COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF LUCAN AREA COMMITTEE

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

MOTION NO. 22

MOTION: Councillor E. Tuffy

That this Committee welcomes the recent guided walks initiative in Waterstown Park, Palmerstown and requests the Manager to produce an information leaflet on Bio-diversity in Waterstown Park, which I understand is amongst the highest in the Council's Parks?

REPORT:

Waterstown Park has been nominated to host a Bio Blitz in 2011.  The aim of the event is to gather as many field experts and volunteers as possible and over a 24hr period undertake a survey of Waterstown Park to identify as many plant and animal species as possible.  The event is scheduled to commence at 17.00 hrs on 20th May and finish at 17.00 hrs on 21st May.

The National Biodiversity Data Centre (NBDC) in Waterford is coordinating the event and local centres will be established around the country.  Waterstown Park is one of the survey locations and a survey office will be established in the vicinity of the park where field experts can gather and input survey data onto the computer for feeding into the central database.  The information can be added to the previous study of the park and help to build up a better picture of the wildlife in the park.

There are no current proposals to produce a bio-diversity leaflet, however following the Bio Blitz event it is hoped to include bio diversity information on Waterstown Park on the Council's website.  Signage, with information on the biodiversity of the area, has recently been erected at a number of locations in the park.  This explains the importance of the area and includes images of important species.