| Overview | Data Sources | Links | References |
| Whale Sanctuaries | • | Ramsar Sites | • | UNESCO Biosphere Reserves | • | World Heritage Sites |
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| Minke Whale (Balaenopter acutorostrata). |
The International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling (1946) aims to conserve and develop whale stocks through international legislation for whale fisheries. This convention was signed by 42 nations in Washington D.C. and led to the establishment of the International Whaling Commission (IWC). The IWC currently has representation from 66 member states. The organization assesses the convention’s terms, sets certain whale species under protection and designates areas as whale sanctuaries. Furthermore, the organization sets conditions on whaling regarding issues such as catch size and number as well as declaring periods for open and closed seasons.
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| Common dolphins (Delphinus delphis). | |||
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In 1991 Ireland was the first European country to announce its waters within the 200 nautical mile fishery limits (EFZ) of the country as a whale and dolphin sanctuary. This was not set up under direction of the IWC, but as an independent Irish declaration.
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FOCUS: The Irish Whale and Dolphin Group (IWDG)
The IWDG was founded in 1990 to develop the Irish stranding and sighting scheme. The group pushed towards the declaration of Ireland's Exclusive Fisheries Zone as a whale and dolphin sanctuary, which was approved by the Government in 1991.  Fin
Whale |
Ramsar Sites
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| This backstrand in Tramore, Co. Waterford is a wetland protected under the Ramsar Convention. |
The convention expects participating countries to designate wetlands as Ramsar Sites for their protection. However, governments cannot be disciplined legally if they fail to do so. In Ireland all Ramsar sites are legally protected as Special Areas of Conservation (SAC) and/or Special Protection Areas (SPA) and/or Natural Heritage Areas (NHA).
Of the 549 Ramsar Sites worldwide 47 are in the Republic of Ireland and cover an area of about 70,550 hectares. In Northern Ireland 23 sites, comprising an area of approximately 86,830 hectares have been selected, 17 of which have been already designated.
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What are wetlands?
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| The RAMSAR site at Bannow Bay, Co. Wexford has extensive mud and sand flats as well as a saltmarsh and sand dunes. |
Wetlands are areas of marsh, fen, peatland and water, including coastal areas, where the water depth does not exceed six metres.
Wetlands are important for conservation because:
- They show high biodiversity and many animal and plant species depend
on them. However, they are one of the World’s most threatened
ecosystems.
- Every winter 61 Irish wetlands host internationally important waterfowl
and 11 of these hold over 20,000 waterfowl each, on a regular basis.
- Two Irish wetland plant species are already extinct in Ireland and
another 14 are regarded as threatened. Seven more plant species that
depend on Irish wetlands are considered vulnerable.
- Threatened invertebrates such as the Kerry slug (Geomalacus maculosus),
the freshwater pearl mussel (Margaritifera margaritifera),
the freshwater white-clawed crayfish (Austropotamobius pallipes)
and the damselfly (Coenagrion lunulatum) can be found in Irish
wetlands.
- Otters are regularly sighted in wetland areas and depend on these
systems for their survival.
UNESCO Biosphere Reserve
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| Killarney National Park is a Biosphere Reserve. |
- Conservation of the landscapes, ecosystems, species and genetic variation of the area.
- Development that is economic, socio-cultural and ecologically sustainable in the area.
- Information exchange on local, national and international levels that concerns conservation and development by supporting research, monitoring and education in the area.
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| Beach on North Bull Island, Co. Dublin. |
Biosphere Reserves should show
how problems that arise from conflicting interests and pressures
in an area could be solved through integration of conservation
and development, in order to use natural resources in a sustainable
way. In particular, islands and coastal areas experience these
conflicts because resources and space are limited. Ireland has
two Biosphere Reserves: Killarney National Park in Co. Kerry
and North Bull Island in Co. Dublin.
From 82 countries
the UNESCO has accepted 324 Biosphere Reserves worldwide and 127 of
these can be found in Europe. The areas represent the main ecosystems
of the world. The Reserves are classified into different zones: the
core area, the buffer zone and the transition area. Core areas are protected
legally and the main objective is the conservation of the reserve. In
general, human activities are restricted with the exceptions of research,
monitoring and traditional land use, which would benefit protection
of natural resources. Buffer zones surround core areas and are planned
in such a way that core areas are protected from negative outside influence.
Human activities that do not inhibit the conservation objectives of
the reserve are allowed. In the transition area a variety of human activities
and influences are permitted such as agriculture and settlements. In
this area management has to involve all interested parties in such a
way that the development of the area is sustainable, considering economic
and social aspects as well as conservation issues.
Killarney National Park, a Biosphere Reserve.
Killarney National Park, a Biosphere Reserve.
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| Entrance stone at Newgrange, Co. Meath. |
Benefits of designation as a World Heritage Site include raised awareness of the area, the protection status and the possibility to access the World Heritage Fund. This fund provides financial aid to support sites and is provided through obligatory and voluntary aid of member states.
Ireland has three World Heritage Sites:
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The Giant’s Causeway and Causeway Coast
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| Columnar basalt forms the steps at the Giant's Causeway. |
The unusual display has led to legends of giants treading over the sea towards Scotland. However, geological studies of the area have revealed that the landscape developed through volcanic activity some 50-60 million years ago in the Tertiary period. The lava plateau of about 3,800 square kilometres is the largest remaining in Europe. The manifestation of these “stepping stones for Giants” is a result of five or six successive lava flows over time.
Archaeological Ensemble of the Bend of the Boyne
The designated World Heritage Sites of the Brú na Bóinne complex are Newgrange, Knowth and Dowth, which are located north of the River Boyne in County Meath. These sites contain prime prehistoric megalithic features in Europe and were built around 3200BC, which makes them older than Stonehenge in England or even the Pyramids of Giza in Egypt!
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| Newgrange, Co. Meath. |
The Great Mound of Knowth is similar in size to Newgrange and is surrounded by 18 smaller mounds. The mound has two opposing entrances in the east and west ending in a cruciform chamber. The eastern passage is 40 metres long and the western passage extends to 34 metres. The site is thought to have been constructed after Newgrange but before Dowth.
Dowth is also referred to as the fairy mound of darkness. It is again of comparable size to the mounds of Newgrange and Knowth. Two passage tombs were discovered in 1847 but the subsequent excavation damaged the site. The passages in Dowth are situated on the west side of the mound and are shorter with lower roofs compared to the other two.
Skellig Michael
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| The Skellig Islands are rich in wildlife and cultural heritage. |
Stunning views of these rocky islands located in the Atlantic can be had from many parts of the Kerry coast. They are shaped from Devonian Sandstone that is approximately 350 million years old.
The monastery hanging on the rocks of Skellig Michael is believed to have been constructed around the 7th century. It is testimony to the extreme living conditions in this remote area. However, it is this isolation that has helped preserve the site in unusually good condition and has led to its designation as an exceptional example of early monastic life.