FAQ · Environment & Climate 29

A Natural Heritage Area is a conservation designation used to denote a protected area in Ireland. These areas are part of a national network established under the Wildlife (Amendment) Act 2000. The National Parks and Wildlife Service currently uses this designation to protect wildlife habitats like raised bogs. It is also intended to protect geosites of geological and geomorphological interest. The Geological Survey of Ireland provides scientific appraisal for these sites while the NPWS handles management.

Fota Wildlife Park is home to nearly 30 mammal and 50 bird species. Some animals, such as wallabies and ring-tailed lemurs, roam freely with the visitors. You can also see larger animals like bison and giraffes living in paddocks with unobtrusive barriers. The park features other animals including tapirs, red pandas, and siamang gibbons. It serves as one of the leading wildlife and conservation attractions in Ireland.

Ireland is part of the Atlantic European Province of the Circumboreal Region. The country has a small flora for a European nation due to its size, lack of ecological variation, and its Pleistocene history. There are 3,815 listed plant species, including 2,196 species of flowering plants and 556 species of mosses. Additionally, 2,512 species of fungus occur in Ireland. Most flora returned as ice sheets retreated and the climate began to warm 10,000 years ago.

The Mesolithic Irish relied on a unique variety of food sources due to the island's specific geography. Key dietary staples included marine and floral sources of food. They gathered various items such as fungi, roots, leaves, stems, flowers, nuts, seeds, berries, and fruits. Boar was also a known source of food for these populations. Large predators like the wolf, brown bear, and lynx were generally avoided as food sources.

Ireland is one of the least forested countries in Europe, with only about 10% of the land covered by woodland. This is significantly lower than the average woodland cover in European countries, which is over 33%. The extensive clearing of woodland for farming and the growth of blanket bog are believed to be the main causes of deforestation. While native species like oak and ash once existed, most current woodland consists of non-native conifer plantations. Only about 2% of the country's woodland is considered native woodland.

The Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Act 2021 establishes a legally binding path toward net zero emissions by 2050. This plan aims for a 51% reduction in emissions by 2030 through five-year carbon budgets. However, the Climate Change Advisory Council announced that Ireland would not meet upcoming carbon budget targets in 2023. Various groups have criticized the government's approach, including concerns over how emissions are calculated and measured. There have also been legal challenges alleging that national climate plans are inadequate or incompatible with established targets.

As of a 2020 report, solar energy contributed only 1% of renewable energy in the country. While solar is a cheap form of electricity, it may not provide electricity on tap if demand does not match availability. There is a large-scale venture near Ashford, County Wicklow, which has been in production since April 2022. ESB Networks suggests that the country will be producing 1 GW by the end of 2023. This production includes both micro-generation customers and utility-scale installations.

In 2006, EU projections showed that Ireland was far from meeting its obligations under the Kyoto Protocol. At that time, emissions were 8.5% higher than necessary to stay on track with targets. To address this, the government announced plans to achieve these obligations through the use of carbon credits. The Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act implements this approach. The government has used the revenues from these carbon credits to cover administrative costs.

Waste collection practices vary by county, but most services require waste to be sorted into different categories at the household level. Black bins are used for non-recyclable waste, while green bins are used for glass and packaging waste like paper, cardboard, cans, and plastic bottles. It is illegal to dispose of recyclable items in a black bin. Green bins are typically collected every two weeks. Most householders must pay a fee each time their black bin is collected, and charges are highest for waste going to landfill sites.

The Tramore Eco Group has worked with the local council to create specially designed plastic bottle recycling bins on the Promenade. These bins aim to encourage the public to separate recyclable plastic from general waste. Additionally, the group has partnered with Refill Ireland to develop a plastic bottle water refilling initiative. This project involves 100 local businesses that have committed to providing free water bottle refills to the general public. These efforts are part of an aspiration to make Tramore the first Green seaside town in Ireland.

In February 2009, a water pollution incident involving an oil spill was identified off the southern coast of Ireland. The spill was first detected by the European Maritime Safety Agency's CleanSeaNet satellite monitoring system. An Irish Air Corps marine patrol aircraft later confirmed the presence of oil on the sea surface near the Admiral Kuznetsov and a Russian supply tanker. The spill was located in international waters approximately 80 km south of Fastnet Rock. While there were fears the oil might wash up on the coast of south eastern Ireland or Wales, the spill broke up before this could happen.

The soil types in Ireland vary significantly depending on the region. In the north and west, the soils tend to be poorly drained peats and gleys, which include peaty podzols. In contrast, the south and east feature free-draining brown earths along with brown and grey-brown podzols. An unusual environment exists in the Burren in north Clare, where the karst landscape consists of limestone bedrock with little or no soil in the innermost areas. This specific area is characterized by sinkholes and extensive cave systems.

Seasons can be dictated by the timing of important ecological events such as wildfire season. This concept is similar to how other seasons are defined by events like hurricane or tornado seasons. While many regions follow fixed calendar dates, some seasons are tied to these specific ecological timings. Understanding these patterns can help identify when such events are most likely to occur. This approach differs from traditional seasonal definitions like vernal or autumnal.

Drones play a significant role in responding to earthquakes in locations such as Haiti and Taiwan. They are used to transport critical healthcare supplies including blood, vaccines, and first aid equipment. These devices can navigate remote or inaccessible areas with a more rapid response time than ambulances. This capability is vital because time is crucial when victims require prompt medical treatment. Such technology has been credited with saving lives during various natural disasters.

An increase in water shortages is expected due to periods of drought. These periods may also lead to a decrease in water quality. The Irish Health Service Executive has identified adverse health issues relating to climate change. These include an increased risk of skin cancers, respiratory diseases, and waterborne or foodborne diseases. Such changes are linked to the broader effects of climate change in the country.

