Monitoring of Three Annex II Species of Vertigo Snail on Irish Sites

Description

Three of the Vertigo species that are listed on the Habitats and Species Directive Annex II are found in Ireland, and specifically angustior, geyeri and moulinsiana. The monitoring of the favourable conservation status for the species has been undertaken twice before and the results published as an Irish Wildlife Manual, most recently in 2019 as listed below in the references. The first survey report is in Irish Wildlife Manuals No. 55. The Article 17 assessment for 2013-2019 deemed that the conservation status of all the three species was unfavourable especially Vertigo geyeri. There has been an observed decline in the range, population and quality of the habitat of all three species since the Habitats Directive came into force. Surveys for the three species have been carried out extensively since 1996 and there was a three year monitoring programme 2008-2010 which covered 63 sites for all three species. This set up a monitoring regime for all three species details of which are given in Irish Wildlife Manual 55. The National Parks and Wildlife Service of the Department of Housing Local Government and Heritage is calling for tenders for a three year project to undertake a repeat of the monitoring project and to provide an interpretation of the results in comparison to the previous results and to make appropriate and practical recommendations that will ensure the species and their habitat are maintained or, where necessary, restored to favourable condition. The information will be core to the next Article 17 report. See RfT Document and other attachments for details.