Kilmuckridge-Tinnaberna Sandhills
Encyclopedia
The Kilmuckridge-Tinnaberna Sandhills are a system of clay cliffs, sand dunes, wet woodland, and gently undulating fixed dunes
, known as sand hills, in County Wexford
, Ireland
. The area was surveyed and described during the 1990s and was designated a Special Area of Conservation
. The site was considered to be the best example of grey dunes for lichen diversity in the country.
is attempting to reverse degradation of a large portion of the site (11 ha
) that has been damaged by overgrazing and bulldozing. Human-induced damage was first reported to the authorities in 2002. Damage continued for a further eight years before the area was made subject to a Ministerial Direction to restore it to its prior condition, issued under relevant Irish legislation.
http://www.panoramio.com/photo/39329488
http://www.panoramio.com/photo/39329345
Grey dune
Grey dunes are fixed, stable sand dunes located 50–100 m from the edge of the ocean. Grey dunes occur on the landward side of bare white dunes. They are so named due to the presence of grasses and lichens such as the Cladonia species. This creates the characteristic grey colour....
, known as sand hills, in County Wexford
County Wexford
County Wexford is a county in Ireland. It is part of the South-East Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the town of Wexford. In pre-Norman times it was part of the Kingdom of Uí Cheinnselaig, whose capital was at Ferns. Wexford County Council is the local...
, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
. The area was surveyed and described during the 1990s and was designated a Special Area of Conservation
Special Area of Conservation
A Special Area of Conservation is defined in the European Union's Habitats Directive , also known as the Directive on the Conservation of Natural Habitats and of Wild Fauna and Flora...
. The site was considered to be the best example of grey dunes for lichen diversity in the country.
Damage
As at 2011 the National Parks and Wildlife ServiceNational Parks and Wildlife Service (Ireland)
The National Parks and Wildlife Service manages the Irish State's nature conservation responsibilities. It is part of the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government....
is attempting to reverse degradation of a large portion of the site (11 ha
Hectare
The hectare is a metric unit of area defined as 10,000 square metres , and primarily used in the measurement of land. In 1795, when the metric system was introduced, the are was defined as being 100 square metres and the hectare was thus 100 ares or 1/100 km2...
) that has been damaged by overgrazing and bulldozing. Human-induced damage was first reported to the authorities in 2002. Damage continued for a further eight years before the area was made subject to a Ministerial Direction to restore it to its prior condition, issued under relevant Irish legislation.
External links
Photographs of undamaged and damaged areas:http://www.panoramio.com/photo/39329488
http://www.panoramio.com/photo/39329345