STRICT NEW requirements for the forestry sector aimed at protecting and preserving Ireland's most endangered species, the freshwater pearl mussel, have been agreed.
Forestry operations, including forest road construction, planting and harvesting, present a major threat to the species, which requires water of the highest quality.
Although protected under the habitats directive and the Wildlife Acts, the freshwater pearl mussel is in serious decline throughout the island of Ireland and the rest of Europe.
Ireland holds 46 per cent of the EU's total population, but both sedimentation and nutrient enrichment from land use have contributed to its decline.
Forestry activity is a potential source of sediment and nutrients, particularly phosphorus, to rivers and this is especially the case where forests are planted on peat or peaty soils.
The EU has designated 25 river systems as special areas of conservation for the freshwater pearl mussel, Margaritifera margaritifera and Margaritifera durrovensis.
Against this background, the Minister for the Environment, John Gormley, and the Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food with special responsibility for forestry, Mary Wallace, have announced details of the new requirements.
The document, which sets out the requirements for protecting the species, was agreed between both departments to ensure forestry operations were compatible with the protection of the species.
Ms Wallace said the species was in serious decline throughout the island of Ireland and was regarded as possibly "Ireland's most endangered animal species".
"The challenge in developing the forestry and freshwater pearl mussel requirements has been how best to marry the many benefits of forestry with the conservation of the species," she said.
Ms Wallace advised that the Forest Service of her department had developed the document, resulting from the work of a steering group and working group and following public consultation.
The forestry and freshwater pearl mussel requirements will apply to all potentially impacting forest operations within the catchments of freshwater pearl mussel populations in rivers that are designated candidate special areas of conservation for the species, she said.
The National Parks and Wildlife Service of the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government will review the list of relevant rivers annually and advise the Forest Service of any changes, she added.
Ms Wallace welcomed the new requirements, which, she said, reflected the fundamental principles of sustainable forest management, the cornerstone of forestry policy in Ireland.
She said the implementation of the requirements would be mandatory and a moratorium on clearfelling was agreed by both the Forest Service and Coillte in the catchments designated for the species.
With the publication of these requirements, it was expected that decisions could now be made quickly in these cases.