Download Forestry and Bird Conservation in Ireland with special reference to

Forestry and Bird Conservation in
Ireland with special reference to Hen
Harrier
A presentation for:
COFORD Council Land Availability Working Group
(CCLAWG)
By
David Tierney
National Parks and Wildlife Service
6th of December 2012
Layout of the talk
• The Birds Directive – framing bird conservation in Ireland
• Bird Conservation priorities in Ireland and Forestry
• Ireland’s SPA network
• Hen Harrier – its status as a breeding bird in Ireland
• The Hen Harrier within and without the SPA Network – management
challenges and opportunities
The Birds Directive – framing bird conservation
in Ireland
What are the relevant species?
Article 1 of Directive 2009/147/EC (the Birds Directive) relates to the
conservation of
“..all species of naturally occurring birds in the wild state”
The Birds Directive – framing bird conservation
in Ireland
What has to be done?
Article 2:
• “Member States shall take the requisite measures to maintain the
population… at a level which corresponds … to ecological, scientific
and cultural requirements..”
Article 3:
• “Member States shall take the requisite measures to preserve
maintain or re-establish a sufficient diversity and area of habitats for
… birds”
The Birds Directive – framing bird conservation
in Ireland
What has to be done?
Article 4:
4.1:
“The species mentioned in Annex I shall be the subject of
special conservation measures… Member States shall classify
special protection areas for the conservation of these species…”
4.2:
“Member States shall take similar measures for regularly
occurring migratory species not listed in Annex I...”
4.4 first sentence (with regard to areas classified as SPAs):
“Member States shall take appropriate steps to avoid pollution
or deterioration of habitats or any disturbances affecting the birds, in
so far as these would be significant”
4.4 second sentence: “Outside these protection areas, Member
States shall also strive to avoid pollution or deterioration of habitats”
Bird Conservation Priorities in Ireland and
Forestry
Which species need priority conservation/protection, how much and
when?
Irish forest cover is approximately 700,000ha or 10% of Ireland’s land
area
• Could further afforestation potentially improve the conservation
status of some species?
• Could further afforestation potentially damage the conservation
status of some species?
Bird Conservation priorities in Ireland and
Forestry
Which species need priority conservation/protection, how much and
when?
BirdWatch Ireland and the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds in
Northern Ireland complied a list known as the Birds of Conservation
Concern in Ireland (BoCCI)
Species are listed as either Red, Amber or Green depending on various
factors including:
• rate of population change (decline)
• rate of range change (decline)
• absolute population size
• How localised a population is
Red List
Amber List
Black-necked Grebe
Red-throated Diver
Gadwall
Woodcock
Puffin
Sooty Shearwater
Black-throated Diver
Teal
Black-tailed Godwit
Stock Dove
Bewick's Swan
Great Northern Diver
Garganey
Bar-tailed Godwit
Turtle Dove
Pintail
Little Grebe
Pochard
Greenshank
Swift
Shoveler
Great Crested Grebe
Tufted Duck
Common Sandpiper
Kingfisher
Common Scoter
Manx Shearwater
Scaup
Great Skua
Skylark
Red Grouse
Storm Petrel
Eider
Mediterranean Gull
Sand Martin
Grey Partridge
Leach's Petrel
Goldeneye
Little Gull
Swallow
Quail
Gannet
Goosander
Common Gull
House Martin
Corncrake
Cormorant
Hen Harrier
Lesser Black-backed Gull
Redstart
Lapwing
Shag
Kestrel
Great Black-backed Gull
Whinchat
Knot
Little Egret
Merlin
Kittiwake
Wheatear
Curlew
Mute Swan
Water Rail
Sandwich Tern
Grasshopper Warbler
Redshank
Whooper Swan
Coot
Roseate Tern
Reed Warbler
Red-necked Phalarope
Greenland White-fronted Goose
Oystercatcher
Common Tern
Lesser Whitethroat
Herring Gull
Greylag Goose
Ringed Plover
Arctic Tern
Spotted Flycatcher
Barn Owl
Barnacle Goose
Golden Plover
Little Tern
Chough
Ring Ouzel
Light-bellied Brent Goose
Grey Plover
Guillemot
Starling
Twite
Shelduck
Dunlin
Razorbill
House Sparrow
Yellowhammer
Wigeon
Snipe
Black Guillemot
Tree Sparrow
Linnet
Bird Conservation priorities in Ireland and
Forestry
Which species need priority conservation/protection, how much and
when?
