Key threats to biodiversity in Kilkenny identified ahead of upcoming Biodiversity Action Plan

Poor water quality, invasive species and climate change are three major threats that have been identified as drafting continues on a new Biodiversity Action Plan for County Kilkenny.

Details of some of the compiled data informing the plan were recently presented to the elected members of Piltown Municipal District.

DIVERSE HABITATS
The meeting heard that County Kilkenny has a diverse range of habitats, many associated with the rivers and river valleys that dissect the county.

A total of 39 of these habitats across the county can be classified as protected habitats.
Some examples include the River Nore, Newpark Fen, Dunmore Cave, Fiddown Island, Lough Cullin, Clohastia and Kylecorragh Wood.

WATER QUALITY
The meeting heard that the quality of the county’s waterways is a growing concern from a biodiversity perspective.

Kilkenny’s most recent surface water quality (2016-2021) illustrates that only 5% of surface water is of a high-water quality status, 37% is rated good, 41% moderate and 16% is poor with the remaining 2% classified as bad.

Poor quality water provides a poor habitat for fish and other species depending on the river for food, habitat and shelter.

These river catchments provide an ecological corridor that provides connectivity between habitats.

SPECIAL SPECIES
The status of EU listed species at a national level indicates 55% assessed as stable, 17% assessed as being improving, 15% had declining trends and 13% of species with an unknown status.

Species of EU concern present in County Kilkenny include the freshwater pearl mussel, incorporating the Nore Pearl Mussel and the white-clawed crayfish - all unfortunately reported in 2019 as having a bad status.

Many of the bat species such as Common Pipistrelle (Pipistrellus Pipistrellus) and Natterer’s bat (Myotis Nattereri) reported as having a favourable status but habitat loss and loss of foraging areas are common threats for bat species.

INVASIVE SPECIES
The arrival of invasive species was another major biodiversity concern raised.

Such species can displace and outcompete native species, leading to species decline and diversity decline.

High risk species present in Kilkenny include plant species such as Japanese Knotweed, Giant-rhubarb, Rhododendron Ponticum and Cherry Laurel and animal species include American Mink and Grey Squirrel.

The introduction of new plant pathogens is also threatening our native biodiversity.

One major example noted is ash dieback, a disease of ash trees first detected in Ireland in 2012, introduced on trees imported from continental Europe.

The disease is likely to cause the death of the majority of the ash trees over the next two decades.

Further threats on our horizon include bleeding canker that impacts the crowns of horse chestnuts, affecting trees of all ages and often kills them.

Another major concern is fireblight, a plant disease caused by bacteria that impacts the rose family, including pear and apple trees and also hawthorn - a common species found in Irish hedgerows.

CLIMATE CHANGE
Climate change was also identified as a major threat to the county’s biodiversity.

The key climate hazards identified for County Kilkenny include flooding on rivers, extreme precipitation and drought.

All three climate hazards could greatly impact the biodiversity of Kilkenny, by degrading habitats, reducing food availability for wildlife and extreme events could potentially result in a direct negative impact on a variety of species.

WHAT’S NEXT?
The draft Biodiversity Action Plan, currently being devised, is scheduled to go on public display with a public consultation period during the summer.

The recent public consultation process on the Council’s Climate Action Plan provided some insight, as many biodiversity themed submissions were received.

In the meantime, the collation of biodiversity data will continue to be prepared with the input of members representing different stakeholders including farming, community, state agencies and local biodiversity experts.

It was the 4th National Biodiversity Action Plan (NBAP) that brought in the objective that each local authority prepare a County Biodiversity Action Plan that will provide a framework for the conservation of biodiversity and natural heritage at a local level.