University College Dublin and Codling Wind Park, which will be off County Wicklow, are launching a new research project that aims to promote and enhance marine biodiversity along the Irish coast. The research partnership will explore the potential for restoring native oyster reefs and seagrass beds, both in the Dublin Bay area and at selected sites along the coastline. The research project, which will be funded by Codling Wind Park, will also investigate how eco-engineering approaches, a form of nature inclusive design, can increase native habitats for native species.
Codling Wind Park, Ireland’s largest Phase One offshore wind project, will be approximately 13 to 22 kilometers off the County Wicklow coast between Greystones and Wicklow Town. If approved, it will generate 1,300 MW of clean electricity, enough to power more than 1 million homes.
Assistant Professor Paul Brooks of UCD’s School of Biology and Environmental Science said that, in the face of growing environmental challenges, researchers were increasingly focusing on the concept of using nature-based solutions to address various societal and ecological issues. He said one of the aims of this project was to broaden understanding of the uses of nature-based solutions (NbS) in restoring and promoting biodiversity.
“NbS utilize the inherent power of nature to provide sustainable and multifaceted solutions to complex problems. In partnership with Codling Wind Park, UCD researchers aim to investigate and assess the value of NbS, with a particular focus on eco-engineering approaches and the restoration of oyster reefs and seagrass beds along the Irish coast,” Brooks said. “In addition, we aim to emphasize the ability of NbS to promote biodiversity, mitigate climate change, enhance ecosystem services, and foster resilience in the face of environmental change. Gathering this data will help broaden our understanding of NbS and will help underpin the direction of future research in an Irish context.”
Scott Sutherland, project director of Codling Wind Park, said the partnership with UCD forms a key element of the first phase of the project’s Biodiversity Strategy. “Codling Wind Park will supply over a quarter of Ireland’s 2030 offshore wind target and displace up to 1.7 million tons of carbon, contributing significantly to the country’s national climate targets. We recognize, however, that in parallel with the current climate crisis, we are facing a global biodiversity emergency, and that it is our responsibility to develop the project in a manner that protects and, where possible, enhances biodiversity,” Sutherland said.
More info www.codlingwindpark.ie/biodiversity
