For Special Protection Areas (SPA),
Proposed Sites for Community Importance (pSCI),
Sites of Community Importance (SCI) and
for Special Areas of Conservation (SAC)

TABLE OF CONTENTS

• 1. SITE IDENTIFICATION
• 2. SITE LOCATION
• 3. ECOLOGICAL INFORMATION
• 4. SITE DESCRIPTION
• 5. SITE PROTECTION STATUS
• 6. SITE MANAGEMENT
• 7. MAP OF THE SITE

1. SITE IDENTIFICATION

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1.1 Type

A

1.2 Site code

IE0004165

1.3 Site name

Slievefelim to Silvermines Mountains SPA

1.4 First Compilation date

2010-04

1.5 Update date

2018-09

1.6 Respondent:

Name/Organisation:	National Parks and Wildlife Service, Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht
Address:
Email:	datadelivery@chg.gov.ie

1.7 Site indication and designation / classification dates

Date site classified as SPA:	2007-03
National legal reference of SPA designation	No information provided

2. SITE LOCATION

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2.1 Site-centre location [decimal degrees]:

Longitude:	-8.239302
Latitude:	52.713364

2.2 Area [ha]

20913.0504

2.3 Marine area [%]

0.0000

2.4 Sitelength [km] (optional):

No information provided

2.5 Administrative region code and name

NUTS level 2 code	Region Name
IE02	Southern and Eastern

2.6 Biogeographical Region(s)

Atlantic

(0.00 %)

3. ECOLOGICAL INFORMATION

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3.1 Habitat types present on the site and assessment for them

No habitat types are reported for the site

3.2 Species referred to in Article 4 of Directive 2009/147/EC and listed in Annex II of Directive 92/43/EEC and site evaluation for them

Species					Population in the site						Site assessment
G	Code	Scientific Name	S	NP	T	Size		Unit	Cat.	D.qual.	A|B|C|D	A|B|C
						Min	Max				Pop.	Con.	Iso.	Glo.
B	A082	Circus cyaneus			p	7	7	p		G	B	A	C	A
B	A098	Falco columbarius			p	1	1	p		G	C	B	C	C
B	A103	Falco peregrinus			p	1	1	p		G	C	B	C	C

• Group: A = Amphibians, B = Birds, F = Fish, I = Invertebrates, M = Mammals, P = Plants, R = Reptiles
• S: in case that the data on species are sensitive and therefore have to be blocked for any public access enter: yes
• NP: in case that a species is no longer present in the site enter: x (optional)
• Type: p = permanent, r = reproducing, c = concentration, w = wintering (for plant and non-migratory species use permanent)
• Unit: i = individuals, p = pairs or other units according to the Standard list of population units and codes in accordance with Article 12 and 17 reporting (see reference portal)
• Abundance categories (Cat.): C = common, R = rare, V = very rare, P = present - to fill if data are deficient (DD) or in addition to population size information
• Data quality: G = 'Good' (e.g. based on surveys); M = 'Moderate' (e.g. based on partial data with some extrapolation); P = 'Poor' (e.g. rough estimation); VP = 'Very poor' (use this category only, if not even a rough estimation of the population size can be made, in this case the fields for population size can remain empty, but the field "Abundance categories" has to be filled in)

3.3 Other important species of flora and fauna (optional)

Species					Population in the site				Motivation
Group	CODE	Scientific Name	S	NP	Size		Unit	Cat.	Species Annex		Other categories
					Min	Max		C|R|V|P	IV	V	A	B	C	D
B		Lagopus lagopus									X

• Group: A = Amphibians, B = Birds, F = Fish, Fu = Fungi, I = Invertebrates, L = Lichens, M = Mammals, P = Plants, R = Reptiles
• CODE: for Birds, Annex IV and V species the code as provided in the reference portal should be used in addition to the scientific name
• S: in case that the data on species are sensitive and therefore have to be blocked for any public access enter: yes
• NP: in case that a species is no longer present in the site enter: x (optional)
• Unit: i = individuals, p = pairs or other units according to the standard list of population units and codes in accordance with Article 12 and 17 reporting, (see reference portal)
• Cat.: Abundance categories: C = common, R = rare, V = very rare, P = present
• Motivation categories: IV, V: Annex Species (Habitats Directive), A: National Red List data; B: Endemics; C: International Conventions; D: other reasons

