distance to
the FRS Qualifying Interests / Special Conservation
Interests Conservation Objectives
000197 West of Ardara /
Maas Road SAC 0 Estuaries [1130]
Mudflats and sandflats not covered by seawater at low tide [1140]
Large shallow inlets and bays [1160]
Annual vegetation of drift lines [1210]
Atlantic salt meadows (Glauco-Puccinellietalia maritimae) [1330]
Mediterranean salt meadows (Juncetalia maritimi) [1410]
Embryonic shifting dunes [2110]
Shifting dunes along the shoreline with Ammophila arenaria (white dunes) [2120]
Fixed coastal dunes with herbaceous vegetation (grey dunes) [2130]
Decalcified fixed dunes with Empetrum nigrum [2140]
Atlantic decalcified fixed dunes (Calluno-Ulicetea) [2150]
Dunes with Salix repens ssp. argentea (Salicion arenariae) [2170]
Humid dune slacks [2190]
Machairs (* in Ireland) [21A0]
Oligotrophic waters containing very few minerals of sandy plains (Littorelletalia uniflorae) [3110]
19th August 2015
• To maintain the favourable conservation condition of Estuaries in West of Ardara/Maas Road SAC, as defined by 2 attributes and targets;
• To maintain the favourable conservation condition of Mudflats and sandflats not covered by seawater at low tide in West of Ardara/Maas Road SAC, as defined by 2 attributes and targets;
• To maintain the favourable conservation condition of Large shallow inlets and bays in West of Ardara/Maas Road SAC, as defined by 2 attributes and targets;
• To restore the favourable conservation condition of Atlantic salt meadows (Glauco Puccinellietalia maritimae) in West of Ardara/Maas Road SAC, as defined by 10 attributes and targets;
• To maintain the favourable conservation condition of Mediterranean salt meadows (Juncetalia maritimi) in West of Ardara/Maas Road SAC, as defined by 10 attributes and targets;
• To maintain the favourable conservation condition of Shifting dunes along the shoreline with Ammophila arenaria ('white dunes') in West of Ardara/Maas Road SAC, as defined by 7 attributes and targets;
• To restore the favourable conservation condition of Fixed coastal dunes with herbaceous vegetation ('grey dunes') in West of Ardara/Maas Road SAC, as defined by 9 attributes and targets;
• To maintain the favourable conservation condition of Decalcified fixed dunes with Empetrum nigrum in West of Ardara/Maas Road SAC, as defined by 9 attributes and targets;
Site Code Site Name Distance to
the FRS Qualifying Interests / Special Conservation
Interests Conservation Objectives
Oligotrophic to mesotrophic standing waters with vegetation of the Littorelletea uniflorae and/or Isoeto-Nanojuncetea [3130]
Northern Atlantic wet heaths with Erica tetralix [4010]
European dry heaths [4030]
Alpine and Boreal heaths [4060]
Juniperus communis formations on heaths or calcareous grasslands [5130]
Semi-natural dry grasslands and scrubland facies on calcareous substrates (Festuco-Brometalia) (* important orchid sites) [6210]
Molinia meadows on calcareous, peaty or clayey-silt-laden soils (Molinion caeruleae) [6410]
Lowland hay meadows (Alopecurus pratensis, Sanguisorba officinalis) [6510]
Blanket bogs (* if active bog) [7130]
Depressions on peat substrates of the Rhynchosporion [7150]
Alkaline fens [7230]
Vertigo geyeri (Geyer's Whorl Snail) [1013]
Margaritifera (Freshwater Pearl Mussel) [1029]
Euphydryas aurinia (Marsh Fritillary) [1065]
Salmo salar (Salmon) [1106]
• To maintain the favourable conservation condition of Atlantic decalcified fixed dunes (Calluno-Ulicetea) in West of Ardara/Maas Road SAC, as defined by 9 attributes and targets;
• To maintain the favourable conservation condition of Dunes with Salix repens ssp. argentea (Salicion arenariae) in West of Ardara/Maas Road SAC, as defined by 10 attributes and targets;
• To maintain the favourable conservation condition of Humid dune slacks in West of Ardara/Maas Road SAC, as defined by 11 attributes and targets;
• To restore the favourable conservation condition of Machairs in West of Ardara/Maas Road SAC, as defined by 11 attributes and targets;
• To maintain the favourable conservation condition of Oligotrophic waters containing very few minerals of sandy plains (Littorelletalia uniflorae) in West of Ardara/Maas Road SAC, as defined by 18 attributes and targets;
• To restore the favourable conservation condition of Northern Atlantic wet heaths with Erica tetralix in West of Ardara/Maas Road SAC, as defined by 20 attributes and targets;
• To restore the favourable conservation condition of European dry heaths in West of Ardara/Maas Road SAC, as defined by 19 attributes and targets;
