Office of Public Works intervenes for conservation of one of Ireland’s endangered native species
- Foilsithe: 3 Márta 2025
- An t-eolas is déanaí: 12 Aibreán 2025
This World Wildlife Day (3 March), the Office of Public Works (OPW) is highlighting a conservation intervention at one of its high profile heritage sites on behalf of a native endangered species.
The Natterjack Toad is Ireland’s only native toad species and found in just a handful of mostly coastal locations in Kerry.
At Derrynane House and Historic Park, the Natterjack relies on shallow, artificial ponds for breeding, but due to coastal erosion exacerbated by climate change, one of those ponds has become at risk of being overwhelmed by the Atlantic Ocean.
In partnership with the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) the OPW created a new pond over the winter, in a location less prone to erosion, for the toads to migrate to and breed in the early spring.
This represents a significant step in the conservation of an endangered species, part of OPW's commitment to sustainably manage important heritage sites and integrate biodiversity across all of its operations.
Chris O'Neill, Parks Superintendent at OPW, expressed the significance of this project, stating:
"The Natterjack Toads are very special because they're only found naturally in a handful of places in South West Ireland and is very restricted in its northern range in Europe.
“By creating this artificial pond we’re hoping to achieve an improved outlook for the Natterjack Toads at Derrynane, which can potentially be used as a stepping stone to spread to other areas in the locality.”
As part of its Biodiversity Action Strategy 2022-2026, the OPW appointed JBA Consulting Engineers and Scientists Ltd to undertake a Biodiversity Audit and Action Plan on ten Historic sites which included Derrynane.
The Derrynane Biodiversity Audit & Action Plan outlines its biodiversity significance which is located within the boundary of two European (Natura 2000) protected habitat designations, the Special Area of Conservation, Kenmare River and the Special Protection Area, Iveragh Peninsula.
A baseline survey was undertaken along with recommendations to further improve the sites important biodiversity. The report concludes that the good management at Derrynane National Historic Park is resulting in the overall good health of the habitats and protected species at the site.
For more information on OPW's conservation efforts and work in managing heritage sites, please visit the OPW website.
For more information or to arrange an interview, please contact the OPW press office at pressoffice@opw.ie
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Notes
About the Office of Public Works
The Office of Public Works (OPW) is a government office that delivers public services for flood protection, managing government properties and heritage services.
The OPW, as the leading agency for flood risk management in Ireland, minimises the impacts of flooding through sustainable planning. A core part of its remit is maintaining and presenting Ireland’s most iconic heritage properties, including Ireland’s two World Heritage Sites, 780 National Monuments and over 2,000 acres of gardens and parklands. It also manages a significant part of the State’s property portfolio and provides accommodation for government departments, over 700 Garda Properties and approximately 550 offices.
The Natterjack toad (Epidalea calamita) is listed on Annex IV of the EU Habitats Directive (92/43/EEC). Article 11 of this Directive obliges Ireland to undertake surveillance of such a listed species and to report regularly on its conservation status, in accordance with Article 17 of the Directive. In Ireland, the Natterjack toad is protected under the Wildlife Act, 1976 and the Wildlife Amendment Act, 2000. Internationally, the IUCN have listed the Natterjack toad on the Red List of Threatened Species as a species of Least Concern but with a declining population (Beja et al., 2009).