Irish Semi-natural Grassland Survey 2007-2012

In 2008, following a 2007 pilot study in Roscommon and Offaly, a nationwide research study into the semi-natural grasslands of Ireland commenced. This study involved collecting botanical and environmental data from semi-natural grassland across all 26 counties. A total of 1192 sites were surveyed and 4633 releves (including 89 non-grassland releves) recorded. The semi-natural grassland habitats (GS and GM categories in Fossitt (2000)) within each site were digitally mapped in ArcMap. In addition, five EU Annex I grassland habitats (6210, 6230, 6410, 6430 and 6510) encountered during the project were surveyed, mapped, and their condition assessed. A small number of sites with 6130 were also surveyed but not assessed. Fuzzy analysis was used to analyse the vegetation data and a classification that contained 19 vegetation types has been proposed and documented. Site and releve data have been stored in an Access database and Turboveg, and two ArcMap shapefiles hold site polygon and releve point habitat data. Coverage by County and year: 2008: Cork and Waterford 2009: Cavan, Monaghan, Leitrim and Longford 2010: Donegal, Dublin, Kildare and Sligo 2011 and 2012: Clare, Galway, Kerry, Limerick, Mayo, Tipperary, Carlow, Kilkenny, Laois, Louth, Meath, Westmeath, Wexford and Wicklow