• To restore the favourable conservation condition of Alpine and Boreal heaths in West of Ardara/Maas Road SAC, as defined by 14 attributes and targets;
• To maintain the favourable conservation condition of Juniperus communis formations on heaths or calcareous grasslands in West of Ardara/Maas Road SAC, as defined by 8 attributes and targets;
Site Code Site Name Distance to
the FRS Qualifying Interests / Special Conservation
Interests Conservation Objectives
Phoca vitulina (Harbour Seal) [1365]
Petalophyllum ralfsii (Petalwort) [1395]
Najas flexilis (Slender Naiad) [1833]
calcareous substrates (Festuco Brometalia) in West of Ardara/Maas Road SAC, as defined by 11 attributes and targets;
• To maintain the favourable conservation condition of Molinia meadows on calcareous, peaty or clayey-silt-laden soils (Molinion caeruleae) in West of Ardara/Maas Road SAC, as defined by 12 attributes and targets;
• To maintain the favourable conservation condition of Lowland hay meadows (Alopecurus pratensis, Sanguisorba officinalis) in West of Ardara/Maas Road SAC, as defined by 11 attributes and targets;
• To restore the favourable conservation condition of Blanket bogs in West of Ardara/Maas Road SAC, as defined by 19 attributes and targets;
• To maintain the favourable conservation condition of Depressions on peat substrates of the Rhynchosporion in West of Ardara/Maas Road SAC, as defined by 16 attributes and targets;
• To maintain the favourable conservation condition of Alkaline fens in West of Ardara/Maas Road SAC, as defined by 9 attributes and targets;
• To maintain the favourable conservation condition of Geyer's Whorl Snail in West of Ardara/Maas Road SAC, as defined by 5 attributes and targets;
• To restore the favourable conservation condition of Freshwater Pearl Mussel in West of Ardara/Maas Road SAC, as defined by 12 attributes and targets;
• To maintain the favourable conservation condition of Marsh Fritillary in West of Ardara/Maas Road SAC, as defined by 4 attributes and targets;
• To maintain the favourable conservation condition of Atlantic Salmon in West of Ardara/Maas Road SAC, as defined by 6 attributes and targets;
Site Code Site Name Distance to
the FRS Qualifying Interests / Special Conservation
Interests Conservation Objectives
• To maintain the favourable conservation condition of Otter in West of Ardara/Maas Road SAC, as defined by 8 attributes and targets;
• To maintain the favourable conservation condition of Harbour Seal in West of Ardara/Maas Road SAC, as defined by 5 attributes and targets;
• To maintain the favourable conservation condition of Petalwort in West of Ardara/Maas Road SAC, as defined by 5 attributes and targets;
• To maintain the favourable conservation condition of Slender Naiad in West of Ardara/Maas Road SAC, as defined by 13 attributes and targets.
000165 Lough Nillan (Carrickatlieve) SAC
1.4km Oligotrophic waters containing very few minerals of sandy plains (Littorelletalia uniflorae) [3110]
Blanket bogs (* if active bog) [7130]
6th September 2016
• To maintain the favourable conservation condition of Oligotrophic waters containing very few minerals of sandy plains (Littorelletalia uniflorae) in Lough Nillan Bog (Carrickatlieve) SAC, as defined by 18 attributes and targets;
• To restore the favourable conservation condition of Blanket bogs in Lough Nillan Bog (Carrickatlieve) SAC, as defined by 19 attributes and targets;
000142 Gannivegil Bog
SAC 8.3km Oligotrophic waters containing very few minerals of sandy plains (Littorelletalia uniflorae) [3110]
Northern Atlantic wet heaths with Erica tetralix [4010]
Blanket bogs (* if active bog) [7130]
15th May 2017
• To maintain the favourable conservation condition of Oligotrophic waters containing very few minerals of sandy plains (Littorelletalia uniflorae) in Gannivegil Bog SAC, as defined by 18 attributes and targets;
• To restore the favourable conservation condition of Northern Atlantic wet heaths with Erica tetralix in Gannivegil Bog SAC, as defined by 20 attributes and targets;
• To restore the favourable conservation condition of Blanket bogs (* if active bog) in Gannivegil Bog SAC, as
Site Code Site Name Distance to
the FRS Qualifying Interests / Special Conservation
Interests Conservation Objectives
001880 Meenaguse
Scragh SAC 8.4km Northern Atlantic wet heaths with Erica tetralix [4010] 10th September 2019
• To maintain the favourable conservation condition of Northern Atlantic wet heaths with Erica tetralix in Meenaguse Scragh SAC, as defined by 20 attributes and targets.
