This article is from page 11 of the 2006-06-06 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 11 JPG
CLARE County Council and The National University of Ireland, Maynooth, are currently conducting a major study on habitat change and the impact of rising sea levels along the Shannon Estuary and parts of County Clare.
It is hoped that the survey will identify areas where important natural habitats can be restored or enhanced and that it will help form better planning practice as well as contribute to research on climate change and the rise in sea levels in the future.
Earlier this year, the heritage map was commissioned as part of the Clare Heritage Plan Programme. The project was launched in association with the Heritage Council, Clare Biodiversity Group and Rural Resource Development.
The map will cover an area stretching from Ruan to Clooney to Shannon Airport and will include the greater Ennis area and the River Fergus estuary.
The work is being carried out by Mary Tubridy and Associates who were involved in developing an Environmental Education Strategy for the county in 2004.
Dr. Tubridy and Mieke Muyllaert will gather information for the map from aerial photographs and fieldwork.
Congella McGuire, Heritage Officer, Clare County Council, says the new maps will make it possible to learn about the diversity of plants and animals in the areas surveyed.
“A presentation on the work and update of the survey will be made available during Heritage Week from August 26 to September 3 in Ennis,” she said.