National Survey of Upland Habitats
National Parks and Wildlife Service have commissioned a 3 year project to survey a suite of uplands that commenced in 2010 following a Scoping Study and Pilot Survey (Perrin, et. al, (2009) Scoping study and pilot survey for a national survey and conservation assessment 
[13,357KB]). Its chief aims are to:
- survey a representative sample of the range of upland habitats in Ireland
- map location and extent of Fossitt and Annex I habitats
- map distribution of rare and threatened upland flora for the upland sites
- conduct a conservation assessment of Annex I upland habitats and establish monitoring plots for periodic re- assessment
- devise a relevé-based classification system for upland plant communities
- identify impacts, threats and trends in relation to conservation status of the following Annex I habitat:
| Natura Code | Annex I habitat |
| 4010 | Northern Atlantic wet heaths |
| 4030 | European dry heaths |
| 4060 | Alpine and Boreal heaths |
| 6230 | Species-rich Nardus grasslands |
| 7130 | Blanket bog |
| 7140 | Transition mires |
| 7150 | Depressions on peat substrates of the Rhynchosporion |
| 7230 | Alkaline fens |
| 8110 | Siliceous scree of the montane to snow levels |
| 8210 | Calcareous rocky slopes with chasmophytic vegetation |
| 8220 | Siliceous rocky slopes with chasmophytic vegetation |
| 8120 | Calcareous and calcshist screes of the montane to alpine levels |
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| Croaghaun/Slievemore cSAC, Co. Mayo (Photo: BEC Consultants) |
Members of the Scientific Unit can be contacted by e-mailing: natureconservation@npws.gov.ie