000172 Meenaguse / Ardbane Bog SAC
8.6km Blanket bogs (* if active bog) [7130] 15th May 2017
• To restore the favourable conservation condition of Blanket bogs (* if active bog) in Meenaguse/Ardbane Bog SAC, as defined by 19 attributes and targets.
002301 River Finn SAC 9.0km 3110 Oligotrophic waters containing very few minerals of sandy plains (Littorelletalia uniflorae)
4010 Northern Atlantic wet heaths with Erica tetralix 7130 Blanket bogs (* if active bog)
7140 Transition mires and quaking bogs 1106 Salmon Salmo salar
1355 Otter Lutra
31st May 2017 Version 1
• To restore the favourable conservation condition of Oligotrophic waters, as defined by 18 no. attributes and targets;
• To restore the favourable conservation condition of Northern Atlantic wet heaths, as defined by 20 no.
attributes and targets;
• To restore the favourable conservation condition of Blanket bogs, as defined by 19 no. attributes and targets;
• To restore the favourable conservation condition of Transition mires and quaking bogs, as defined by 13 no.
attributes and targets;
• To maintain the favourable conservation condition of Salmon, as defined by 6 no. attributes and targets;
• To maintain the favourable conservation condition of Otter, as defined by 7 no. attributes and targets;
000190 Slieve Tooey / Tormore Island / Loughros Beg Bay SAC
9.8km Vegetated sea cliffs of the Atlantic and Baltic coasts [1230]
Embryonic shifting dunes [2110]
Shifting dunes along the shoreline with Ammophila arenaria (white dunes) [2120]
19th August 2015 Version 1
• To maintain the favourable conservation condition of Vegetated sea cliffs of the Atlantic and Baltic coasts in Slieve Tooey/Tormore Island/Loughros Beg Bay SAC, as defined by 8 no. attributes and targets;
• To maintain the favourable conservation condition of
Site Code Site Name Distance to
the FRS Qualifying Interests / Special Conservation
Interests Conservation Objectives
Fixed coastal dunes with herbaceous vegetation (grey dunes) [2130]
Decalcified fixed dunes with Empetrum nigrum [2140]
Atlantic decalcified fixed dunes (Calluno-Ulicetea) [2150]
Alpine and Boreal heaths [4060]
Blanket bogs (* if active bog) [7130]
Vertigo angustior (Narrow-mouthed Whorl Snail) [1014]
Lutra (Otter) [1355]
Halichoerus grypus (Grey Seal) [1364]
Island/Loughros Beg Bay SAC,, as defined by 7 no.
attributes and targets;
• To restore the favourable conservation condition of Shifting dunes along the shoreline with Ammophila arenaria (white dunes) in Slieve Tooey/Tormore Island/Loughros Beg Bay SAC,, as defined by 7 no.
attributes and targets;
• To maintain the favourable conservation condition of Decalcified fixed dunes with Empetrum nigrum in Slieve Tooey/Tormore Island/Loughros Beg Bay SAC, as defined by 8 no. attributes and targets;
• To maintain the favourable conservation condition of Atlantic decalcified fixed dunes (Calluno-Ulicetea) in Slieve Tooey/Tormore Island/Loughros Beg Bay SAC,, as defined by 8 no. attributes and targets;
• To restore the favourable conservation condition of Alpine and Boreal heaths in Slieve Tooey/Tormore Island/Loughros Beg Bay SAC,, as defined by 14 no.
attributes and targets;
• To restore the favourable conservation condition of Blanket bogs in Slieve Tooey/Tormore Island/Loughros Beg Bay SAC, as defined by 19 no. attributes and targets;
• To maintain the favourable conservation condition of Narrow-mouthed Whorl Snail in Slieve Tooey/Tormore Island/Loughros Beg Bay SAC, as defined by 5 no.
attributes and targets;
• To maintain the favourable conservation condition of Otter in Slieve Tooey/Tormore Island/Loughros Beg Bay SAC, as defined by 8 no. attributes and targets;
• To maintain the favourable conservation condition of Grey Seal in Slieve Tooey/Tormore Island/Loughros Beg Bay SAC, as defined by 5 no. attributes and targets;
Site Code Site Name Distance to
the FRS Qualifying Interests / Special Conservation
Interests Conservation Objectives
To restore the favourable conservation condition of Blanket bogs (* if active bog) in Coolvoy Bog SAC, as defined by 19 no. attributes and targets.
004110 Lough Nillan
Bog SPA 1.4km Merlin (Falco columbarius) [A098]
Golden Plover (Pluvialis apricaria) [A140]
Greenland White-fronted Goose (Anser albifrons flavirostris) [A395]
Dunlin (Calidris alpina schinzii) [A466]
7th April 2020
To maintain or restore the favourable conservation condition of the bird species listed as Special Conservation Interests for this SPA.