A study by UCC (Sweeney et al 2011 Irish Birds Vol 9 pp181—196)
recorded a total of 39 bird species across 76 forests.
• Many of these species considered to be forest generalists (Blue Tit,
Great Tit, Goldcrest etc) and only two conifer specialists were
recorded (Siskin, Crossbill)
• Five species listed amber on the BoCCI list were recorded in this
study
–
–
–
–
–
Grasshopper Warbler
Linnet
Spotted Flycatcher
Stockdove
Woodcock
Bird Conservation priorities in Ireland and
Forestry
Which species need priority conservation/protection, how much and
when?
A study by UCC (Sweeney et al 2011 Irish Birds Vol 9 pp181—196)
recorded a total of 39 bird species across 76 forests.
• There are other species of birds occurring in Ireland that has varying
degrees of association with forestry (for nesting and/or feeding)
including
– Hen Harrier
– Merlin
– Long-eared Owl
Although not recoded in this study Great Spotted Woodpecker is now
regularly breeding in Ireland and its range is expanding – one of
Ireland’s few forest specialists
Red List
Amber List
Black-necked Grebe
Red-throated Diver
Gadwall
Woodcock
Puffin
Sooty Shearwater
Black-throated Diver
Teal
Black-tailed Godwit
Stock Dove
Great Northern Diver
…
Bar-tailed Godwit
Turtle Dove
Little Grebe
..
Greenshank
Swift
Great Crested Grebe
Tufted Duck
Common Sandpiper
Kingfisher
Common Scoter
Manx Shearwater
Scaup
…
Skylark
Red Grouse
Storm Petrel
Eider
Mediterranean Gull
Sand Martin
Grey Partridge
Leach's Petrel
G..
Little Gull
Swallow
Quail
Gannet
Goosander
Common Gull
House Martin
Corncrake
Cormorant
Hen Harrier
Lesser Black-backed Gull
Redstart
Lapwing
Shag
Kestrel
Great Black-backed Gull
Whinchat
Knot
Little Egret
Merlin
Kittiwake
Wheatear
Curlew
Mute Swan
Water Rail
Sandwich Tern
Grasshopper Warbler
Redshank
Whooper Swan
Coot
Roseate Tern
Reed Warbler
Red-necked Phalarope
Greenland White-fronted Goose
Oystercatcher
Common Tern
Lesser Whitethroat
Herring Gull
Greylag Goose
Ringed Plover
Arctic Tern
Spotted Flycatcher
Barn Owl
Barnacle Goose
Golden Plover
Little Tern
Chough
Ring Ouzel
Light-bellied Brent Goose
Grey Plover
Guillemot
Starling
…
…
Dunlin
Razorbill
House Sparrow
Yellowhammer
Wigeon
Snipe
Black Guillemot
Tree Sparrow
Pintail
Linnet
Bird Conservation priorities in Ireland and
Forestry
Which species need priority conservation/protection, how much and
when?
Some species on the BoCCI list by virtue of their ecology, habitat use,
range etc have varying degrees of overlap with areas that could be
targeted for afforestation
Low potential overlap: seabirds and non-breeding waterbirds that
frequent coastal areas and large inland wetland sites;
Medium potential overlap: Farmland birds (e.g. Yellowhammer);
herbivorous waterfowl (e.g. Whooper Swan, Greenland Whitefronted Goose); Chough; and
High potential overlap: Upland breeding waders (e.g. Golden Plover)
Lowland wet grassland breeding waders (Redshnak, Snipe) Curlew,
Meadow Pipit, Skylark, Red Grouse – Many of these have
undergone significant reductions in numbers and range
Red List
Amber List
.
