Upland Farming and Landscape Management Symposium 2023
A significant one-day symposium on Upland Farming and Landscape Management, was held on Thursday, 16th November 2023 at the Knockranny House Hotel, Westport, Co. Mayo. It brought together scientists, policymakers, knowledge transfer professionals and practitioners from across the island of Ireland engaged with managing the uplands. The symposium had a mix of scientific presentations and panel discussions, with farmer and wider stakeholder contributions.
Themes for the symposium included:
- Uplands & Carbon
- Uplands & Biodiversity
- Uplands & Water
- Uplands & Livestock
The agenda for the day and presentations are available below
10am – 10:30am
Symposium Opening
Chaired by Vivian Silke, Teagasc Mayo Regional Manager
Presenters:
- Professor Frank O’Mara, Teagasc Director
- Paul McHenry, Head of Knowledge Advisory Service, CAFRE
- Dr Catherine Keena, Countryside Management Specialist, Teagasc
Download the presentation: Setting the Scene – from the Cuilcaghs to the Comeraghs (PDF)
10:30am – 11:30am
Session One: Carbon
Chaired by Mark Scott, Head of Sustainable Land Management, CAFRE
Presenter: Dr Florence Renou-Wilson, UCD
Download the presentation: Uplands and Carbon (PDF)
Panellists:
- Professor Gary Lanigan, Teagasc
- Dr Derek McLoughlin, Project Manager, Wild Atlantic Nature LIFE IP
- Tom Houlihan, Teagasc
11:30am – 12:30pm
Session Two: Biodiversity
Chaired by Daire Ó hUallacháin, Teagasc
Presenter: Nicola Warden, Biodiversity Technologist, CAFRE
Download the presentation: The CAFRE Journey to better biodiversity on the Hill Farm (PDF)
Panellists:
- John Muldowney, Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM)
- Fergal Monaghan, Project Manager, Hen Harrier Project
- Dr Barry O’Donoghue, Head of Agri-Ecology, NPWS
12:30pm – 1:45pm
Lunch
1:45pm – 2:45pm
Session Three: Water Quality
Chaired by Pat Murphy, Head of Environment Knowledge Transfer, Teagasc
Presenter: Cormac McConigley, Catchment Manager, Western Region, LAWPRO
Download the presentation: Working together to deliver for our uplands and water quality
Panellists:
- Professor Phil Jordan, University of Ulster
- Mary McAndrew, Pearl Mussell Project
- Mary Roache, Teagasc
2:45pm – 4pm
Session Four: Livestock
Chaired by Michael Gottstein, Head of Sheep Knowledge Transfer, Teagasc
Presenter: Declan Byrne, Teagasc
Download the presentation: Lessons from the SUAS EIP Project (PDF)
Panellists:
- Dr Eileen McCloskey, CAFRE
- Brendan Joyce, Farmer
- Dr Frank Campion, Teagasc
- John Noonan, Teagasc
- Ger Roarty, Farmer
4pm
Symposium Close
Speaker: Dr Stan Lalor, Director of Knowledge Transfer, Teagasc