The Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (DHLGH) provides the legislative and policy framework for the conservation
of nature and biodiversity in the Republic of Ireland. It also oversees its implementation, based on good science, with particular
emphasis on the protection of habitats and species. The conservation of restoration of biodiversity and habitats in Ireland
necessitates scientifi...
The Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (DHLGH) provides the legislative and policy framework for the conservation
of nature and biodiversity in the Republic of Ireland. It also oversees its implementation, based on good science, with particular
emphasis on the protection of habitats and species. The conservation of restoration of biodiversity and habitats in Ireland
necessitates scientific monitoring to inform management design and to evaluate the relative success of implemented works.
The conservation of habitats is also increasingly valued as an important component of global processes such as climate regulation,
food security and water supply. NPWS is currently managing and regulating a large programme of works related to peatland restoration
and the conservation management of river, callow, turlough and coastal dune ecosystems. This has led to the need for additional
hydrological information and insights to aid in the design of management plans and to assess plans and measures developed
by other agencies. In addition to this, the conservation status of ecosystems is under increasing threat from pressures related
to development, pollution and other activities. Hydrological expertise is required to ascertain the linkages between habitats
and surrounding areas, and advise on mitigation and remedial management options. The freshwater pearl mussel (FPM) is a freshwater
species of international importance, but a species in decline in Ireland and across Europe. However, whilst hydrology is the
main driver sustaining populations, it is relatively unstudied. This is problematic when attempting to design appropriate
conservation management plans, and when trying to understand the impacts of activities that may alter the flow and water quality
behaviour of a given river. One of the largest population of mussels that remains in Ireland is found in the Bundorragha River
in the Delphi Valley, Co. Mayo. This area thereby presents a good setting in which to carry out detailed hydrological study
for analysis and modelling purposes, which can be used for conservation and wider river management. The purpose of this request
for tender is to procure scientific support to develop a pilot hydrological model of the Bundorragha River and its catchment,
with a particular emphasis on the FPM and its hydrological environment. The study will attempt to understand the main environmental
drivers sustaining the FPM in the Bundorragha River, identify land-use pressures that may be impacting on their sustainability,
assess the possible impacts of climate change on river flow dynamics, and identify any conservation management issues and
solutions.
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