Over 100 delegates have gathered in Westport, Co. Mayo to attend a conference entitled ‘Wilderness in a Modified European Landscape’. The two day conference is being held by Coillte in partnership with the Department of Arts, Heritage and Gaeltacht and Mayo County Council. The delegates will discuss how wilderness projects can be achieved in Europe, the potential benefits for ecosystems and people from rewilding and current European rewilding policy.
Ireland is seen as European leader in the area of rewilding following the recent signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between Coillte and the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht that designated 11,000 hectares in the Nephin Beg Range of North West Mayo as Ireland’s first wilderness area.
Bill Murphy of Coillte and Project Director of the Nephin Wilderness Project said : “We are delighted to welcome our international speakers and delegates to Mayo to see for themselves the Nephin Wilderness Project and to exchange ideas on the concept of rewilding. Over the next two days we hope to start new conversations on the subject and introduce it to a broader audience.”
Dr. Craig Bullock, Environmental Economist at UCD, speaking at the conference on the economics of wilderness said: “Wild and natural areas bring benefits that contribute to peoples well-being. As such they are economic assets, as wilderness has an additional value that is greater than associated with a forest as there is an ‘option value’ that represents the insurance value of preserving something that may have a greater value in the future.”
The Nephin Wilderness Project will deliver a dedicated wilderness of forest, mountain, bog, river and lakes in the Nephin Beg Range. The project will involve Coillte taking 4,400 hectares out of their commercial forest operation and rewilding this land, improving habitat and landscape quality over a 15 year period. The eventual intention is protecting a landscape of scale with functioning ecosystems while providing an authentic ‘wilderness experience’ for those that visit.
Mr. Jimmy Deenihan, Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht said: “The Nephin Wilderness Project shows the benefits that can come when different organisations work together in partnership. My Department, Coillte and Mayo County Council are delivering a vision for Nephin that will restore the area to natural wilderness. This will take many years, but will be of lasting and long term benefit to Ballycroy National Park, to the wider region, and to visitors.”
The Nephin Beg Wilderness Project forms part of a European wide commitment to designate 1,000,000 hectares to rewilding by 2020. Mayo Co. Council are working with Coillte and the NPWS in the Nephin Beg Project. Speaking about their involvement Mr. Peter Hynes, Mayo County Manager said: “People everywhere are increasingly looking for opportunities to explore large natural areas for peace and quiet, for adventure and for re-generation and inspiration. The National Wilderness in Mayo will provide a unique opportunity for people to do this, and we in Mayo County Council are very excited about the prospects which this opens up for the County and for the entire west region. The region is very accessible from all over Europe through Ireland West Airport Knock and we believe that people will travel from across Europe and the world to Mayo to experience this unique Wild Place. The Wilderness project constitutes a major and very welcome economic opportunity for the area”
Source: Coillte – Wilderness Conference Taking Place in Mayo
