CIEEM Spring 2015 Conference
The benefits of a transition to an adaptive,
sustainable use approach to Biosphere Reserve
management in the case of Dublin Bay.
Maryann Harris1,2 and Dr. Tamara Hochstrasser2
1)Dublin City Council Parks Services, Ireland and 2)School of
Biology and Environmental Science, University College Dublin
North Bull Island UNESCO Biosphere
Anthropogenic genesis of biosphere
1821 –
North Bull
Wall built
for Dublin
Port
1800
1930
1850
1985
Today, the
only
accreting
dunes on
east coast of
Ireland…
100 Years of Designations
This site has the most ecological designations – international and
national – of any in Ireland. It is also one of 3 National Special
Amenity Areas (SAA) for its aesthetics and recreational use.
Rothschild
Reserve
1914
1st
National
Bird
sanctuary
Special
Protection
Area for
Birds
1931
1978
UNESCO
Biosphere
Reserve
National
Nature
Reserve
1981
1986
RAMSAR
Wetland
1988
National
Special
Amenity
Area
Special
Area of
Conservati
on
1995
2000
Designation of Biosphere in 1981 and SAA in 1995 arose out of
community desire to combat urban development pressures.
Existing UNESCO Biosphere
at North Bull Island
• Only Biosphere entirely in a capital city in the world
• Proposed by citizens for designation, ‘bottom-up’
•Recognised by 49% of Dubliners vs. 7% recognition of Natura 2000
in 2014 survey
• Established in 1981 before EU and national designations
•Management Plan revised in 2009 (McCorry and Ryle 2009)
• Periodic review 2013-15– keep and modernise designation – report
to UNESCO
Biosphere periodic review process
Biosphere must fulfil 3 key functions:
Conservation
Development
Learning
• Integrated environmental management
for protected areas of Dublin Bay and
adapt to climate change
• Promote biosphere ‘brand’ to realise
economic & tourism benefits of
sustainable development
• Engage with local communities and users
to build knowledge and information
exchange
An adaptive management approach can address key
functions of a biosphere.
Adaptive management concepts
for consideration in biosphere
• Objective = to reduce critical uncertainties regarding
natural resource dynamics through identification of
these and the design of diagnostic management
experiments (Walters 2007)
• Participation of those outside of management
institutions to increase pool of knowledge for
management and to reduce conflicts (Holling 1978)
• A structured process of learning from management in
the face of uncertainty, which can occur from policy to
project scales (Jacobson et al 2014)
• Continuous process (Rist et al 2013)
Reframing the problem:
sustainable use and Dublin
Bay Biosphere Partnership
Evaluation shows problems
with maintaining good
conservation status on Bull
Island related to the wider
Dublin Bay context
Some initiatives to
monitor progress on
conservation aspects of
Bull Island
1) Conflict between conservation and
recreational use of Bull Island
The habitats of Bull Island and their
current designation
North Bull Island Management
Plan identified gaps, prioritised
actions
Some initiatives to enhance the
conservation aspects of Bull Island
Adaptive management process (modified from Rist et al, 2013)
Dublin capital region in top 10
for sites of EU importance for biodiversity
• Most of Dublin Bay is
EU designated for
nature conservation.
• 2 National Special
Amenity Areas.
• Biosphere concept
can unify all the sites
into one network for
conservation
management.
Promote ‘green capital’ region
Proposed Dublin Bay Biosphere
Partnership of:
•National Parks and
Wildlife
•Fingal County Council
•Dublin City Council
•Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council
•Dublin Port Company
•Increase community’s
role to protect and
promote Dublin Bay
•Education/jobs
•Sustainable development
New biosphere – sustainable use
• Core zone within Dublin Bay designated areas =
Natura 2000 sites, National Nature Reserves and
Special Amenity Areas
• Buffer zone of designated green belts, public parks
and golf courses to support conservation of core
areas
• Transition area based on water units directly
draining to Bay – development zone with immediate
impacts and limits of Dublin Bay, based on WFD
characterisation
• Unified approach for 3 local authorities on Bay in
county development plans
Issues which motivated change toward
sustainable use
• Part of Dublin Bay – connection especially for
migratory birds and seals
• Not just for conservation, recreational needs
• Golf clubs – different use than just
conservation but may provide refuge
• Vicinity to Dublin Harbour – traffic, pollution
• Flood mitigation for coast as barrier island
Dublin Bay
Biosphere Partnership
Coordination, shared learning, trans-boundary
Recreational disturbance and habitat
management
•
•
•
•
•
NPWS Habitat reports 2013 posited pressures
Recreational user survey 2014 by students
Examine and map usage of Island
Change access/devise awareness strategies
Evaluate impacts
Invasive alien species
Sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides)
eradication = management objective
• Legally designated Invasive Alien
Species in Ireland since 2011
• Planted by golf clubs prior
• Encroaching on Alder Marsh = core
area
• Dispersal by birds into SAC
• Dispersal by people
• Eradication required, but…
 Timing restrictions due to nesting
 And extent not known
 And methods not working
• Labour-intensive but…
 Staffing cut-backs
Invasive species management
•
•
•
•
•
GPS Mapping by staff and volunteers
Buckthorn harvesting festival
Trial different methods of control
Management by volunteers
Monitoring and repeat removal to trial
and assess methods of control
Over-harvesting (bait-digging)
• Bay is one of 2 most
important sites on east
coast for bait digging by
anglers
• Some bait is main food
source for protected birds
e.g. oystercatcher
• Licensing by state bodies?
• Use of agreement within
Biosphere?
• Monitoring of impacts?
Water Pollution in Dublin Bay
Prevent water pollution
• Tributaries - rivers to the bay
• Extent of problem – Liffey as nitrate sensitive waters,
bathing waters, all 3 main rivers provide habitat for
breeding salmonid species, groundwater protection
• Constructed wetlands initiatives accomplished/ planned
for some rivers
• Major sewage treatment upgrade delayed
• Management of biosphere transition zone as critical
interface for demonstration of stormwater
management and flood protection
The EC Principles of ICZM (EC 2002)
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Broad holistic approach
Long-term perspective
Local specificity
Working with natural processes
Adaptive management
A combination of instruments
Support and involvement of all stakeholdersParticipatory approach
As summarised by Ballinger et al 2010
Requirements for Monitoring and
Evaluation
• North Bull Island Management Plan (2009)
• North Bull Island SAC Conservation Management
Plan (2013)
• Dublin City Development Plan (2011-2016)
• Eastern River Basin District Management Plan (2009)
• Mainly State and local government structures, weak
regional governance with no remit for
implementation
• No coastal zone management plan (but regional
planning objectives to develop it)
Conclusions
• Even though the conflict between recreational
use and conservation in Bull island has long been
recognised progress on addressing it has been
slow
• The newly developed biosphere reserve
partnership enhances communication as needed
for participative and adaptive management and
will hopefully lead to a more sustainable use of
the core conservation areas in Dublin Bay
References
EC 2002
Holling 1978
Jacobson et al 2014
McCorry and Ryle 2009 North Bull Island
Management Plan.
Rist et al 2013
Walters 2007