The state of Calaminarian grassland in Ireland, 2023

Abstract

Executive Summary: The EU Annex I habitat 'Calaminarian grasslands of the Violetalia calaminariae' (Natura code 6130) is confined to areas which are rich in heavy metals, particularly phytotoxic levels of copper and/or lead, and is characterised by species that have evolved a tolerance of such conditions. In Ireland, the habitat is entirely confined to the vicinity of old metal mines. A thorough survey of the habitat was undertaken in 2008 (Holyoak, 2008), followed by a baseline monitoring assessment of 29 sites in 2017-2018 (Hodd & Hodgetts, 2019). This report describes the results from the re-monitoring, in October 2023, of 20 sites which were assessed as in Unfavourable Conservation Status in the previous Article 17 reporting period, and a national assessment of the conservation status of the habitat in Ireland. Although a decline of some kind will have almost certainly taken place at the remaining nine sites that were assessed as being of Favourable Conservation Status during the previous Article 17 reporting period, as the pressures acting on these sites are at a lower intensity, this decline may be slower than at the other 20 sites, and the habitat there is not thought to be immediately threatened. ...