Protection of Fragile Areas from Off-Road Vehicles

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Protection of Fragile Areas from Off-Road Vehicles

Monday, May 21 2007

The Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Dick Roche, has announced that he is taking steps to protect fragile areas of the Wicklow Mountains from damage caused by off-road vehicles.

"I have asked the National Parks and Wildlife Service of my Department to provide rural landowners and landuser interests in Co. Wicklow with information on the Wicklow Uplands candidate Special Area of Conservation, " said Minister Roche. "This will remind them that quad-biking and similar activities in SACs now require my Department's prior consent before they can take place in these areas."

"The ongoing and escalating problem of recreational use of all-terrain vehicles in the Wicklow Mountains has been of some considerable concern to me. Most of the activity is by quad bikes and motocross bikes, and involves driving in some of the most isolated parts of the mountains, through fragile upland peatlands. This is causing soil erosion and damage to Blanket Bog and Heath. Disturbance to wildlife is also a problem, " said the Minister.

Recreational quad biking in the mountains in particular is now a serious matter. Many quad bike riders seek to scale Lugnaquilla - at 925m, it is the highest mountain in the range. The protected megalithic tomb at the summit of Seefin, near the Dublin border, has been used by quad bikers as a ramp. Barriers erected to prevent entry at certain locations have been damaged and knocked.

The Minister asked that anyone with information on where and when such activity is occurring to phone the Regional HQ of the National Parks and Wildlife Service on (0404) 45800.

"The Wicklow uplands are a fantastic resource to Ireland both as an area of recreation and of nature conservation. I am determined to ensure that this area is fully protected from activities which damage this precious resource," concluded the Minister.

Most of the unenclosed area of the Wicklow Mountains (c. 36,000ha) is part of the Wicklow Uplands candidate Special Area of Conservation (SAC). Within this protected area, recreational use of quads etc. is prohibited except under license. Possible penalties include seizure of vehicles, fines of up to €3,000 and/or imprisonment for up to six months.

Much of the candidate SAC (nearly 20,000ha) is state-owned land forming Wicklow Mountains National Park. This area is managed for conservation and recreation. The use of off-road vehicles is not permitted on National Park lands.

Local National Parks and Wildife Service staff have been receiving complaints from farmers, landowners, hillwalkers and other concerned members of the public. In the coming weeks, National Parks and Wildlife Service now intend to implement measures throughout the Wicklow Mountains to tackle the problem including mounting additional surveillance.

Further information on Special Areas of Conservation is available from www.npws.ie and on the Wicklow Mountains National Park from www.wicklownationalpark.ie

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