People and Projects Solving Freshwater Restoration Challenges

EcoAdvance European Project

Showcase category ➤ Recreating Freshwater Ecosystems

IRELAND

Dr Micheál Ó Cinneide

Vice Chair Corrib Beo, Ireland

EC / PolicyMakers / Funders / Government
My Projects

Corrib Beo - Increasing Awareness of the Corrib’s Environment and Heritage
  

  • Key project facts

    Lough Corrib is Ireland’s 2nd largest inland Lake. Water quality has declined in recent decades, mainly driven by pressures from agriculture & Hydro-morphology (drainage). Corrib Beo has focussed on rebuilding Lake’s cultural & heritage awareness.

  • What impact did these projects have on biodiversity, if any?

    Rejuvenation of the lake and its biodiversity.

  • What work challenges did you face and what approach did you take to solve them?

    Different stakeholders hold different opinions – need working together to listen to each other.

  • What lessons learned are transferable to other places/projects?

    Value of integrating science and community action.

  • What is your biggest barrier and what are you trying to do about it?
    Inbuilt resistance to seeing the value of public engagement.
My Focus and Approach
  • Lessons Learnt - Some recommendations for others?
    1. What’s most important:

      Community engagement and involvement.

    2. The biggest barrier and what I am trying to do about it:
      Inbuilt resistance to seeing the value of public engagement.
My Journey
  • My journey:

    From Public sector Manager to voluntary Catchment group.

  • My Education:
    • MBA (Harvard);
    • DBA thesis on ‘Water Management in Europe’
  • The Big Change:

    It has contributed to the evolution of local Catchment groups in Ireland.

  • Favourite part of the work I do:

    Bringing people together, across disciplines & across the ‘invisible barriers’ between Government officials and voluntary groups.

Brief Overview

Interview

Key Topics:

Key Topics

These relate to specific topics (e.g. technical solutions; restoration activities etc.) addressed within the showcase materials.

  • Social learning/citizen engagement
  • Water Framework Directive
  • Local level Catchment planning
  • Multidisciplinary facilitators
Prone2Success Factors Demonstrated:

Prone2Success Factors Demonstrated

These are the Prone2Success checklist factors which are highlighted within this showcase. More information on the Prone2Success checklist can be found here.

  • Supports WFD, NRL and other restoration policy goals
  • Communicate/engage with stakeholders from the outset
  • Engage with the local community from the outset
  • Local planning processes are transparent / clearly understood
  • Ensure stakeholder understanding / education of restoration goals & benefits
NRL Restoration Categories:

NRL Restoration Categories

These are the restoration categories (listed under Annex VII of the European Nature Restoration Law (NRL) which are relevant to this showcase.

  • [22] Improve connectivity across habitats

Back