Rhododendron control 'top priority' with €2.7M spent in Killarney National Park

The control of Rhododendron is a 'top priority' for the National Parks and Wildlife Service as Government reveals €2.7m has been spent on management of the invasive species at Killarney National Park in the past five years.

There has been close to 2000 acres of area treated in the park under the management programme and plans are being drawn up for further management of the invasive species.

The spend by the NPWS on this threat to the Killarney National Park was revealed in response to a parliamentary question by Fianna Fáil TD for Cork South West Christopher O’Sullivan.

Minister of State for Heritage and Electoral Reform, Malcolm Noonan said that NPWS continues to invest heavily in and is committed to tackling the spread of invasive species across our network of National Parks.

"In particular, the control of Rhododendron ponticum is difficult, costly, and labour intensive, but is seen as a vital priority,” he said

Minister Noonan also outlined how the NPWS are responding to the threat in Killarney National Park with constant monitoring being undertaken. Killarney National Park is divided into zones, these zones include woodland, wet and dry heath and blanket bog. The results of this monitoring allow staff to develop a strategy for treatment, picking areas for prioritising work.

The NPWS has commissioned a review and this will set a strategy for the future. One recommendation from this review was to develop management plans for each zone. Staff at Killarney National Park are currently developing draft plans.

Currently Rhododendron work underway in the western woods, he also revealed in response to the query in the Dáil. These areas will be resurveyed next year. Following the results, it is expected that the NPWS will be able to classify a large area as being in a ‘maintenance’ phase. In the next 5 years there will be a continued effort to move zones in follow up phase to maintenance phase. All zones will be monitored to ensure that maintenance status is ensured.

“Just as the methodology employed to control rhododendron ponticum has evolved over the years, so too have the groups, contractors and individuals involved in these efforts. This is something that the NPWS expects will continue to evolve across all our sites into the future.”

Men’s shed members throughout Ireland have travelled to Killarney to volunteer with the local Killarney Meitheal volunteers at the invitation of the Killarney Chamber of Tourism and Commerce and the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) to help clear Rhododedron.

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