Biodiversity-Strategy-January-2023

54 10.0 Appendices Protecting Biodiversity Deliver Biodiversity Duty and comply with legislation Implement The Council’s Invasive Alien Species (IAS) policy IAS legislation Action for Pollinators • Delivered training on WANE Act and Duty to relevant staff. • Carried out and commissioned ecological surveys including Biodiversity Checklists, nesting bird surveys, bat roost potential surveys, bat activity surveys, red squirrel surveys, otter surveys and more, to inform our wide range of capital works programmes and ongoing maintenance schedule. • Carried out Habitats Regulation Assessments (HRAs) for projects and plans as required by Conservation (Natural Habitats etc.) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1999. • Projects including Grange Car Park lighting scheme, Sloughan Glen ASSI path works, Gortin Glen Forest Park, Ballinamallard Mill Race improvements, Necarne Castle stabilisation works and Ecclesville Pond management. • Delivered training and provision of resources to horticulture and maintenance staff in the recognition and management of the most common IAS species. • Created and updated IAS map database annually. • Created and delivered treatment plans for key IAS on Council estate annually. • Provided advice and signposted public when requested on IAS legislation and management. Delivering the Lough Erne Landscape Partnership IAS project. The following has been delivered to date via LELP funding: • IAS awareness and management training delivered to 268 people over 6 events (2020 events cancelled due to COVID). • Over 5000 IAS ID booklets and leaflets created. • Over 8 key IAS sites managed annually. The Council has adopted the ‘Don’t Mow Let It Grow!’ initiative created by the Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council. This initiative is following on from the successful ‘Saving Our Magnificent Meadows’ scheme and has achieved the following to date: • A formal maintenance programme where native grasses and wildflowers are encouraged to grow through a change in cutting times across 35 sites. This has amounted to 40 Ha on Council land, which includes mapping of sites using GIS and placement of ‘Don’t Mow’ signage. • Liaison with DfI Roads on the signage and cutting regimes which impact key roadside verges across the District. • Setting up of an internal working group on pesticide reduction across Council land.