COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

South Dublin County Council Crest

MEETING OF CLONDALKIN AREA COMMITTEE

Wednesday, October 16, 2019

QUESTION NO. 9

QUESTION: Councillor Peter Kavanagh

"To ask the Chief Executive what is the Council’s position and policy on habitats outside of those listed in Annex 1 habitats of the Habitats Directive which, although not protected, are nonetheless rare and valuable such as the Rathcoole Woodland which is a self-generated pioneer natural native woodland given that all new native woodlands are afforestation projects i.e. man made? Further, if the Chief Executive would report on same?"

REPLY:

Habitats and species of national and international biodiversity value may be designated as Natura 2000 sites (Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) or Special Protection Areas (SPAs)), as Natural Heritage Areas (NHAs) or as proposed Natural Heritage Areas (pNHAs). These are variously protected under either European Directives or Irish legislation and also through the planning system.

Within South Dublin County, there are 3 Natura 2000 sites (2 SACs and 1 SPA) and 5 pNHAs designated by National Parks and Wildlife Service. These sites are identified and mapped in the South Dublin County  Development Plan 2016-2022 and the protection of these designated sites is addressed in a range of Objectives listed in the Plan under the following policy headings:

Policy (HCL) 12 Natura 2000 Sites:

It is the policy of the Council to support the conservation and improvement of Natura 2000 Sites and to protect the Natura 2000 network from any plans and projects that are likely to have a significant effect on the coherence or integrity of a Natura 2000 Site.

Policy (HCL) 13 Natural Heritage Areas

It is the policy of the Council to protect the ecological, visual, recreational, environmental and amenity value of the County’s proposed Natural Heritage Areas and associated habitats.

Substantial areas of land in the County, however, occur outside of these protected areas. Some of these non-designated areas such as rivers, streams, hedgerows and woodlands, and parks and open spaces, may also have a high biodiversity value for habitats and species.

It is to be noted that for some protected species listed under Annex IV of the Habitats Directive (e.g. bats and otters), protection is extended to these species wherever they occur, whether in protected sites or in non-designated areas.

Together, protected areas and non-designated areas form an important network of green habitats and wildlife corridors and are considered in the South Dublin County Development Plan 2016-2022 to be a key component of the County’s ‘Green Infrastructure’ (see Chapter 8, Green Infrastructure for more detail). This Chapter outlines a range of different Policies and Objectives that aim to identify, protect and incorporate biodiversity in general within a network of green spaces for the benefit of wildlife and people in the County.

Support for species and habitats in non-designated areas is also addressed in Chapter 9 of the County Development Plan in Section 9.3.4:

Policy (HCL) 15 Non-designated Areas

It is the policy of the Council to protect and promote the conservation of biodiversity outside of designated areas and to ensure that species and habitats that are protected under the Wildlife Acts 1976 and 2000, the Birds Directive 1979 and the Habitats Directive 1992 are adequately protected.

Below are the most relevant objectives from the adopted County Development Plan in relation to the matters as described above:

G1 Objective 2:

To prepare and implement a South Dublin County Green Infrastructure Strategy during the lifetime of this Plan that will form the basis for the identification, protection, enhancement and management of the Green Infrastructure network within the County.

G2 Objective 9:

To preserve, protect and augment trees, groups of trees, woodlands and hedgerows within the County by increasing tree canopy coverage using locally native species and by incorporating them within design proposals and supporting their integration into the Green Infrastructure network.

G6 Objective 1:

To protect and enhance existing ecological features including tree stands, woodlands, hedgerows and watercourses in all new developments as an essential part of the design process.

HCL15 Objective 1:

To ensure that development does not have a significant adverse impact on rare and threatened species, including those protected under the Wildlife Acts 1976 and 2000, the Birds Directive 1979 and the Habitats Directive 1992.

HCL15 Objective 2:

To ensure that, where evidence of species that are protected under the Wildlife Acts 1976 and 2000, the Birds Directive 1979 and the Habitats Directive 1992 exists, appropriate avoidance and mitigation measures are incorporated into development proposals as part of any ecological impact assessment.

HCL15 Objective 3:

To protect existing trees, hedgerows, and woodlands which are of amenity or biodiversity value and/or contribute to landscape character and ensure that proper provision is made for their protection and management in accordance with Living with Trees: South Dublin County Council’s Tree Management Policy 2015-2020.