Upland Ecosystem Services and Integrated Land Management Strategies

Location: Ireland
Institution: Atlantic Technological University
Status: Active
Type: Research
Theme: Enabling Fair Transformations
Timeframe: 2024 - 2029

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An upland is simply an area of high land, like the slopes of a hill or mountain. In the Republic of Ireland, around 14% of the country is considered upland in nature.

Irish uplands are unique places with a long history of extensive human activity such as grazing, cutting, or burning; however, they are still home to many important native habitats. In fact, in the Republic of Ireland, 40% of areas that are designated as Special Areas of Conservation are above 150 metres.

Healthy upland environments are important as they provide huge benefits to people, which are called ecosystem services. These benefits fall into three main categories:

Provisioning: Things uplands directly produce, like food, timber, fuel, fresh water and renewable wind energy.
Regulating: The way uplands help manage our environment, for example by controlling flooding, sequestering carbon, protecting soil from erosion, and filtering air and water.
Supporting: The way the uplands support biodiversity.
Cultural benefits: The ways the uplands enrich our lives through tourism, outdoor recreation, education, and giving communities a sense of identity and heritage.

All of these benefits are currently under threat. Ireland’s population is ageing, an issue that is especially prominent in the uplands. As well as this, towns and cities are spreading outward, and wider economic and environmental pressures are putting strain on these ecosystems.

This is why researchers on this project are working to better understand how these challenges will affect Ireland’s uplands in the future. They are developing a clear, evidence-based plan for how the land should be used going forward, taking into account both the natural environment and the needs of local communities.

Project Goals

To work with local communities and other important stakeholders to map and assess the condition and extent of a select range of ecosystem services in several upland regions across Ireland
To map out the policies and laws related to upland ecosystems, identify where they agree or contradict each other, and explore how they could be better aligned to work toward the same goals
To identify opportunities and barriers that can either help or hinder sustainable development in Ireland’s uplands, considering a range of possible future scenarios such as a changing climate