4. SITE DESCRIPTION

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4.1 General site character

Habitat class	% Cover
N20	49.00
N08	13.00
N06	1.00
N07	11.00
N10	5.00
N14	20.00
N16	1.00
Total Habitat Cover	100

Other Site Characteristics

This is an extensive upland site that occurs in Counties Tipperary and Limerick. Much of the site is over 200 metres in altitude, rising to 694 m at Keeper Hill. The site is underlain mainly by Silurian-aged Sandstones. Several important rivers rise within the site, including the Mulkear, Bilboa and Clare rivers. Approximately half of the site is afforested, including both first and second rotation plantations and clear fell areas. Roughly one-quarter of the site is unplanted blanket bog and heath, with both wet and dry heath present. The remainder of the site is largely rough grassland that is used for hill farming. Some stands of deciduous woodland also occur, especially in the river valley.

4.2 Quality and importance

Supports c. 3% of the all-Ireland population of Circus cyaneus and among the top 5 most important sites in the country for the species. Habitat excellent for both nesting and foraging purposes. Also has nesting Falco peregrinus, Falco columbarius and Lapopus lagopus, the latter a Red Data Book species. Falco columbarius probably nests but a survey is required.

4.3 Threats, pressures and activities with impacts on the site

The most important impacts and activities with high effect on the site

4.4 Ownership (optional)

No information provided

4.5 Documentation (optional)

Barton, C., Pollock, C., Norriss, D.W., Nagle, T., Oliver, G.A. and Newton, S. (2006). The second national survey of breeding Hen Harriers Circus cyaneus in Ireland 2005. Irish Birds 8: 1-20. Hardey, J., Crick, H., Wernham, C., Riley, H., Etheridge, B. and Thompson, D. (2009). Raptors, A Field Guide for Surveys and Monitoring. Scottish National Heritage. Heery, S. (2009). Birds in Central Ireland. Fourth Mid-Season Bird Report 2004-2007. BirdWatch Ireland, Kilcoole. Lynas, P., Newton, S.F. and Robinson, J.A. (2009). The status of birds in Ireland: an analysis of conservation concern 2008-2013. Irish Birds, 8(2): 149-166. Norriss, D.W., Marsh, J., McMahon., D. and Oliver, G.A. (2002). A national survey of breeding Hen Harriers Circus cyaneus in Ireland 1998-2000. Irish Birds 7: 1-12. O'Flynn, W.J. (1983). Population changes of the Hen Harrier in Ireland. Irish Birds 2: 337-343. Wilson, M., Gittings, T., O'Halloran, J., Kelly, T. and Pithon, J. (2005). The Distribution of Hen Harriers in Ireland in Relation to Land-use Cover and Forest Cover in Particular. COFORD, Dublin.

5. SITE PROTECTION STATUS

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5.1 Designation types at national and regional level (optional):

Code	Cover [%]
IE99	5.00

5.2 Relation of the described site with other sites (optional):

Designated at national or regional level:

Type code	Site name	Type	Cover [%]
IE99	Grageen Fen and Bog	+	2.00
IE99	Manhe Slieve Bog NHA	+	1.00
IE99	Blean Bog NHA	+	2.00

5.3 Site designation (optional)

No information provided

6. SITE MANAGEMENT

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6.1 Body(ies) responsible for the site management:

No information provided

6.2 Management Plan(s):

An actual management plan does exist:

	Yes
	No, but in preparation
X	No

6.3 Conservation measures (optional)

No information provided

 

7. MAP OF THE SITE

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Map delivered as PDF in electronic format (optional)

Yes X No

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SITE DISPLAY