Red-throated Diver
.
Woodcock
.
.
.
Teal
.
Stock Dove
Bewick's Swan
.
.
.
Turtle Dove
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Skylark
Red Grouse
.
.
.
.
Grey Partridge
.
.
.
.
Quail
.
.
.
.
Corncrake
.
Hen Harrier
.
Redstart
Lapwing
.
Kestrel
.
Whinchat
.
.
Merlin
.
Wheatear
Curlew
.
.
.
Grasshopper Warbler
Redshank
Whooper Swan
.
.
.
Red-necked Phalarope
Greenland White-fronted Goose
.
.
Lesser Whitethroat
.
Greylag Goose
.
.
Spotted Flycatcher
Barn Owl
Barnacle Goose
Golden Plover
.
Chough
Ring Ouzel
Light-bellied Brent Goose
.
.
Starling
Twite
.
Dunlin
.
House Sparrow
Yellowhammer
Wigeon
Snipe
.
Tree Sparrow
Linnet
Bird Conservation priorities in Ireland and
Forestry
Which species need priority conservation/protection, how much and
when?
Irish forest cover is approximately 70,000 or 10% of Ireland’s land area
• Could further afforestation potentially improve the conservation
status of some species?
» Possibly, however the majority of birds that would benefit have a secure
status already; from a bird conservation perspective it is better to focus on
how to improve the habitat within the current forest estate for certain species
and to target areas of low bird conservation value for afforesation
• Could further afforestation potentially damage the conservation
status of some species?
» Yes open habitat species that already have an unfavourable conservation
status species like Red Grouse, Curlew, Golden Plover – could be
significantly impacted directly from habitat loss but also the quality of habitat
adjacent to afforested areas could be potentially reduced (displacing
individuals and/or increasing rates of predation)
Ireland’s SPA Network
How extensive?
There are 164 SPAs in total
Approximately 575,000 ha of Ireland’s land and marine territory
Ireland’s SPA Network
What SPAs are designated for what species?
Ireland’s SPA Network
Consequences
Birds Directive Article 4.4 first sentence: “Member States shall take
appropriate steps to avoid pollution or deterioration of habitats or
any disturbances affecting the birds, in so far as these would be
significant”
• Article 6 (3) of the Habitats Directive: “Any plan or project not directly
connected with or necessary to the management of the site but likely
to have a significant effect thereon, either individually or in
combination with other plans or projects, shall be subject to
appropriate assessment”
Ireland’s SPA Network
Consequences
• Case C-127/02 “The Wadenzee case”: “the competent national
authorities, taking account of the conclusions of the appropriate
assessment of the implications of mechanical cockle fishing for the
site concerned in the light of the site's conservation objectives, are
to authorise such an activity only if they have made certain that it will
not adversely affect the integrity of that site, that being the case if
there remains no reasonable scientific doubt as to the absence of
such effects”
Hen Harrier – its status as a breeding bird in
Ireland
Population estimates
Breeding
status
2010
2005
1998-2000
% change
2005 2010
Confirmed
128
132
102
-3.1%
Possible
44
21
27
109.5%
Overall
128 - 172
132 - 153
102 - 129
-
Hen Harrier – its status as a breeding bird in
Ireland
Range
• 69 10kms in 2010 compared to 65 10kms in 2005
Hen Harrier – its status as a breeding bird in
Ireland
SPA Name
2005
2010
Confirmed
Possible
Confirmed
Possible
Total
change
% change
45
18
11
29
-16
-35.6
5
2
1
3
-2
-40.0
Stack's to Mullaghareirk
mountains, West Limerick
Hills and Mount Eagle
40
Mullaghanish to Musheramore
Mountains
5
Slievefelim to Silvermines
Mountains
4
1
5
6
1
7
2
40.0
Slieve Bloom Mountains
5
3
8
9
0
9
1
12.5
Slieve Aughty Mountains
24
3
27
15
8
23
-4
-14.8
4
5
1
6
2
50.0
Slieve Beagh
4
5
Total
Change
The Hen Harrier within and without the SPA
Network – management challenges and
opportunities
How Harriers use the forest landscape
• The Hen Harrier SPA network (6 sites) covers approximately
168,000 ha
• Using data from around 2000 – 2005
– 23% rough grassland (39,600 ha)
– 28% heath bog (47,760 ha)
– 48% forestry (80,950ha).
