Plans drawn up to manage and conserve four of Ireland's most endangered species, including the hare and the corncrake, are expected to spark off more controversy about hare coursing.
The public has been invited to make submissions by April 8th on the Draft Species Action Plan, which is part of of the National Biodiversity Plan 2002-06.
The all-Ireland plan for the Irish hare has listed the illegal taking of hares from the wild, and the unsustainable taking of hares for sporting purposes, as among the reasons for its decline in the country as a whole.
When the number of hares in Northern Ireland fell to a low of 8,250, the authorities there introduced a 12-month ban on the taking, selling or killing of hares from the wild in January 2004. However, there is an open season on hares in the Republic from September to February and there are 92 registered coursing clubs. There are only two in the North.
The draft report accepts that closed hare coursing has undergone significant changes in terms of regulation and compliance and hare mortality appears to have fallen as dogs are now muzzled.
It called for a review, if necessary, of wildlife legislation for protection of the hare in both Northern Ireland and the Republic.
The report, drawn up jointly by the Northern Ireland and Dublin Heritage and Wildlife Services, listed loss of habitat, changes in habitat, habitat fragmentation and increased levels of disturbance from farm stock and machinery, and from cats and dogs, as causes for the decline in the hare population.
The plan to save the corncrake, the only breeding bird in Ireland listed on the red list of threatened species, has already received widespread coverage from groups working to protect it.
Endangered species: what they are and where they are found
Irish lady's-tresses
Spiranthes romanzoffiana Cham is a small orchid with cream-coloured flowers, writes Amy O'Brien. In Ireland it occurs in damp meadows, on lake shores, in seasonally flooded pastures and in valley bogs. In the summer flowering spikes are produced and plants survive winter by means of a lateral bud that develops during the growing season.
It can be found in specific areas in counties: Mayo, Galway, Cork, Kerry, Leitrim, Roscommon and Donegal. It can also be found in Upper Lough Erne and Lough Neagh.
The Irish hare
The hare is considered to be a subspecies of Lepus timidus hibernicus and is widespread throughout Ireland.
The hare can be found in various different habitats including unimproved, semi-improved and improved grassland, upland habitats (heather-dominated heaths and bogs), in coastal habitats including sand-dunes and even the sea shore. They also tend to arise on golf courses and airfields.
The pollan (a freshwater fish)
The pollan (Coregonus autumnalis) is the only member of the whitefish family found in Ireland. In western Europe, Ireland is the only country where pollan occurs. Lough Ree, Lough Derg, Lough Neagh and lower Lough Erne are the only lakes where the pollan can be found. Lough Neagh has the only remaining abundant population of pollan, and still supports a small-scale commercial fishery.
The corncrake
The corncrake (Crex crex) is the most endangered breeding bird in Ireland with only 143 males recorded last year. These birds are secretive and seldom seen.