Local authorities provide information and advice to the public about protecting habitats, planting wildlife meadows, developing and preserving ecosystems, and removing invasive species to protect local biodiversity.
General information on biodiversity
Biodiversity is the word used to describe all living things on earth – plants, animals, humans and habitats and the links and relationships between them. Biodiversity is vital to life on earth. The variety of life provides us with food, clothes, medicines, places to live as well as contributing to our quality of life through recreation and tourism.
Habitats and designations
Habitats
A habitat is simply a place where something lives, whether it is animals, plants or people. Among our most important habitats are the raised bogs, wetland and hedgerows of the County. Habitats have been recorded for large areas of Laois as part of a Heritage Council-funded Habitats Survey programme.
Some of the most important habitats for wildlife are protected through legal designation. The majority of these sites are privately owned, and designation means that the landowners have special responsibility, in collaboration with the National Parks and Wildlife Service, to protect the wildlife and habitats on these sites. These sites are listed in the County Development Plan and their wildlife importance must be taken into account in any development proposals. In addition, special incentives through schemes such as the GLAS Scheme are made available to farmers with designated sites.
The main types of biodiversity designation are:
- Natural Heritage Areas (NHAs) nationally important sites protected by the Irish Government through the Wildlife Act.
- Special Areas for Conservation (SACs) are sites of international importance for their habitats (for example blanket bog) or particular species (for example Salmon) and to which the European Union has asked Ireland to give special protection.
- Special Protection Areas (SPAs), are sites of international importance for birds. Part of the Slieve Bloom mountains and part of the River Nore are Special Protection Areas for birds.
Other designations include National Nature Reserves and Ramsar sites.
The National Parks and Wildlife Service has full details on all protected sites in Ireland.
Nestbox guides
As wildlife lovers we are always keen to do what we can for the birds and other wildlife in our gardens, school grounds and on our farms. We can all help in various ways, perhaps by feeding birds in our gardens each winter or providing safe and suitable nest boxes for them to raise young.
Below you will find three downloadable guides produced by BirdWatch Ireland in association with the Local Authority Heritage Officer Network that provide nest box templates and measurements for some of our favourite garden birds as well as for the amazing Barn Owl and roosting bats. Each guide features installation tips to help you correctly position each box to provide safe nesting opportunities for target species and increase the chances of uptake.
Garden bird nestbox plans
This guide provides a template and measurements for you to create a range of nestboxes for a number of common garden bird species including, Robins, Blue/Great Tits, Starlings and Spotted Flycatcher.
- Outdoor Barn Owl Nestbox Plan: This guide provides a template and measurements for you to create a Barn Owl nestbox suitable for installation outdoors.
- Bat Roost Box Plan: This guide provides a template and measurements for you to create a bat roost box to safely accommodate roosting bats in your garden.
Pollinators
One third of our bee species are threatened with extinction from Ireland. This is because we have drastically reduced the amount of food (flowers) and safe nesting sites in our landscapes. The All-Ireland Pollinator Plan is about all of us, from farmers to local authorities, to schools, gardeners and businesses, coming together to try to create an Ireland where pollinators can survive and thrive.
For more information and resource visit Pollinators
Species
In addition to special sites for wildlife, a number of wildlife species also have special legal protection. In fact, under the EU Birds and Habitats Directives and the Wildlife (Amendment) Act 2000, many species of wild animals and plants are protected, including most of our birds and all species of bats.
For more information and resource on pollinators visit Biodiversity Ireland
Swift conservation
Swifts are an iconic summer visitor to Ireland, arriving in early May following a long migration from southern Africa. Slightly larger than a swallow they are a ‘site faithful’ bird, returning generation after generation to buildings in towns and villages throughout Ireland to nest and raise young. Like many of our wild species however, Swifts are increasingly threatened through loss of nest sites and have suffered an alarming 40% population decline in the past decade. Problems arise when buildings are renovated or torn down removing the Swifts nest sites and sometimes huge nesting colonies can be lost overnight.
The Heritage Office of Laois County Council has been working closely with BirdWatch Ireland on a programme of conservation action for swifts.
Laois Swift Survey 2018: A survey of swifts across urban areas in Laois was carried out in 2018 by BirdWatch Ireland an behalf of Laois Heritage Office with the support of the Heritage Council. This survey found 249 swifts in the survey area and 149 nest sites. These results provide a baseline from which we can measure future population change, and will also help to target future conservation action. Download a copy of the full report below.
Swift Nest Boxes: Following the results of the Swift survey, and with funding for the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage under the National Biodiversity Action Plan, the Heritage Office worked with BirdWatch Irelandto select suitable sites and erect swift nest boxes with callers at 10 locations across Laois. These boxes will be monitored and every opportunity will be taken to erect nest boxes for swifts at other sites in Laois.
This booklet was created to help communities save their swifts and was launched by BirdWatch Ireland and local authority Heritage Officers.
Wildlife in buildings
People live in buildings, and wildlife lives in “nature” – right? Well, not quite. For as long as we have built structures for our protection and shelter, wildlife has taken advantage of these buildings for the very same reasons.
From the diverse range of birds and mammals which have colonised abandoned ruins in remote rural landscapes, to wildlife which has moved into suburban and urban areas to live alongside us and even share our homes, buildings have become an integral component of the Irish landscape for biodiversity.
The video below highlights the importance of the built environment for wildlife and celebrates the species which have adapted to live alongside us and share our homes, and the measures that we can take to ensure we make space for nature.
Built environment for wildlife video
The video was produced by BirdWatch Ireland and Crow Crag productions in partnership with Laois, Clare and Tipperary County Councils, supported by the Local Biodiversity Action Fund.
The companion booklet ‘Wildlife in Buildings: linking our built and natural heritage’ was produced by BirdWatch Ireland, Kerry County Council and Donegal County Council, with funding from the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage through the National Biodiversity Action Plan Fund.
Download our guide on Wildlife in Buildings.
Invasive Species
For more information visit Information and Resources on Invasive Species in Ireland
Further information
For further information and advice in Laois contact Thomas Carolan, Heritage Officer at tcarolan@laoiscoco.ie or phone 057 866 4129.
For additional Information, resources, and publications visit: