Results of a monitoring survey and assessment of the conservation status of Saxifraga hirculus (Marsh Saxifrage) 2023

Abstract

Executive Summary: This survey was commissioned to monitor selected populations of Saxifraga hirculus (Marsh Saxifrage) in the Republic of Ireland, which occurs in mineral flushes within blanket bog complexes and is now restricted to a small area of Northwest Ireland. This species is listed on Annex II of the EU Habitats Directive which, as well as requiring member states to designate protected areas for the species, also obliges them to monitor populations and report on their status on a six-yearly cycle. In 2023, a survey was undertaken to monitor selected populations of this species in the Republic of Ireland and report on their status. Twenty populations of S. hirculus are known in the Republic of Ireland, in North Mayo and Sligo. Of these, six sites, that were assessed as having poor conservation status during the previous round of monitoring, were surveyed. The populations were surveyed according to the established methodology used in previous monitoring surveys and the conservation status of each population was assessed under the parameters of Population, Habitat for the species and Future prospects to derive an overall assessment of each population. A National Conservation Assessment (NCA) of S. hirculus across the Republic of Ireland was also undertaken, to contribute to Ireland's reporting obligations under Article 17 of the EU Habitats Directive. This national assessment is based on the Range, Population, Habitat for the species and Future prospects of the species across the country. ...