Conservation and Wildlife Essay Example

Similar to the United States and many other countries across the globe, Ireland faces its own issues in the conservation of its wildlife. In our current world, where the human population continues to expand more in numbers than what history has previously seen; the conservation of the environment, its resources, and the natural flora and fauna of these lands grow as a major concern to both scientists and many environmentalists. With this comes the formation of many problems, like the destruction of once stable ecosystems and the possibility of an impact economically happening, which could be quite concerning for humans, along with what they consider as their livelihood. In Ireland, an example of this problem in wildlife conservation is shown through the continued concerns for protections regarding the species of birds known as the Hen Harrier. Through this analysis, it can be interpreted that the Hen Harrier species of raptors have experienced a decline in numbers due to habitat loss, been the victim of persecutive activities, and faced an over-loss or deterioration of their vital resources.

Description of wild animal species

The Hen Harrier or the “circus cyaneous” by scientific name, concerning being a bird of prey that circles in flight for food and could be recognized by those below by their dark blue or gray feathers, is a medium-sized bird that before the twentieth century was quite populous to all over the country of Ireland [1]. This species as well is also a type of ground-nesting Raptor that quite often breeds in parts of Europe, North America, and within some areas along with Asia [1]. Originally, the Hen Harrier was recorded and known to be a bird species whose ecosystem consisted of populated moorlands that were wide open in space [1]. But now, in more recent years, the birds have been present in habitats that are more well associated with conifer plantations where they like to hunt and nest during the breeding seasons [1]. Unfortunately, now, the current status of the Hen Harrier’s population in Ireland is being threatened and has seen as of late a notable decline in bird pairs, with less reproductive success compared to previous observed seasons. Recently, the breeding population of these birds was acknowledged by observations to be only between 128 and 172 pairs in the Republic of Ireland [1]. This is quite the drastic difference for a bird who previously could have been seen widespread across Ireland, and can now only be spotted with rarity across the country.

Hen Harriers also play a role in the ecosystem, through their predation of field mice and other small rodents. These birds have contributed to significant effects; the Hen Harriers are also items of predation for some terrestrial species of animals like coyotes, red foxes, skunks, and raccoons [2]. Additionally, Hen Harriers hold a positive economic purpose for humans in agriculture, through the protection of farmers’ crops by the reduction of the populations of mice and other rodents that eat and damage produce [2]. They have also been noted to hold a different relationship with farmers in comparison to other birds of the area, as they do not often attack poultry, which contrasts with the behavior of some known hawk species [2].

Description of wildlife challenge or issue

As was briefly noted previously, Hen Harriers have experienced a decline in numbers over the last century, which can be especially well noted in Ireland. Items that have been primarily thought to be the true causation of the substantial loss in bird populations include activities of misconduct or persecution, along with habitat loss and deterioration [1]. Difficulties in solving this decline are similar, as Ireland’s land usage over the last 50 years has resulted in grounds that have been unsuitable for the breed, or largely broken and dispersed, causing much decline in the Hen Harrier’s preferred habitat current availability [3]. Now, there are a few different agencies involved in protecting this species of bird. Through Annex 1 of the European Birds Directive, the Hen Harriers receive protection, and Ireland, to comply in assisting the survival and reproduction of this bird, has designated “Special Protection Areas”, which is better known as SPAs [1].

Even with the creation of SPAs, the decline has been contributed by the agricultural intensification of grassland where the birds breed [1]. This is in part due to larger changes in land, and land usage of open habitats in the uplands that are relevant to upland species of bird-like the Hen Harrier [1]. An example of this land change that can be associated with Ireland is an increase in the creation of wind farms, along with a variety of factors like the disturbances that are made to the Hen Harriers’ habitats and breeding areas through the actions of peat cutting and burning [3]. With this, if the problem of the continued reduction in the population of these birds is not solved, long-term issues will begin to form.

As noted previously, given their role in the ecosystem and the positive economic impacts that they have on farmers, it would be detrimental to lose this species of Raptor that plays such a key role. If the Hen Harrier were to disappear from all habitats due to observed dwindling numbers in pairs, the first effects would be seen in the ecosystem. With a noted uptick in abundant populations of rodents and mice that would go unchecked in open environments away from the sharp predation of these birds who had kept them reasonably controlled. A long-term consequence of this would be an economic and agricultural loss in crop production for farmers. Additionally, with the removal of the Hen Harrier noted in the ecosystem, the possibility of invasive predatory species could arise to take these birds’ place in a now disrupted food chain, which could lead to further damage to crops by both predator and prey, along with the formation of new developing issues of harm or damage towards livestock animals by previously nonexistent threats.

Recommendation

To expand upon the impacts that have been previously considered, a series of recommendations can be made. First, the perennial usage of protected land like the special protection areas (SPAs) of Ireland would benefit from continued maintenance for the land’s native species. By focusing on upkeep, and remaining steady towards efforts to protect areas of moorland that are the natural habitat of these birds of prey, this consistency could have a positive impact on the population of breeding pairs. Additionally, in this way, conservationists and researchers could see a natural increase in Hen Harrier numbers. Another method that can be recommended now in a more recent examination, is a partnership between Ireland’s governing rural departments and farmers who live and work in the habitats where these birds reside [4]. With this program, the farmers would receive positive reinforcement through their participation and management of their lands for the benefit of the Hen Harrier [4].

Impact of Recommendation

With these two recommendations put into action, the effects felt by the Hen Harriers would be quite positive. If these plans were to be carried out well, it could be expected that the population of these midsized raptors would see a gradual increase. Additionally, these actions have the potential to be felt by other wildlife as Hen Harriers would cause a decrease in rodent and small mouse populations. Comparing this, the economy of Ireland could also positively benefit from this interaction through their farmers being able to produce a surplus of crops without the damage caused by the small animals that act as prey for the Hen Harrier. Furthermore, farmers may benefit from the partnership through the Hen Harrier Project funded by the Irish government, which works to advise and provide payment to farmers who live on the lands of SPAs [4]. Finally, the Irish government can also gain from this exchange through being able to continue to fulfill the promise that was made to the European Union in conservation matters related to the Hen Harrier species.

Similar to many other species across the world, the Hen Harrier has experienced its journey filled with concerns of endangerment. From continued persecution to habitat and resource loss, the Hen harrier has become a wildlife concern across the continent of Europe. As the Hen Harrier has experienced a loss in breeding pairs, their reproductive success has also declined. In Ireland’s mission to conserve the bird species in a promise made to the European Union, they created specially protected areas to house the habitual qualifications necessary for the Hen Harrier to survive and retain a native population in the country. Unexpectedly, the Hen Harrier’s environmental needs had changed due to the increase in agricultural use of land across Ireland. This continued a population decline, as the Hen Harrier was still unsuited to its environment. With research towards better understanding the species’ needs, and development of partnerships with farmers who work and live in the SPAs, the uncertain times of the Hen Harrier’s past could come to an end.