The IWT Monaghan branch has developed a project to map the Dromore river catchment and its remaining rich habitats, in order to make it visible as a potential biodiversity corridor and to connect the network of volunteers that have been concerned and active in caring for the river.
We have been working on this project with advice from D. Ainhoa González del Campo in the School of Geography, UCD, an expert in environmental planning and sustainability. Through the support of Dr. Patricia McCreesh, Monaghan Co. Council‘s first Biodiversity Officer, the project is funded by the National Parks and Wildlife Service under the National Biodiversity Action Plan (2023-2030) and by the Heritage Council under the Community Heritage Grant Scheme 2024. We are also working closely with the Local Authority Waters Programme (LAWPRO).
So why mapping?
While most people can bring an image of the shape of our county and its road system to mind, it is less likely that we have an image of the topography of our catchment and the network of rivers and streams it forms. This makes it difficult to have a holistic sense of how the waters operate in the landscape.
The project hired two research assistants, one in geographic information systems (GIS) and one in visualisation techniques, to assist us in producing different mapping tools:
- an interactive digital database
- a printed map
- a physical topographical model
These tools enable us to develop our community’s spatial and visual awareness of the catchment and identify where the riparian zones are intact or in need of restorations. The mapping shows where the river and streams already act as connectors, or where targeted actions could in future connect the riparian zones with other key biodiverse-rich habitats in the catchment.
The project continues to gather biodiversity and habitat data as key environmental indicators and also maps pressure points of run-off, where heavy rains tend to bring nutrients and pollutants to the waters before they can be soaked up and filtered by natural processes.
Our volunteers have been actively engaged in a process of ‘ground truthing‘, where local people who know the area intimately can make corrections to the initially gathered data and contribute other key information, such as names of streams and place names. We are encouraging the development of a practice of citizen science recording which has not been particularly active in this area to date.
The mapping tools are multi-functional, informed by science, and provide aids for the most effective targeted action on the ground for restoration and mitigation measures.
As well as making our mapping outcomes freely available through this website, we also plan to provide on-the-ground links via QR signage along the river. We are also in the process of developing a ‘how-to’ guide for any other community who would like to map their catchment in a similar manner.
We want to show that by tapping into the already existing network of river, streams and marginal riparian zones, an economically viable and achievable model of connectivity corridors could become established as an effective means to protect and enhance biodiversity, and that this in turn will enhance our water quality. We consider this development of a ‘biodiversity corridor‘ may a practice and model of co-existence more effective than one focusing on special, separated and isolated pockets reserved for ‘nature’.