Monitoring survey and Article 17 assessment reporting for three Annex II species and one Annex I habitat

Tender description

Ireland is obliged to undertake surveillance/monitoring (Article 11) of the habitats and species listed on the Annex I and II of the EU Habitats Directive and to report regularly on their conservation status (Article 17). The assessment of conservation status requires an understanding of the range, area and the structure and functions of Annex I habitats and the distribution, size and viability of populations, the area and quality of habitat available for the Annex II species, and the pressures impacting on them. Designing an effective surveillance programme involves monitoring a representative sample of the resource across its natural range. NPWS is calling for tenders to undertake Article 17 national reporting on the conservation status of three Annex II plant species (Petalophyllum ralfsii, Hamatocaulis vernicosus, Saxifraga hirculus) and one Annex I habitat (Calaminarian Grassland). The national reports for the habitats and species for the previous (2019) Article 17 submission can be found in two volumes at: https://www.npws.ie/sites/default/files/publications/pdf/NPWS_2019_Vol2_Habitats_Article17.pdf https://www.npws.ie/sites/default/files/publications/pdf/NPWS_2019_Vol3_Species_Article17.pdf As well as the national reporting, some field survey monitoring will be required. In total, there are 93 populations/sites recorded for these species/habitats in Ireland: Petalophyllum ralfsii (30), Hamatocaulis vernicosus (15), Saxifraga hirculus (19) and Calaminarian Grassland (29). The majority of these have remained in favourable conservation status since baseline surveys were established and over the last two Article 17 reporting cycles (2013 and 2019). This is largely due to the fact that the two bryophyte species and Saxifraga hirculus mostly occur in remote semi-natural habitats that have been relatively unaffected by agricultural intensification or by developmental pressures. In order to save limited resources, both in terms of the availability of contract eco