Ballycroy National Park

Ballycroy National Park is located in the Owenduff/Nephin Mountains area of north-west County Mayo, Ireland. It is one of the largest expanses of peatland in Europe, consisting of 117.79 square kilometres of Atlantic blanket bog. It is a unique habitat with a diverse flora and fauna. It was established as a national park on 1st November 1998.cite web
title = National Parks and Wildlife Service
url=http://www.npws.ie/NationalParks/BallycroyNationalParkCoMayo/
accessdate = 2006-07-28 ] It is also a Special Area of Conservation (SAC) and is part of the Natura 2000 network.cite web
title = Mayo County Council — Natural Heritage
url=http://www.mayococo.ie/mcc4/services/Heritage/NaturalHeritage.asp
accessdate = 2006-07-28 ]

Establishment of Ballycroy National Park

The European Union Habitats Directive (92/43/EEC), which was transposed into Irish law in 1997, lists certain habitats and species that Ireland was required to designate as SACs to ensure their protection. These habitats include blanket bogs. The bog at Ballycroy is especially important in this regard because it is one of the largest examples of a blanket bog habitat left in Western Europe. Ballycroy was established as a national park on 1st November 1998. It is managed under the State Property Act, 1954.

Features of Ballycroy National Park

Blanket bogs, cliffs and river habitats are found in the park. The blanket bog is one of the largest expanses of peatland left in Europe. Conservation of the bog is thus of international importance because of the niches it provides for various species, such as rare species of plants. The Owenduff River is also an important conservation area because it is the only river in Western Europe that still drains a relatively intact and extensive blanket bog system. It is also a very prolific salmon and sea trout river.

The Owenduff area is an important roosting, feeding and breeding site for a number of migratory bird species, such as the Greenland White-fronted Goose, that are listed in Annex 1 of the European Union Wild Birds Directive. Other rare species found in the park include the Whooper Swan, Peregrine Falcon and Corncrake.

A visitor center funded by the Irish government is planned for the park. The 700 square meter building will be built into a hill on a 423,000 square metre site overlooking the Atlantic Ocean in Ballycroy village. The centre is intended to encourage public appreciation of the park and its environment.cite web
title = Irish government press release
url=http://www.environ.ie/DOEI%5CDOEIPub.nsf/enSearchView/F05B590ED5A66C4180256F0F003DBCE5?OpenDocument&Lang=en
accessdate = 2006-07-28 ]

References