This article is from page 59 of the 2007-04-03 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 59 JPG
IT WAS a mixed week for the Min- ister for the Environment, Dick Ro- che, as hours after he announced that an agreement has been reached on a management protocol for planting in areas that are important for the hen harrier, it emerged that the Na- tional Association of Regional Game Councils (NARGC) has secured a judicial review against him for the alleged failure of the State to prop- erly transpose EU measures for the conservation of birds.
Under the EU Birds Directive Ire- land must designate areas important for particular types of birds as Spe- cial Protection Areas (SAPS). The
National Parks and Wildlife Serv- ice (NPWS), had been considering a number of areas as possible Hen Harrier Special Protection Areas.
Last weeks agreement sees 6 ar- eas being granted Special Protec- tion Areas status including parts of Clare and Galway around the Slieve Aughty Mountains. There is a rela- tively large population of hen har- riers in the Slieve Aughties, with a smaller population located in parts of West Clare.
‘The agreement reached within the Working Group represents a balance between good and sensible environ- mental practice and legitimate desire for sustainable development in these areas,’ said Minister Roche.
“I fully expect that the EU Com- mission will recognize and value the consultative approach that has taken place here and the commit- ment shown by the Forest sector to the conservation requirements for hen harrier.”
Clare General Election candidate, Tony Kileen (FF), also welcomed the decision. “The Slieve Aughty Moun- tains, a common hunting ground for endangered hen harriers, will shortly become one of six areas across Ire- land to be designated as a SPA.”
“The protection of the species has always been a matter of concern for environmentalists and the National Parks and Wildlife Service due to the high level of forestry activity in
the area. However, the introduction of an annual quota of new planting will ensure greater protection for the native hen harriers while allowing for the sustained development of the region.”
Meanwhile, the National Asso- ciation of Regional Game Councils (NARGC) secured a judicial review against Minister Roche last week for the alleged failure of the State to properly transpose EU measures for the conservation of birds.
They claim the High Court action has been brought to stop the licensed hunting of the red grouse and several other protected wild bird species out- side of the game hunting season and during their reproductive cycles.