Knockshanvo Wood
Project Biodiversity
When Ireland was in the grip of the Covid pandemic in 2020, many people rediscovered their neighbouring woodlands and forests as a place of calm and exercise to safely escape the confines of lockdown. To the surprise of many, it opened their eyes to the wonders of nature and they found themselves wanting to learn more.
IForUT has always welcomed people into our woods and when one of our neighbours near Knockshanvo, East Clare was walking his dog, he noticed the presence of amphibians such as frogs, insects and other creatures that thrive in wetlands. He also noticed a low lying area in the wood where the trees were not growing as well as other areas. When he got in touch, it sparked an idea to use a nature based solution here for biodiversity enhancement. In conjunction with local stakeholders and the forest manager, the IForUT Team started working with them on the creation of a pond.
The project provided social benefits through employing local contractors where possible and continues to provide recreational benefits to the local community.
This man made pond was excavated in an area of wet ground, the dimensions of which are approximately 50m in length and 20m in width. At its deepest point it is c. 1.5m.
New plant species have aided in clarifying and oxygenating the pond to facilitate its maturation. By summer 2023, the species richness in and around the pond has increased a great extent. Damselfly, Dragonfly, Great Diving beetle, Water Boatman, Pond Skaters and Common Pond snail have all been observed in large numbers. In addition to these invertebrates, frog, spawn and tadpoles have been present in large numbers. Male and female newts have also been seen in and around the pond this year.
The pond has quickly become a biodiversity hotspot in the area which shows that such areas can co-exist very well alongside production forestry. Buzzard, hen harrier and red squirrel are also frequently observed in the mature forest areas. It is also intended to install nesting boxes for owl species in this property over the winter of 2024.
The installation of the pond has opened up opportunities for education. Signage, fencing and walking paths have been established in the vicinity of the pond aimed at educating forest users on plant and animal species present in the pond and woodland.
At our Knowledge transfer events, we outline how knowledge derived from forest management practices and water control can be applied to create areas of biodiversity enhancement.
All of these elements work in harmony with each other and act as a place to educate people on the multiple benefits that can come from the forest.
This forest is certified to both FSC and PEFC sustainable forest management standards. Sourcing timber from certified sources like IForUT’s forests is a smart choice for sustainably minded businesses like sawmills and builders. Wood is one of the world’s most versatile resources. It’s durable, recyclable, beautiful, and has a lower carbon footprint than other building materials.
IForUT are continuously working on projects like this throughout the country like Slievealoughane, Mosstown and Clonad to name a few. We understand that nature-based solutions leverage nature and the power of healthy ecosystems protect people, optimise infrastructure and safeguard a stable and biodiverse future.
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