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| Biosphere Reserve Information | ||||
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NORTH BULL ISLAND |
 © Photo: North Bull Island BR |
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| General Description |
North Bull Island is located in the Dublin Bay, just 7 km north-east of Dublin City center. It represents a small island, 5 km in length, built up over 200 years ago against a man-made sea wall. The biosphere reserve is significant from a conservation perspective since it supports well-developed salt marshes and dune systems displaying all stages of development from the earliest phase of colonization to stable and full maturity. The area is also important for nesting and wintering waterfowls and is also designated as a Ramsar site. In addition to its ecological value, the island has an important educational and recreation function valued by school classes and day visitors from Dublin. Two golf courses are situated on the island and there are some boating activities in the adjacent waters. In applying the biosphere reserve concept, the ambition is to reconcile the multiple uses in this small area. |
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| Major ecosystem type | Temperate coastal zone; marine wetlands | |||
| Major habitats & land cover types | Saltmarsh with glasswort (Salicornia dolichostachya and S. europaea), Puccinellia maritima and sea lavender (Limonium humile); sand dune complex with saltwort (Salsola kali), sea rocket (Cakile maritima), sea couchgrass (Agropyron junceiforme) etc.; beaches; lagoonal sand flat; lagoonal mud flats with algae such as Enteromorpha intestinalis, E. compressa and Ulva lactuca; salicornia flat | |||
| Location | 53°17'N; 06°05'W | |||
| Area (hectares) | ||||
| Total | 1,008 | |||
| Core area(s) | 80 | |||
| Buffer zone(s) | 186 | |||
| Transition area(s) when given | 742 | |||
| Altitude (metres above sea level) | 0 to +10 | |||
| Year designated | 1981 | |||
| Administrative authorities | Parks & Landscape Services Division, Dublin Corporation | |||
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| Brief description |
Pollution and water quality Sedimentation rates Salt marsh succession |
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| Specific variables... | ||||
| Abiotic | Hydrology, pollution, pollutants, siltation/sedimentation. | |||
| Biodiversity | Phytosociology/Succession. | |||
| Socio-economic | n.a. | |||
| Integrated monitoring | n.a. | |||
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| Contact address |
Gerry Barry Parks and Landscape Services Division Wood Quay Dublin 8 Ireland |
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| Telephone | (353.1) 672 2222 | |||
| Fax | (353.1) 670 7332 | |||
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press@dublincorp.ie |
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| Web site | ||||
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| Last updated: 11/01/2002 |
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