Teams from Coillte and the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS), partners in the LIFE INSULAR project, participated in an information session on the Murvagh Dunes restoration project, part of the LIFE INSULAR project's restoration actions. A public meeting was held at the St. Brigid's Community Centre in Ballintra and at the Murvagh site.
There was a large turnout for this information event on the 11-hectare Murvagh Dunes restoration project, which includes the clearing of approximately seven hectares of senescent forest plantations.
Experts from Coillte and the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) were present at the event, held at the St. Brigid's Community Centre in Ballintra and at the Murvagh site on Saturday, March 8. They were on hand to present the latest plans and answer questions.
Among those in attendance were members of Friends of Murvagh Beach, as well as a group of concerned individuals who gathered to highlight and challenge aspects of the project and to submit a formal appeal.
They were joined by many people for whom Murvagh Beach and the forest hold a special place in their lives, whether for general recreation or for their physical and emotional well-being; and others with a particular interest in the biodiversity of the site.
Those present were informed that the Life Insular project will result in a 6% loss of senescent forest plantations and a 30% increase in dunes. The purpose is to preserve the dune habitat to help mitigate the effects of climate change and significantly increase its ecological value.
