da94f888-0a90-46c0-bfd5-de9b8d86e995 dataset Ali Robinson Compass Informatics GIS & Data Analyst 01 2000086 Compass Informatics Block 8 Blackrock Business Park Carysfort Avenue Blackrock ie arobinson@compass.ie 2010-11-18T15:11:55 Based on ISO 19115:2005/19139:2007 INSPIRE Directive 2007/2/EC Metadata Implementing Rules 1.2 INSPIRE Metadata Implementing Rules 232 TM65_Irish_Grid Natural Heritage Areas NPWS NHA 2010-10-05 Heritage Council Coastal Heritage Beatrice Kelly Heritage Council Head of Policy and Research 056 7770777 áras na hOidhreachta Church lane Kilkenny Kilkenny ie mail@heritagecouncil.ie Beatrice Kelly Heritage Council Head of Policy and Research 056 7770777 áras na hOidhreachta Church lane Kilkenny Kilkenny ie mail@heritagecouncil.ie Robert Ovington National Parks & Wildlife Service GIS Coordinator +353 1 8883238 NPWS epartment of the Environment, Heritage & Local Government 7 Ely Place Dublin 2 ie robert_ovington@environ.ie Dataset owned and provided by NPWS. Dataset downloaded 17th September 2010. http://www.npws.ie/en/ProtectedSites/NaturalHeritageAreasNHAs/. The basic designation for wildlife is the Natural Heritage Area (NHA). This is an area considered important for the habitats present or which holds species of plants and animals whose habitat needs protection. To date, 75 raised bogs have been given legal protection, covering some 23,000 hectares. These raised bogs are located mainly in the midlands. A further 73 blanket bogs, covering 37,000ha, mostly in western areas are also designated as NHAs. In addition, there are 630 proposed NHAs (pNHAs), which were published on a non-statutory basis in 1995, but have not since been statutorily proposed or designated. These sites are of significance for wildlife and habitats. Some of the pNHAs are tiny, such as a roosting place for rare bats. Others are large - a woodland or a lake, for example. The pNHAs cover approximately 65,000ha and designation will proceed on a phased basis over the coming years. An archive of the Site Synopses for pNHAs can be downloaded here pNHA Site Synopses archive [4.2MB]. This PDF portfolio will require Adobe Reader 8 or higher to view. Please note that these synopses are based in many cases on old survey data and may not accurately reflect the status of the site at the current time. The Geological Survey of Ireland (GSI) is compiling a list of geological/geomorphological sites in need of protection through NHA designation. A committee of expert geologists provides an initial list of sites which then undergo a process of survey, reporting and review, to provide recommendations regarding NHA status or otherwise. The GSI has completed its list of karst (i.e. exposed limestone) and early fossil sites. Prior to statutory designation, pNHAs are subject to limited protection, in the form of: Rural Environment Protection Scheme (REPS) plans which require conservation of pNHAs and operate for a period of 5 years Forest Service requirement for NPWS approval before they will pay afforestation grants on pNHA lands Recognition of the ecological value of pNHAs by Planning and Licencing Authorities. Under the Wildlife Amendment Act (2000) , NHAs are legally protected from damage from the date they are formally proposed for designation. Beatrice Kelly Heritage Council Head of Policy and Research 056 7770777 áras na hOidhreachta Church lane Kilkenny Kilkenny ie mail@heritagecouncil.ie Environmental monitoring facilities GEMET - INSPIRE themes, version 1.0 2008-06-01 Natural Heritage Areas, Heritage Council, Coastal Heritage Natural Heritage Areas 2010-10-06 Seek Permissions Seek Permissions 50000 environment Microsoft Windows XP Version 5.1 (Build 2600) Service Pack 3; ESRI ArcCatalog 9.3.1.3500 -10.217512 -5.987908 51.534424 55.221035 National Parks & Wildlife Service SDE Feature Class 0.066 Server=w08-sde93; Service=5273; Database=HCVector; User=HCVectorAdmin; Version=sde.DEFAULT ArcSDE Connection Live Data and Maps 0.066 Server=w08-sde93; Service=5273; Database=HCVector; User=HCVectorAdmin; Version=sde.DEFAULT ArcSDE Connection Live Data and Maps Dataset provided by NPWS. Dataset downloaded 17 September 2010. For further information contact www.npws.ie.