Remote Control Vegetation Management Machine CANN UW 17

Tender description

Remote Control Vegetation Management Machine The Collaborative Action for the Natura Network (CANN) is an INTERREG VA funded project led by Newry, Mourne & Down District Council. The consortium also consists of: The Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI); Argyll & the Isles Coast and Countryside Trust; Armagh City, Banbridge & Craigavon Borough Council; East Border Region, Golden Eagle Trust; the Institute of Technology Sligo (IT Sligo); Monaghan County Council; Scottish Natural Heritage; Ulster University and Ulster Wildlife. The project aims to strengthen cross-border co-operation to facilitate the recovery of selected habitats and priority species and meet the targets of the EU Birds and Habitats Directives and the EU Biodiversity Strategy. This will be achieved through development of Conservation Action Plans/Species Action Plans, direct conservation work at protected sites, development of best practice guidance and, communication and outreach programmes. The protected habitats as prioritised through INTERREG VA include alkaline fens, blanket bog, active raised bog, marl lakes, calcareous fens and transition mires/quaking bogs. The priority species include white-clawed crayfish, hen harrier, breeding waders (curlew, redshank, snipe), golden plover, and red grouse. As part of the Ulster Wildlife is seeking to procure a Remote Control Vegetation Management Machine. Vegetation management is a crucial aspect of the overall management of designated sites including Special Areas of Conservation (SAC’s). This can range from the creation and maintenance of fire breaks to reduce the impact of damaging wildfires, management for breeding waders or the removal of scrub. Many of these sites are often remote, inaccessible and challenging to manage with conventional machinery. Therefore novel technologies and machinery are being utilised in order to make management more sensible and sustainable.