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| National Parks | • | NHA/ASSI | • | Nature Reserves | • | AONB | • | Country Parks/SLNCI | • | Designation |
There are six national parks in the Republic of Ireland that contain a wide variety of flora and fauna and are key for the conservation of the island's natural heritage. In Northern Ireland in 2002 a review of the benefits of establishing national parks was carried out. Following this it was decided to propose part of the Mourne mountains in Co. Down as a National park. Nevertheless, a number of Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty have been designated with the goal of protecting and enhancing the qualities of each area and to promote their enjoyment by the public.
 Spring flowering gentians and orchids are but two of the many plant species found only in and around the Burren. The microclimates found in the limestone pavement makes it a favourable environment for plants that cannot survive in other parts of Ireland |
Where are the parks?
Discovering the parks The best way to enjoy the national parks is on foot, so that you can see the flora and fauna close up. All of the parks, except Ballycroy, have visitors centres, which present informational and educational materials, and provide services such as parking facilities, cafes, etc. In some parks guided walks can also be arranged. These visitor centres are not open all year round. |
The
Burren
 A Bloody Cranesbill among the crevices. The Burren, located in Co. Clare, is a unique expanse of exposed limestone pavement. It is the only place in Ireland that plants such as Mountain Avens (Dryas octopetala) and the Bloody Cranesbill (Geranium sanguineum) are found in such profusion, thanks to the favourable micro-climate which exists among the cracks and crevices of the pavement. This area has been inhabited for millennia as is testified by the vast numbers of cairns, dolmens and other archeological remains in the area. The type of farming that has traditionally been carried out in the Burren, involving cattle grazing on the uplands during the winter months, is central to the maintenance of its unique ecosystem. Part of the Burren is a National Park, while other areas are a Nature Reserve, designated NHAs and designated Special Areas of Conservation (SACs). |
Natural Heritage Areas and Areas of Special Scientific Interest
Natural Heritage Areas are areas
of ecological importance, which are protected under national legislation.
They are designated under the Wildlife (Amendment) Act in 2000. There are
over 1200 designated or in the process of designation in the Republic of
Ireland, and sites vary in size from individual roosting places for certain
species of bird to large areas of bog or woodland. Some of these sites overlap
with Special Areas of Conservation (SAC) and Special Protection Areas (SPA).
| There are over 200 Areas of Special Scientific Interest (ASSIs) in Northern Ireland. These areas of land have been identified by scientific survey as being of the highest degree of conservation value. Most of them are in private ownership and their management is carried out in cooperation with the Environment and Heritage Service. |
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Nature Reserves
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There are a total of 77 nature reserves in the Republic of Ireland and 47 in Northern Ireland. The reserves protect important and unique areas of flora and fauna and are also valuable in terms of environmental research. Two of these are marine nature reserves: Lough Hyne in Co. Cork and Strangford Lough in Co. Down. |
The Need for Nature Reserves
There is constant pressure on our
environment, whether to enhance infrastructure, construct buildings or increase
its economic contribution (e.g. agriculture, forestry). This often leads
to modification in habitats for plants and animals and in the worst case
can lead to the disappearance of certain species from the countryside. Nature
Reserves can be considered havens for flora and fauna, where development
is forbidden or restricted in order to provide the best chances for the
natural development of plants and animals. Nevertheless, changes to and
reclamation of land for agricultural purposes or other economic reasons
has often led to the creation of environments which have attracted plants
and animals. The Wexford Slobs area, which involved land reclamation from
the sea is now home to thousands of migratory birds. Part of this was declared
a nature reserve in 1981. Similarly, the ecosystem which has developed in
the Burren, Co. Clare is maintained to a large extent by the low intensity
grazing of farm animals. In addition to the Burren National Park, part of
the area was declared a nature reserve in 1976. 
From early October to the middle of April, the Wexford Slobs are home to thousands of ducks, geese, swans and waders making this a site of major international importance for wildfowl and waders.
