My Department is involved with a range of organisations and groups in a number of initiatives intended to secure the conservation of the red grouse. There are many examples around the country of very positive collaboration between farmers, landowners, game shooters, field sports clubs, environmental NGOs and State agencies on the restoration of this species.
In 2013, my Department published a Species Action Plan for red grouse which charts the way forward for the conservation of the grouse. The plan was produced as a collaborative exercise with the Irish Grey Partridge Conservation Trust, Countryside Alliance Ireland, the National Association of Regional Game Councils, the Irish Red Grouse Association, the Golden Eagle Trust, BirdWatch Ireland, the Irish Red & White Setter Association, the Irish Kennel Club, IFA Countryside and Cró na mBraonáin Red Grouse sanctuary, and my Department is supporting ongoing meetings of the parties involved.
My Department has also provided funding and logistical support to the Boleybrack and Ballydangan Bog red grouse projects and is directly involved in the management of habitat for grouse in National Parks and other lands in various parts of the country.
Key to the conservation of grouse is the restoration of degraded habitats. Substantial improvements have been achieved in grazing management on hill commonages in the past 15 years and one benefit is the improvement in the conservation status of the species in areas such as the Nephin and Twelve Bens mountain ranges.
My Department also carries out monitoring of the grouse. This year there will be targeted red grouse surveys in counties Clare and Mayo to inform future habitat management measures and also to refine survey methodologies for future more broad scale surveys.
