Ireland's State of the Environment Report 2024

181 Chapter 7: Nature Topic Box 7.4 Wild Atlantic Nature and Kerry LIFE Freshwater Pearl Mussel projects The Wild Atlantic Nature LIFE Integrated Project 20 aims to deliver and support the management of high-quality habitats, and to improve the conservation status in the Special Areas of Conservation network of blanket bog, a priority habitat under the Habitats Directive. The primary focus is on 35 Natura 2000 sites in the north-west of Ireland, covering a total area of 262,632 ha (Figure 7.22). Running from 2021 to 2030 and led by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (DHLGH) with nine other associated beneficiaries, this multidimensional project works with farmers, landowners, local communities, state agencies and others across a broad range of actions spanning sectors including agriculture, forestry, tourism, community development and science. Figure 7.22 Wild Atlantic Nature LIFE-IP Blanket Bog Special Areas of Conservation within the Northern and Western Regional Assembly Map adapted from NPWS 21 The Kerry LIFE Freshwater Pearl Mussel Project 22 team worked closely with farmers and forest owners in the County Kerry river catchments of the Caragh and Blackwater. The project, which ran between 2014 and 2020, initially targeted an area comprising 2500 ha of farmland and 515 ha of forestry (in both public and private ownership) for inclusion. This target was exceeded and covered 5038 ha of farmland and 542 ha of forest. By the project’s end, 25 key deliverables and outputs had been achieved. These included an improved river habitat for the protected and endangered freshwater pearl mussel; 5.9 km of river buffer zones created; 76 km of drains re-vegetated; 122 drains blocked; 2.6 km of hedgerow planted; sediment losses reduced; livestock management facilities and livestock drinking facilities enhanced; nutrient inputs on farms across 501 ha reduced; 27 ha of native woodland established; 14.1 ha of existing woodland conserved; and 50.2 ha of conifer plantation converted to long-term native woodland. 20 www.wildatlanticnature.ie (accessed 4 April 2024). 21 LIFE IP Wild Atlantic Nature – Wild Atlantic Nature (accessed 24 April 2024). 22 www.npws.ie/research-projects/kerrylife (accessed 4 April 2024).