Types of Reserves
The reserves cover a variety of habitats such as woodland (e.g. Glengarriff wood, Co. Cork), bog (e.g. Lough Barra bog, Co. Donegal), estuary (e.g. Baldoyle estuary, Co. Dublin ), mudflats (e.g. North Stranford Lough, Co. Antrim) offshore islands (e.g. Great Skellig, Co. Kerry ) and sand dunes (e.g. The Raven, Co. Wexford ) among others. Lough Hyne in Co. Cork is a sea lough, which is home to a large number of plant and animal species. This marine nature reserve has been the subject of scientific studies over many decades.
 Lough Hyne in Co. Cork is the only marine lake in Ireland. It is a unique habitat, which has been studied by scientists for over a century. It is also a beautiful place to visit and there is an interpretative centre located in nearby Skibereen. |
Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB)
In order to preserve its landscapes of distinctive character and special scenic value, nine areas in Northern Ireland, including the Antrim Coast and Glens and Strangford Lough, have been designated Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty. As with National Parks, this designation is designed to protect and enhance the qualities of areas of high landscape value and to promote their enjoyment and sustainable use by the public. The Department of the Environment (NI)’s statement of policy on protected landscapes, ‘Shared Horizons’, sets out the designation process and categories for AONBs, and proposals for further ‘Protected Landscape’ legislation, e.g. to enable statutory National Park Authorities to be established.
Where are the AONB ?
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North Derry
 A view of Binevenagh within the North Derry AONB, Co. Derry. Designated in 1966, the North Derry Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty encompasses an area from the Sperrins to the Lough Foyle and Atlantic coastlines of Co. Derry. This designation is testament to the variety and contrast of landscapes within the region, from the imposing cliffs at Binevenagh to the outstanding 8km stretch of Magilligan Strand from Downhill to the narrows of Lough Foyle. Parts of the North Derry AONB are protected as an ASSI, SAC, Nature Reserve and are home to Country Parks and Countryside Centres. A proposal to extend the area of designation to include the Bann Estuary and Portstewart sand dunes is currently under consideration; if successful, this will become the Binevenagh AONB. |
Country Parks and Countryside Centres
The Environment and Heritage Service manages seven Country Parks and two Countryside Centres in Northern Ireland. These include Crawfordsburn, Scrabo Tower, Castle Archdale, Roe Valley, Peatlands, Redburn, Ervey and Ness Wood Country Parks, and Portrush and Quoile Countryside Centres. The aim of this designation is to increase access to the countryside for the public. In addition to the facilities available at most Country Parks, the Countryside Centres present exhibitions and audio-visual displays to assist the visitor's understanding of the countryside and wider environmental issues.
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Click here to view a map of Country Parks and Countryside Centres. |
Sites of Local Nature Conservation Importance (SLNCI)
Sites of Local Nature Conservation Importance (SLNCI) are designated by the Environment and Heritage Service to assist the Planning Service in their Development Plan review process. These sites are the most important places for wildlife in a local context. Development plans for all areas in Northern Ireland involving land use change are required to consider SLNCIs.
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Click here to view a map of SLNCI. |
Responsibility and Designation
Responsibility for implementing the Wildlife Act lies with the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. Surveys, initial recommendation for designation and day-to-day management of NHAs and state owned Nature Reserves lie with the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS).
Designation of NHAs is a relatively time consuming and detailed process and it is fully documented in the Wildlife Act. The main steps can be found on the NPWS website. In brief, once sites are initially designated, they must be published in the Irish Government's Official Journal and in local media near the site being designated. Objections by affected parties, on scientific grounds, may be lodged with the department within three months. The Minister then decides whether to uphold the objection or proceed with designation.
In Northern Ireland, Nature Reserves, AONB and the potential Mourne National Park are designated by the Environment and Heritage Service (EHS), under the Nature Conservation and Amenity Lands (Northern Ireland) Order 1985 (amended 1989). SLNCI are designated by EHS as a requirement of The Planning Service (NI). The designation of Country Parks largely took place prior to EHS management, under the auspices of other bodies such as the National Trust and Ulster Wildlife Trust.
 The Giant's Causeway and part of the Causeway coast is a Nature Reserve, an Area of Special Scientific Interest, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and a World Heritage Site! |