004039 Derryveagh and Glendowan Mountains SPA
9.5km Red-throated Diver (Gavia stellata) [A001]
Merlin (Falco columbarius) [A098]
Peregrine (Falco peregrinus) [A103]
Golden Plover (Pluvialis apricaria) [A140]
Dunlin (Calidris alpina schinzii) [A466]
7th April 2020
To maintain or restore the favourable conservation condition of the bird species listed as Special Conservation Interests for this SPA.
4.3.3.2 National Biodiversity Centre
The National Biodiversity Data Centre (NBDC) is a national organisation that collates, manages, analyses and disseminates data on Ireland’s biodiversity. It is funded by the Heritage Council and the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht. The NBDC provides access to all validated biodiversity data through Biodiversity Maps, the on-line biodiversity data portal.
Biodiversity records and full species accounts can be viewed and scrutinised through an interactive Biodiversity Maps portal on the NBDC website. This is a tool that can be used to help make a preliminary assessment of biodiversity issues when considering site-specific developments. The chosen search area using the NBDC search tool was customised in order to capture all terrestrial biodiversity records within 10km2 surrounding the Glenties Flood Relief Scheme. Online searches were undertaken in January 2021. The purpose of this task was to capture any records of protected species or species of natural heritage importance in proximity to the proposed site boundary. The zone of influence of the Scheme on terrestrial biodiversity features does not extend further than this, as wider catchment pressures will dominate effects on terrestrial biodiversity features beyond the limits of this area.
Records of the following protected species (Table 4.2) were found within a 10km grid square of Glenties based on the datasets outlined above or from the Biodiversity Ireland online mapping tool4. These records have been included with the biodiversity mapping in Volume II, Figures.
Table 4.2: NBDC Protected Mammal records from within 10km and 1km of the Scheme
Species Records within 10km Records within 1km
Grey Seal (Halichoerus grypus) 1 1
American Mink (Mustela vison) 2 1
Brown Long-eared Bat (Plecotus auritus) 4 1
Brown Rat (Rattus norvegicus) 1 -
Daubenton's Bat (Myotis daubentonii) 1 1
Eurasian Badger (Meles meles) 56 -
Eurasian Pygmy Shrew (Sorex minutus) 1 -
Eurasian Red Squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris) 14 3
European Otter (Lutra lutra) 7 1
European Rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) 1 -
House Mouse (Mus musculus) 1 -
Irish Hare (Lepus timidus subsp. hibernicus) 4 2 Irish Stoat (Mustela erminea subsp. hibernica) 1 -
Lesser Noctule (Nyctalus leisleri) 20 8
Natterer's Bat (Myotis nattereri) 1 -
Pine Marten (Martes martes) 5 2
Pipistrelle (Pipistrellus sensu lato) 31 6
Red Deer (Cervus elaphus) 8 1
Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes) 8 2
Species Records within 10km Records within 1km Soprano Pipistrelle (Pipistrellus pygmaeus) 26 13
Wood Mouse (Apodemus sylvaticus) 2 -
4.3.3.2.1 Flora Protection Order (FPO) & Rare Plant
A NPWS data set of Annex I habitats and Flora Protection Order (2015) plant species was reviewed to check for any records at the site of the Scheme. The NBDC records search established that there are no species listed under the Flora Protection Order (2015) within the 10km2 area.
4.3.3.2.2 Mammals
Table 4.2 lists the protected mammals that have been listed on the NBDC database within 1km and 10km of the study area.
4.3.3.2.3 Amphibians
The NBDC records search identified 1 records of Common Frog (Rana temporaria) from within 10km of the Scheme.
4.3.3.2.4 Reptiles
The NBDC records search identified 1 records of Common Lizard (Zootoca vivipara) from within 10km of the Scheme.
4.3.3.2.5 Invertebrates
The NBDC records search identified 29 records of Marsh Fritillary (Euphydryas aurinia) and 3 records of Freshwater Pearl Mussel (Margaritifera (Margaritifera) margaritifera) within 10km of the Scheme.
Furthermore, the NBDC records search identified a number of records of threatened species within 10km of the Scheme (Table 4.3).
Table 4.3: NBDC Threatened invertebrate species records from within 10km and 1km of the Scheme
Species Records within 10km Records within 1km
Dark Green Fritillary (Argynnis aglaja) 8 3
Grayling (Hipparchia semele) 1 1
Large Heath (Coenonympha tullia) 4 -
Small Blue (Cupido minimus) 1 1
Small Heath (Coenonympha pamphilus) 14 2
Wall (Lasiommata megera) 3 1
Hollowed Glass Snail (Zonitoides (Zonitoides) 1 - Marsh Whorl Snail (Vertigo (Vertigo) antivertigo) 1 -