93 Pictured this page: Adult male Hen Harrier. Photo: Mario Mac Rory MOUNTAIN LOG ACCESS & ENVIRONMENT An Bord Pleanála decided that the Coumngappul site was not an appropriate location for the proposed development because it would have: ❖ Significant adverse landscape and visual impacts, which would be dominant and obtrusive on a sensitive landscape ❖ Would result in a loss of biodiversity (a loss of wet and dry heath habitat with implications for nationally declining bird species, including the Hen Harrier) ❖ Would contravene the objectives of the Waterford City and County Development Plan 2022-2028. While the proposed development would have contributed to a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, it was not considered compatible with the objective in the National Climate Action Plan to pursue and achieve the transition to a climate-resilient, biodiversity-rich, environmentally sustainable and climate-neutral economy by the end of the year 2050. Mountaineering Ireland recognises the role and need for the development of wind energy as part of the national response to climate change. However, as the above example shows, this should not compromise or significantly impact upon important sites and areas such as designated landscapes, priority species and habitats, and areas of importance for ecosystem services, including tourism and recreation. You can read Mountaineering Ireland’s submission on the proposal at www.mountaineering.ie/_files/Mountaineering-Ireland-response-toCoumnagappul-Windfarm-Comeraghs---29-Jan-2024---no-sig.pdf.
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