“With climate change the dunes are getting a squeeze and they are under pressure so they need room to expand.” - Karen Woods, Coillte
Full details of forestry removal as part of a sand dune restoration project at Murvagh were outlined at a public meeting in Ballintra.
The meeting took place on Thursday evening in Ballintra Community Centre. Among those present were members of the Friends of Murvagh Beach committee and some of the many people who enjoy the natural amenity of Murvagh beach and forest.
Inge Bock from Donegal County Council chaired the meeting, with Coillte represented by regional manager Colm O’Dwyer, Karen Woods who outlined the dune restoration work, and Michael Donlon who is working with the local committee on improving the recreational aspect of Murvagh.
Karen Woods explained that Coillte owned 220 hectares of land at Murvagh, half of which was forestry and half of which was a mix of dunes and salt marsh. Much of the area is situated within a special area of conservation (SAC).
The conifer forest was mainly planted around 70 years ago, with small sections planted in later years.
Ms Woods said: “There is a wonderful mix of different habitats. It is an important national and international area for the range of different bird and plant species. It is also recognised that it is an important community area in terms of recreation.”
She explained that the plans for the Life Insular project which would see an area of around seven hectares of forestry removed were with a view to enhancing biodiversity.
Ms Woods stressed that the importance of the forest habitat was also recognised, but that the dune habitat needed a helping hand to mitigate against climate change.
“Most of the area will remain in forest cover,” she said, adding that a wider biodiversity plan for the area was a work in progress.
She explained that the Life Insular project was in conjunction with a similar project in Spain which involved dune restoration on a number of Spanish governed Atlantic islands.
Of the four sites in Ireland - The Raven in Wexford where work is already underway, and Murvagh, Ards Forest Park and Rinclevan, Horn Head - all are dunes where forestry has been planted.
Ms Woods said: “At the time [Coillte] thought we were doing the right thing planting trees in those sites but we now know different. “With climate change the dunes are getting a squeeze and they are under pressure so they need room to expand.”
She said the Life Insular project was a new and important approach to dune conservation in Ireland. “It is really exciting, one of the most exciting projects taking place in Ireland,” she said.
The seven-hectare area of forestry being removed is on the right hand side while driving towards the main car park at Murvagh beach. It will start a short distance past the cattle grid and will end before reaching the car park.
A further four hectares is also included in the plan, and this involves removal of individual trees which have taken root on the dunes.
