SPU C037-2022 - National monitoring and assessment of four Annex I woodland habitats & Survey of NPWS woodland properties in the South Western region

Descriptions

WP 1: National monitoring and assessment of four Annex I woodland habitats The EU Habitats Directive requires Members States to monitor the conservation status of the habitats and species which are protected under the Directive (Article 11). Every six years, a report must be prepared to assess the conservation status of these habitats and species, detail the implementation of conservation measures, and evaluate the impact of those measures (Article 17). This report must be submitted to the European Commission and made accessible to the public. Previous rounds of reporting were completed in 2013 and 2019 and the next is due in 2025. The associated data are also essential to underpin effective conservation measures for internationally important habitats and species. Four Annex I woodland habitats are considered to occur in Ireland (* denotes a priority habitat): • 91A0 Old sessile oak woods with Ilex and Blechnum in the British Isles • 91D0 Bog woodland* • 91E0 Alluvial forests with Alnus glutinosa and Fraxinus excelsior* • 91J0 Taxus baccata woods of the British Isles* The assessment of conservation status requires an understanding of the distribution, area, structures and functions and the pressures impacting on these habitats. The surveillance programme involves monitoring a representative sample of the resource across its natural range. WP 2: Survey of NPWS woodland properties in the South Western region The varied responsibilities of NPWS include the management of 6 National Parks, 78 Nature Reserves, and a variety of other State-owned lands. NPWS is responsible for c. 4,570 ha of native woodland in addition to some extensive areas of conifer plantations transferred from the former Forest and Wildlife Service. The National Survey of Native Woodlands (NSNW; Perrin et al. 2008) was undertaken from 2003-2008. It covered 1,217 sites, representing the range of native woodland diversity in Ireland, and included many NPWS woodland properties. These sites were survey