James Orr, director of Castle Espie Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust explained in a talk to The Rotary Club of Comber that the environment of Strangford Lough is in grave danger.
Castle Espie Wetland Centre, near Comber, is now in the process of expanding and improving the site and during preparations archaeological examinations have discovered evidence of the old shoreline and signs of a disturbed salt marsh. It is hoped to restore at least some of the original salt marshes during the contract, thus attracting birds and plants which have been fast disappearing. It was thought that salt marshes had been seriously disturbed by industrial development on the site just over one hundred years ago but now it is discovered that limestone quarrying had been carried out here for more than one thousand years.
James outlined the major plans for the site which will be carried out without the need to close the center. He said that the new buildings and all the earthworks will be designed to be as ecologically friendly as possible. Indeed, the designs will be in the vanguard of what is essential for the whole community to prepare for the changing climate and higher sea levels. Buildings will be constructed to be energy efficient and waste will be managed to have the least environmental impact.
Trees, planted in the nineteen-seventies some coming from places like Italy and Japan, create a barrier to the birds, as they are not indigenous to the area. These will be replaced with native trees making a better habitat for the birds.
James concluded by saying that evidence of the extremely interesting industrial past will be preserved and displayed but this will not hinder the restoration of the site, which enhances this corner of Strangford Lough and will make this already popular nature reserve a major enlarged attraction for many years to come.
In a question and answer session James explained about salt marshes “A salt marsh is a type of marsh that is a transitional zone between land and salty or brackish water (e.g., sloughs, bays, estuaries). It is dominated by halophytic (salt tolerant) herbaceous plants. Historically, salt marshes have sometimes been treated as "wastelands", along with other wetlands. We now know that salt marshes are one of the most biologically productive habitats on the planet, rivaling tropical rainforests. This is partly due to the daily tidal surges that bring in nutrients, the natural chemical activity of salty (or brackish) water, the tendency of nutrients to settle in roots of the plants there, and the tendency of algae to bloom in the shallow un-shaded water. Salt marshes also provide a benefit by protecting against severe weather, such as in the North American Gulf Coast. In the past, substantial areas of salt marsh have been reclaimed as agricultural land and for urban development. There is growing interest in restoring salt marshes, through a process of managed retreat”.
Rotarian Kevin McAlpine proposed a vote of thanks saying how much the Rotary club members enjoyed his talk and stressing that club members would continue to support Castle Espie.
If you would like to become involved in the activities of Comber Rotary Club you can find out more “About us” by visiting http://www.comberrotary.org/
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Submitted by phillip on Wed, 2008-01-23 18:53.
