The Control, Management and Monitoring of Invasive Weeds in the Mulkear Catchment

The Control, Management and Monitoring of Invasive Weeds in the Mulkear Catchment

MulkearLIFE hosted an extremely successful full day workshop on ‘The Control, Management and Monitoring of Invasive Weeds in the Mulkear Catchment’  on Friday, 11th March 2011, in Murroe, Co. Limerick.The workshop explored the problems posed by invasive weeds (Giant Hogweed, Japanese Knotweed, Himalayan Knotweeds and Himalayan Balsam) in the Mulkear catchment and how they are a major threat to native Irish biodiversity through their impact on the provision of ecosystems services and biodiversity.

The workshop explored the extent of the problem and the approach of MulkearLIFE / Inland Fisheries Ireland and its project partners (Limerick County Council and the Office of Public Works) is taking to address the problem. While the workshop was primarily aimed at the parties involved in the delivery of MulkearLIFE’s project actions specifically targeting Giant Hogweed and other Knotweeds, the workshop attracted interest far and wide.

Workshop delegates included staff members from the Office of Public Works, Limerick County Council and Kerry County Council, NPWS staff from Tipperary, Limerick and Clare and Inland Fisheries Ireland Staff from Limerick, Kerry, Clare and Dublin. In addition, the workshop was attended by researchers and others.

Photo: The workshop included a detailed presentation by Dr. Joe Caffery (Inland Fisheries Ireland) on the history of addressing invasive species.

The workshop also included a field trip which was designed to be an interactive training session, to Clonsingle Bridge, located on the banks of the Annagh/Clare River on the Tipperary Limerick border. The importance of the site from a workshop perspective was the heavy infestation with Himalayan Knotweed. The site also has significant infestations of both Giant Hogweed and Japanese Knotweed.