An Ecological Survey of the Slieve Beagh/Eshbrack Bog area, County Monaghan

This work has been undertaken under the Heritage Council grant award WLD/2002/8 to the Truagh Development Association.

The principal aims are habitat mapping and ecological characterisation of an area around Slieve Beagh.  This is in response to a local perception that habitat management is required on and around the Slieve Beagh area in order to maintain or restore its wildlife interest, and to promote the sustainable use of the site.  The ecological baseline survey is intended to provide baseline data to support a conservation led management plan.

Approach

The main effort is focused on the production of a ‘Phase 1’ Habitat map of ± 20 km2 of land above 200 m using the Heritage Council’s Habitat classification scheme.  This done by a combination of extensive fieldwork, and the use of available aerial photography.

The Heritage Council’s classification is necessarily of broad habitat categories, so by combining data collected in the field, with that already available in the archives, a more precise account is made of the botany and function of each of the mapped habitat units.

In addition, the phase 1 approach is extended by including a description and assessment of the bird life in the extensive area and which habitats are important in maintaining the bird interest, and notes on the potential value of the site to other animal groups.

Areas of particular natural history interest are described in more detail.

The international border with Northern Ireland crosses Slieve Beagh, but as this survey is Heritage Council funded, it includes only the Co. Monaghan side.

Report Contents

1. INTRODUCTION   
2. APPROACH   
3. THE PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT   
4. GEOMORPHOLOGY   
5. LAND-USE   
6. NATURAL HISTORY OVERVIEW   
7. VEGETATION   
8. BIRDS   
9. OTHER FAUNA   
10. PRESSURES ON THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT. 
11. PEAT EXTRACTION   
12. HEATHER BEETLE   
13. FORESTRY   
14. BURNING   
15. AGRICULTURAL INTENSIFICATION   
16. CLIMATE CHANGE   
17. OTHER ACTIVITIES   
18. PROTECTION OF SLIEVE BEAGH   
19. CONSERVATION MANAGEMENT   
20. OBJECTIVES   
21. MANAGEMENT STRUCTURES   
22. MANAGEMENT TECHNIQUES

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