NPWS LIFE Claire Cooper LIFE Information Day 2020

NPWS LIFE
Claire Cooper
LIFE Information Day 2020

Thanks for the invitation
Outline:
→ NPWS and LIFE Nature
→ Overview of our new LIFE Nature
  traditional project –‘LIFE Atlantic Crex’
→ Bid preparation – some tips
→ Procedure for contacting NPWS
    re your LIFE proposal

NPWS – Science and Biodiversity Unit
Department of Culture, Heritage & the Gaeltacht
Responsible for the protection and conservation of Ireland’s
natural heritage and biodiversity at national government level
Sci & Bio Unit:
Deliver scientific input to the implementation of the EU
Directives, particularly Habitats and Birds Directives
Conduct scientific monitoring and reporting
Oversee the implementation of the National Biodiversity Plan

NPWS LIFE Past

LIFE Irish Raised Bogs - LIFE14 NAT/IE/000032 “Restoring Active Raised
Bog in Ireland's SAC Network 2016 – 2020”

KerryLIFE - LIFE13 NAT/IE/000144, "Sustainable land use management for the
conservation of the freshwater pearl mussel"

 Aran LIFE - LIFE12 NAT/IE/000995, "The sustainable management of the priority
terrestrial Habitats Directive Annex 1 habitats of the Aran Islands."

LIFE09 NAT/IE/000222 “Demonstrating best practice in
raised bog restoration in Ireland’

LIFE Atlantic Crex

Official title:
‘Improving Corncrake conservation status in Ireland
by the enhancement of the SPA network and
surrounding farmland’

Total Budget:                         €5.9m
EU funding:                           €4.3m
Duration:                             5 years

5 An Roinn Cultúir, Oidhreachta agus Gaeltachta | Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht

Project Objectives
      - Secure landowner cooperation and local community
        involvement and support;

      - Improve targeting and delivery of effective conservation
        measures, underpinned by science;

      - Improve management regimes for Corncrake in project sites;

      - Creation of Early and Late Cover (ELC);

      - Improve knowledge exchange with farmers and planners in
        project sites;

      - Promote the Corncrake as an asset for local areas and
      communities
6 An Roinn Cultúir, Oidhreachta agus Gaeltachta | Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht

Associated Beneficiaries

7 An Roinn Cultúir, Oidhreachta agus Gaeltachta | Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht

Project Sites

8 project sites – 9 SPAs:

1. Malin Head Catchment, incl. SPA IE0004146
2. Fanad Head Catchment, incl. SPA IE0004148
3. Marblehill to Meenlaragh Catchment incl. SPA
   IE0004149
4. Inishbofin & Inishdooey Catchment incl. SPA
   IE0004083
5. Tory Island Catchment incl. SPA IE0004073
6. West Donegal Catchment incl. SPA IE0004230
7. The Mullet Catchment incl. SPA IE0004227,
   IE0004093
8. Inishbofin, Omey Island and Turbot Island Catchment
   incl. SPA IE0004231

8 An Roinn Cultúir, Oidhreachta agus Gaeltachta | Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht

Examples of Preparatory Actions
• Community engagement in relation to concrete conservation actions
• Land ownership investigation
• Development of:
              •      Knowledge Exchange Group for farmers and planners
              •      Scoring cards to assess Corncrake habitat quality
              •      Research programs
              •      Protection, rescue and research initiatives for Corncrake
              •      Interactive app for practitioners and the public

9 An Roinn Cultúir, Oidhreachta agus Gaeltachta | Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht

Concrete Actions
   •  Re-establishment of traditional farming management and practices
   •  Early and Late Cover creation/enhancement
   •  Predator control
   •  Pilot implementation of habitat scoring cards
   •  Pilot implementation of knowledge exchange groups
   •  Implementation of protection, rescue and
      research initiatives for Corncrake
    • Using scientific support to inform decision
      making – trial ELC mix
    • Thermal Imaging trials to locate Corncrake
    • Piloting of an interactive app by various
      stakeholders and practitioners

10 An Roinn Cultúir, Oidhreachta agus Gaeltachta | Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht

11 An Roinn Cultúir, Oidhreachta agus Gaeltachta | Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht

Project Goals & After LIFE
• 20% increase (on 2018 survey) in calling males across the project sites by 2024 = 154
     calling males
• Continued monitoring and managing of purchased lands for Corncrake
• Interactive App in use by landowners & public
• ELC reseeding/sowing carried out as required following trials
• Predator control managed annually in core breeding areas
• Notice boards maintained/replaced as needed
• Outputs from the PhD and MSc shared with relevant stakeholders
• Schools programme to continue in core areas

12 An Roinn Cultúir, Oidhreachta agus Gaeltachta | Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht

Bid preparation – some tips
Make sure your bid describes the background situation, with a few quantified
baseline indicators

Describe some key actions (not a long list!) and reference their impact on the
baseline indicators

Have your bid reviewed (if possible!) by peers and also by someone who is not
familiar with the project, to make sure that your bid ‘tells a story’

Refer back to the guidelines, section by section and scoring regime when
reviewing your bid

NPWS LIFE Clearing House
Assistance often requested with limited timeframe → NPWS LIFE Clearing House

For LIFE Applications where National Parks and Wildlife Service input is required or
requested:
       Associated Beneficiary: 6 months

      Co-financier: 6 months

      Competent authority: 3 months – significantly developed application only

      Advisory: 3 months

NPWS LIFE Clearing House
    Email: LIFE@chg.gov.ie

       GOOD LUCK!