Cork County Council - with the support of the Heritage Council - has recently embarked upon a project to carry out a survey of the wild habitats of the county.
County Cork hosts a broad diversity of natural and semi-natural habitats, reflecting its geographical position on the southern coast of the country - its geology dominated by sandstone ridges and limestone valley floors and the influence of the people who have settled here. These habitats include coastal habitats, lakes, rivers and other wetlands, grasslands hedgerows and woodlands.
However, the information relating to such habitats is scant and some habitats and wild plant, bird and other animal species are coming under increasing pressure arising from development and other human activity. The need to identify and collect information on local areas of wildlife value has been identified to be a priority area of work in the County Heritage Plan. It is envisaged that the information which will be generated by the mapping project will be used to identify previously unknown areas of wildlife value in the County and to give us an understanding of how these areas are faring in the 21st Century.
This is the first year of the project and habitat survey work is currently underway in the Carrigaline Electoral Area. It is planned to expand the project over the coming years to create a habitat map for the entire County.
"Surveyors will be out and about over the summer months - collecting information along the western shore of Cork Harbour in an area extending from Carrigaline to Ballincollig. They may be seeking permission to access private land for survey purposes and public support and assistance in this regard would be much appreciated" - said Sharon Casey, County Heritage Officer.
"As the pace of change is accelerating, there is greater pressure on our natural heritage -now, more than ever before. There exists a real challenge to find ways to balance the need for change with the desire for protection. By increasing our understanding of the status of our wild plants, animals and spaces, we will better be able to provide for their protection and to plan for change in a sensitive manner which respects the surrounding natural environment" - she added.
For further information on this project, contact - Sharon Casey, Cork County Council - Tel: 021 4818000.
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