Snowstorms in Northern Ireland can be extremely severe and result in heavy snow accumulations of 30 to 60 cm. During intense weather events, the Met Office may issue emergency and extreme-weather warnings for severe blizzards, very heavy snow, and heavy rain. Such storms can bring gale-force winds and severe drifting that cause significant disruption. These conditions have previously led to power outages for over 70,000 homes and left thousands of cars stranded on roads. In some instances, snowdrifts as high as 5 feet have been reported in the region.

Sea Scouting was officially recognised in 1910 and the first troops in Ireland were registered in 1912 in Bray and Ringsend. These early groups often developed alongside HM Coastguard Stations in Dublin. The annual Sea Scout Regatta began in 1914 with the first inter-Troop rowing race for the Wood-Latimer Cup. This event is one of the oldest Scouting events in the world and continues to this day. Another prestigious event is the annual Seamanship Competition for the Fry Cup which started in 1918.

The biodiversity of Ireland is one of the most well-studied geographical areas of its size in the world. Much of this work involves the publication of distribution atlases for many different taxonomic groups. These atlases are produced by the Biological Records Centre using data gathered by volunteer biological recorders. Some publications are Main Atlases that present the current state of knowledge for well-recorded groups. Other publications are Provisional Atlases that show survey progress and early results. These maps typically use symbols to show whether species records are recent or from older time periods.

Yes, there are several invasive species mentioned in the Tollymore area. The invasive Rhododendron ponticum was removed from 50 hectares of forests in the Mourne area, including Tollymore, in 2012. This project aimed to improve woodland quality and prevent the spread of Phytophthora ramorum. Additionally, the invasive Acaena species is now illegal to plant in the wild in Northern Ireland. Another invasive plant present is Acaena novae-zelandiae, which is native to Australia and New Zealand.

Hunting is permitted in Ireland to control the overpopulation of certain animals. This practice is necessary because wild deer lack natural predators in the country. Hunting helps to limit the habitat damage caused by these animals. According to the National Parks and Wildlife Service, a record 78,175 wild deer were killed by hunters during the year ending on 28 February 2023. Most of these instances occurred in counties such as Wicklow, Cork, Waterford, Tipperary, Kerry, Galway and Clare.

The boundaries for internal waters, territorial sea, and British Fishing Limits adjacent to Northern Ireland are defined by a statutory instrument. These territorial waters fall under the jurisdiction of Northern Ireland law. They are also used to define the area of operation for the Northern Ireland Executive and its agencies. Waters defined as not being Northern Ireland waters come under the jurisdiction of either Scottish or English law. This order is considered a piece of constitutional law within the United Kingdom.

The Irish Peatland Conservation Council manages various conservation efforts and publications regarding Ireland's peatlands. They produce regular updates such as the Peatland News newsletter and the Action for Bogs bulletin. The organization also provides educational material, strategy papers, and policy work through their website. Their history includes the Save the Bogs campaign which has been documented over many years. They continue to develop action plans to address peatland biodiversity and climate change.

The Environmental Protection Agency is responsible for protecting and improving the environment as a valuable asset for the people of Ireland. It operates independently under the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment. The agency includes several offices, such as the Office of Environmental Enforcement which implements legislation. The Office of Environmental Sustainability advocates for protection to meet Ireland's environmental commitments. Additionally, the Office of Evidence and Assessment provides necessary environmental data and information. The Office of Radiation Protection and Environmental Monitoring works to protect the public from harmful ionizing radiation.

The Peace Park is a pocket park located in the Liberties area of Dublin. It is situated on the corner of Nicholas Street and Christchurch Place, directly across from Christchurch Cathedral. Originally designed as a sunken garden, the space was intended to provide a quiet area away from the noise of the busy junction. The park sits on the former site of the old Tholsel, which was a significant building used for civic and judicial functions. It was officially dedicated in 1988 to represent the aspiration for peace in the Republic of Ireland.

The limestone found in places like The Burren was created during the Carboniferous Period. At that time, a tropical sea flooded the southern part of the country. This flooding led to a buildup of coral that eventually formed the limestone. As the sea became shallower, other rocks like sandstone and shale were deposited over it. This process effectively covered the limestone layer once again.

The impact of glaciers played a significant role in shaping the landscape seen in Ireland today. As a result of the last ice age, newer geological formations such as drumlins and glacial valleys were created. The effect of ice, along with tectonics, also caused the sea level to rise and fall. These glacial processes contributed to the diverse geological history of the country. Consequently, the current landscape reflects the lasting influence of these glacial periods.

The wetlands and soggy lowlands of Ireland were formed by glacial debris. This debris piled up at the edge of an ice sheet to create ridges that blocked river outflow. As a result, lakes backed up and eventually infilled into wetland and then peat bog. This process occurred after a single ice sheet covered Ireland and Great Britain. These landscapes have preserved various historical elements, such as Neolithic field systems.

The Irish Environmental Protection Agency is responsible for environmental protection and monitors recycling rates. They work alongside Repak, which is the principal organisation for packaging recycling in the country. Each local council in Ireland maintains considerable control over recycling processes. Because of this local control, recycling practices can vary to some extent across the country. Most waste that is not recycled is eventually disposed of in landfill sites.

Ireland was the first country in the world to introduce a plastic bag levy in 2002. This measure required all consumers to pay a fee for plastic bags, which led to an immediate decrease of over 90% in the amount of bags in circulation. The levy encouraged retailers to switch to paper bags and prompted consumers to bring their own bags when shopping. To address rising usage, the levy was increased in July 2006. These efforts helped reduce the percentage of plastic bags found in litter significantly.