Numerous project have been undertaken over the last 35 years in Ireland to map freshwater wetland habitats in many counties. However, no centralised map of wetlands existed for Ireland even as recently as 2013.

Wetland Surveys have undertaken numerous studies and surveys, and proposed plans for the protection and conservation of wetland habitats for over 20 years. This led to a decision to develop this mapping project in 2013, to show the location and provide information on all wetlands around Ireland. The Map of Irish Wetlands is a joint project between Wetland Surveys Ireland and Foss Environmental Consulting.

The map shows the location and provides further information on all wetland sites in Ireland. On the Map of Irish Wetlands, sites (points) are the basic unit of coverage on the map, with some +13,000 wetland sites shown across the country.

Wetland site boundaries are shown in selected counties where targeted wetland surveys have been undertaken or site boundaries exist. A 'Wetland Indicating Sediments' layer based on the Quaternary Geology Map of Ireland (Geological Survey Ireland 2018) can be displayed. The sediments within the layer may suggest the presence of wetland conditions (alluvium, lacustrine, blanket peat, raised peat, cutover peat, water, lake marl, coastal marsh, estuarine silt and clays) and were extracted to create this standalone dataset. This dataset may help estimate the extent of a wetland shown on the MIW, where no site boundary has yet been defined. National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) designated site boundaries (SAC, SPA, NHA and pNHA) can also be displayed.

The wetland habitats on sites displayed in the Map of Irish Wetlands include the following wetland types. More information on these habitats and a detailed description can be found in Fossitt, J. (2000) A Guide to Habitats in Ireland published by The Heritage Council, Ireland (you can download the Heritage Councils habitat key here): 

• LAKE (DYSTROPHIC/ ACID/ ALKALINE/ MESOTROPHIC/ EUTROPHIC)

• RESERVOIR

• TURLOUGH

• ARTIFICIAL POND

• CANAL

• CALCAREOUS SPRING

• NON-CALCAREOUS SPRING

• REED SWAMP

• TALL HERB SWAMP

• MARSH

• WET HEATH

• RAISED BOG

• LOWLAND BOG

• UPLAND BOG

• CUTOVER BOG

• ALKALINE FEN

• CLADIUM FEN

• POOR FEN

• TRANSITION MIRE

• WET WOODLAND (OAK ASH OR WILLOW ALDER)

• RIPARIAN WOODLAND

• BOG WOODLAND

• SCRUB (BIRCH WILLOW ALDER)

• LAGOON AND SALINE LAKE

• DUNE SLACKS

• SALTMARSH

• ESTUARIES
  

To find out more about some of Irelands wetlands, check out our Factfiles.

Some facts about the Map of Irish Wetlands

With the completion of the first draft of the Map of Irish Wetlands in October 2016, some information on the structure of the map and the additional background data held on the wetlands is presented here. 

The on-line Map of Irish Wetlands shows the location of more than 13,000+ known and potential wetlands in Ireland. It is the first time such a national data set has been created and made publicly accessible. 

The Map of Irish Wetlands includes the location of formally designated and protected sites (Natural Heritage Areas (NHA), Special Protection Areas (SPA) and Special Areas of Conservation (SAC)) together with Proposed Natural Heritage Areas (pNHA), as well as a wide range of private nature reserves, wetlands in public or state parks, wetland centres etc. 

In addition the map shows the location of wetland sites, which have no formal designation and for which in many cases we have very limited information. Included here are many intact and cutover bogs, farm ponds, quarry ponds, golf course ponds and “unknown” wetland areas (marshes, swamps and fens) in the general countryside. Many of these wetlands were identified from aerial photographic survey, using flooding, subsoil data and visual examination to identify new wetlands, or “potential" wetland sites. This wetland county screening process for all 26 counties in Ireland was completed in October 2016.

Since 2017 the map is displayed via the ESRI Web Maps interface and can be accessed from anywhere, via most internet connected devices, without the need for any special software. In the pop up window, information (stored in 150,000 individual data fields for the +13,000 sites) is displayed (Find out more). In addition to site information, the map also displays a site photograph where one is available. 

The on-line version of the Map of Irish Wetlands data set is created from 26 individual county wetland databases holding more detailed site information than that displayed on the on-line version of the map. 

This includes a wide variety of information on each wetland such as data relating to location, ownership, all habitat types present on a site, flora and fauna information, occurrence of rare species, landuse, threats and impacts to the site and further information on the wetland including year of last survey, survey descriptions of the site, published materials, habitat maps and associated data are recorded where such data is available. This wetland data is stored in more than 430,000 individual data fields across the 26 county databases. 

As new data becomes available on a wetland site, from either information provided by the public, from a wetland surveys, a general site visits, or a photograph submitted by a member of the public, data is updated in the respective county wetland database. 

Selected information held in the individual county wetland databases is then exported to the main Map of Irish Wetlands database which is then displayed via the on-line map. 

How you can Help us improve the Map of Irish Wetlands

We intend to continue to refine the information presented on wetland sites on the map over the coming years, including the addition of site photographs, habitat information and descriptions as these become available. We always welcome information on new or existing sites, and look forwarding to hearing from you if you would like to contribute to this wetland mapping project.

If you would like to submit a new site to be included on the map, report an error, or provide us with additional data about a wetland in your area send email to info@wetlandsurveys.ie.

Map of Irish Wetlands Team
Peter Foss & Patrick Crushell