Scientific and Technical Support to Raised Bogs Conservation and Restoration

Tender description

The National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) within the Heritage Division of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (DHLGH) has the responsibility for the protection and conservation of Ireland’s natural heritage and biodiversity at national government level. The responsibilities of the NPWS include: • protection of habitats and species through the designation of sites as Special Areas of Conservation (SAC), Special Protection Areas (SPA) and Natural Heritage Areas (NHA), • administering a licensing system to regulate and control activities that impact on habitats or species in Ireland, • raising awareness about our natural heritage through education and information dissemination, • to create and maintain a comprehensive inventory of species and habitats in Ireland, • to undertake scientific surveys and research, and compile monitoring data, to assist in the provision of specialist advice in relation to public policy, designations, and the protection and management of wildlife habitats and species, • the implementation of Ireland’s National Biodiversity Plan, • the implementation of Nature Conservation Legislation and the ratification and implementation of international conventions and agreements relating to the natural heritage, • to consider and advise on development proposals that may impact on nature conservation and • to manage, maintain and develop Ireland’s National Parks and Nature Reserves. The current designated raised bog network consists of 62 raised bog SACs and 75 raised bog NHAs. The legal basis on which SACs are selected and designated is the Habitats Directive (Council Directive 92/43/EEC) while the NHAs are designated using national legislation (the Wildlife Acts). The work involves the provision of scientific and technical support to DHLGH (henceforth the ‘Department’) to assist in the implementation of national conservation and management approaches for Ireland’s raised bogs, focusing particularly on those chosen for design