Survey and assessment of vegetated shingle and associated habitats at 30 coastal sites in Ireland

Abstract

A survey of 30 sites thought to support the habitat 1220 Vegetated shingle was completed between 23rd May and 28th September 2016. 1220 Vegetated shingle was located at 27 of the 30 sites and 64.57 ha of the Annex I habitat were mapped and assessed. The site with the largest area of 1220 Vegetated shingle was Derrymore Island in Co. Kerry (8.41 ha). Nine of the 30 sites surveyed during the Vegetated Shingle Monitoring (VSM) project included other Annex I sand dune habitats that were also mapped and assessed. The individual site reports for these nine sites present the monitoring data and conservation condition for each of these sand dune habitats, in addition to 1220 Vegetated shingle. The individual site reports also discuss management issues for each site, including coastal defences, agriculture, recreation, litter and non-native invasive species. For 21 of the 30 sites the individual site reports only present the monitoring data and conservation condition for 1220 Vegetated shingle.