The Nature Restoration Regulation has specific requirements for urban ecosystems, including greening and tree planting. Urban areas are also very important for bird species. We have focused on two species which are particularly important. Those are the Swift and the Brent Goose.
Swifts are migratory birds that nest in buildings. They are in serious trouble due to loss of nest sites as a consequence of construction works and retrofitting. Ireland hosts approximately 95% of the East Canadian High Arctic Population of Brent Goose. This species eats the grass of playing pitches and amenity grasslands in the greater Dublin area when supplies of eelgrass run low in the estuaries. They are also vulnerable to human disturbance in highly urbanised environments.
The greening measures which are proposed for urban centres should be appropriate to the area and the biodiversity that is already supported there. For example, Brent Geese like open areas and tree-planting would not be appropriate in areas where they feed. Any tree planting should be of native species and Irish-grown. Restoration of seagrass in estuaries that Brent Geese eat should also be trialled and undertaken.
It is critical that the nest sites of Swifts are retained when works are carried out. Swift nesting bricks could be incorporated into new buildings, especially public buildings, and Swift nesting boxes can also be very beneficial on existing private and public buildings.
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