The Hen Harrier within and without the SPA
Network – management challenges and
opportunities
How Harriers use the forest landscape
2005 nest site selection
The Hen Harrier within and without the SPA
Network – management challenges and
opportunities
How Harriers use the forest landscape
• HH appear to have adapted to the afforestation of many of their
upland areas
• It seems that Hen Harriers do not avoid breeding in heavily
afforested landscapes.
• Pre-thicket second rotation habitat is often selected as nest sites.
• Hen Harriers also use rough grassland and heath bog
• The 2006 protocol agreement on managing the interaction of HH
populations and forestry development was based on data of habitat
selection of adult pairs of Hen Harriers and their nest sites as a
proxy for the requirements of the Hen Harrier Population.
The Hen Harrier within and without the SPA
Network – management challenges and
opportunities
How Harriers use the forest landscape
• However recent research on breeding success by Hen Harriers
using second rotation area as nesting habitat has indicated a
negative association
• Estimates of breeding success by Irish Hen Harriers are often low
The Hen Harrier within and without the SPA
Network – management challenges and
opportunities
Forestry cannot be managed in isolation
• Agricultural intensification
• Land abandonment
• Wind farm development
• Other pressures and threats
The Hen Harrier within and without the SPA
Network – management challenges and
opportunities
Forestry cannot be managed in isolation
There are weaknesses with the afforestation protocol
• there has been a notable decline of nesting Hen Harrier in some of
the SPAs;
• further data on breeding parameters are a cause for concern
especially in light of the recent decline as well as the negative
association with second rotation;
• the equation that underpinned the protocol calculations assumed
that the rough grassland resource was stable;
• there may be increased negative pressure on the heath bog
resource with in the Hen Harrier network; and
• the demography and spatial arrangement of the forests within the
SPAs may not be conducive to the promotion of stable Hen Harrier
populations.
The Hen Harrier within and without
the SPA Network – management
challenges and opportunities
Forestry cannot be managed in isolation
Under regulation 39 of European Communities (Birds and
Natural Habitats) Regulations 2011 provision is made to
develop and implement an appropriate threat response
plan in order to cease, avoid, reduce or prevent threats,
pressures or hazards that may be having an adverse
effect on the conservation status of a species of bird
referred to in Article 1 of the Birds Directive and/or
causing the deterioration of the habitats of species for
which a European Site has been classified pursuant to
the Birds Directive
A threat response plan for Hen Harrier in Ireland
A tender has been advertised seeking a suitable person/organisation to
• liaise with various stakeholders in order to compile Hen Harrier
related population and habitat data and its analysis to identify gaps
in these datasets and in our understanding of ecological processes
relating to Hen Harrier in Ireland;
• undertake site and wider countryside risk assessments informed by
the identification of the current pressures and threats operating on
the Hen Harrier population in Ireland on a site by site basis and in
other geographical areas identified to be of significant importance;
• through discussion with relevant stakeholders contribute to the
production of sector specific management measures that will feed
into the HHTRP;
• produce site specific conservation objectives for those SPAs where
breeding Hen Harrier is a listed interest;
• contribute to the production of sector specific guidance in relation to
raptor conservation in Ireland;
• Thank you