Invasive Alien Species Survey and Management Strategy within the Feale River Catchment

Tender description

1.1. In summary, the Services comprise: the survey and mapping of highly invasive vascular plant species within the riparian zone of the River Feale and its priority tributaries, as described in Appendix 1. It is envisaged that this will include 264Km of water course. The lower River Shannon SAC is a large site which includes the Feale River and its tributaries. The Study Area for the Works comprises the lands within the River Feale Catchment that occur within the SAC and named tributaries upstream of the SAC boundaries, within 20 m of the river bank on either side. The qualifying interests of the Lower River Shannon SAC include EU Annex I Priority Habitat Alluvial forests with Alnus glutinosa and Fraxinus excelsior (Alno-Padion, Alnion incanae, Salicion albae) [91E0]; Atlantic salmon (Salmo salmar), European Otter (Lutra lutra); Brook (Lampetra planeri), River (Lampetra fluviatilis) and Sea Lamprey (Petromyzon marinus), and Freshwater Pearl Mussel (Margaritifera margaritifera). Each of these occur within the Feale River Catchment, which is historically important as spawning habitat for the fish species. Invasive Alien Species (hereafter referred to as “IAS”) are known to occur within the Feale River Catchment and is negatively affecting these QIs (as noted in the Site Specific Conservation Objectives (SSCOs) for the site). The objective of the Works is to (i) provide baseline data on the distribution and severity of High to Moderate Impact IAS within the Feale River Catchment SAC and (ii) to produce a Management Strategy for this species, with the ultimate aim of eradicating the species within the SAC. Therefore, this is the first phase of an eradication programme. This project is being funded through the Conservation Measures Unit (CMU) of the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS). It is envisaged that follow-up treatment measures will also be funded through this unit during later phases of the eradication programme