Iveragh's Farmland Biodiversity
Iveragh's farmland is much more than a gorgeous backdrop for a photograph, it is also home to so much of our native wildlife.
Iveragh's natural beauty
The Iveragh Peninsula is home to some stunning scenery which attracts visitors, not only from across the island of Ireland, but across the world. A large part of Iveragh’s draw as a tourist destination is a consequence of the region’s natural beauty. Farming plays an integral role in shaping this landscape. In fact, most of the land that is visible from some of our most renowned viewpoints (Cnoc na dTobar, Bray Head, Bolus Head, Com an Chiste) is influenced by livestock grazing.
Beentee, Bray Head and Bolus Head are three well-known locations where farming plays a major role in shaping Iveragh's landscape.
The need for habitat diversity
Positioned on the edge of Europe, Iveragh is bordered by Dingle Bay to the north, Kenmare Bay to the south and the Atlantic Ocean to the west. This maritime influence means that important habitats such as beaches, sand dunes, cliff faces, coastal grasslands and coastal heath are common along Iveragh’s coastline. Stepping in from the coast, blanket bog, heather moorland, conifer plantations and patches of native woodland and scrub are also present.
The most common habitats in Iveragh, however, are agricultural grasslands. These grasslands are usually farmed intensively in the lowlands and valleys, and extensively in Iveragh’s uplands and coastal areas. Iveragh’s extensively farmed areas are extremely important for wildlife, given that they are not reseeded and do not receive heavy inputs of fertilisers or pesticides. Well-balanced grazing systems help to maintain variation in Iveragh’s landscape, where bare earth, rocky outcrops, grasses, dwarf shrubs and more developed scrub can all occur in the same area. Having a diverse set of habitats in a region is beneficial for many species.
Grassland, heathland, blanket bog and sand dune are very valuable habitats that benefit from well-balanced livestock grazing.
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Iveragh hosts a network of earth banks, stone walls, hedgerows and drainage ditches that run throughout the peninsula’s farmland. These features which separate one field from the next are known as 'field boundaries'. Relative to their size, these smaller habitats are extremely important to wildlife as they provide food, shelter and safe passage to a great number of species. These features benefit agriculture and also add to Iveragh’s natural beauty and cultural heritage, having been built and maintained by previous generations.
Iveragh's earth banks, stone walls, hedgerows and drainage ditches add so much character to the landscape. When managed appropriately, these field boundaries are teeming with life. These features provide pollen, nectar, leaves, seeds and berries for our insects, reptiles, amphibians, mammals and birds.
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Striking a balance
Although harmful farming practices (overgrazing, burning, land drainage and heavy inputs of fertilisers or pesticides) receive plenty of attention, the positive role farming plays in maintaining a healthy ecosystem is sometimes overlooked. Although not perfectly balanced, Iveragh’s farmland still contains a diverse mix of habitats which supports many of our native species and contributes to the region’s natural beauty. The key to retaining this landscape we adore will be balancing the need for productive farmland with the need for a healthy ecosystem and healthy communities of plants and animals.
We want to share our beautiful corner of the world with you and with many generations to come. For this reason, we support regenerative, sustainable and responsible ecotourism and we hope you will too. Please take a minute to read our 'Things to Know Before You Go' so you can also play your part. Go raibh maith agat.
