This year was marked by exciting growth and development for our Ecology team. We expanded our skills, knowledge, and capacity and embarked on numerous exciting environmentally positive projects. As always, training and upskilling were a focus in 2024 and we gave team members opportunities to gain knowledge and experience in their chosen fields of interest (for example, mammal surveys, bird surveys, bat surveys, marine mammal surveys, aquatic surveys, winter tree identification, grassland assessment, construction site supervision, water safety training, project management and environmental legislation….the full list is too long to include here). We are very grateful to our in-house training coordination group for all the work that went into organising and scheduling a multitude of training trips and events, and we are excited for the expanded and diversified schedule of events to come in 2025.
We implemented significant technological advancements, and are extremely grateful to our team of GIS specialists who have revolutionised how we collect and manage survey data. By leveraging advanced GIS technologies, our team has significantly improved the accuracy and efficiency of data collection and analysis. This has led to better quality data outputs, enabling us to provide live and interactive updates and actionable insights for our clients. As a result, we ensure that our clients receive the highest quality service at the best possible value, enhancing their ability to make informed decisions and achieve their project goals.
Maintaining a healthy balance between remote and office working can be challenging and following a request from our Cork-based staff, we secured places in a remote working hub in Cork City. This hub provides a space for remote team members to gather, collaborate, and build strong working relationships. This initiative has been incredibly successful and greatly appreciated by our team members.
Evolving industry
Biodiversity enhancement and net gain are rapidly becoming essential components of development projects in Ireland and it’s gratifying to see the industry’s progress over the past decade. We were proud to assist our clients in securing planning permission for various projects, including proposals to enhance wetlands, peatlands, and river corridors. This positive impact work is the core of our vision as ecologists.
We’ve observed a shift towards more nature-focused work and have completed several biodiversity scoping projects in collaboration with local authority biodiversity officers across Ireland. This valuable work will inform county and local area development plans and influence land use zoning to ensure the protection and preservation of biodiversity.
This year we welcomed the adoption of the Nature Restoration Directive, a key element of the EU Biodiversity Strategy, aiming to restore degraded ecosystems across the EU. It sets binding targets to restore at least 20% of the EU’s land and sea areas by 2030, with the ultimate goal of restoring all ecosystems in need by 2050. This directive focuses on improving the condition and connectivity of habitats, reversing the decline of pollinator populations, and enhancing biodiversity in urban, agricultural, and marine ecosystems. By implementing these measures, the directive aims to support climate mitigation, prevent natural disasters, and ensure the long-term recovery of biodiversity. At MKO, we are well-positioned to contribute significantly to the goals of the Nature Restoration Directive. Our expertise in habitat restoration, biodiversity enhancement, and ecological monitoring allows us to support projects that align with the directive’s objectives.
We are confident that the industry will continue to evolve and adapt into the future, and we are ideally placed to set the standard as the leaders in ecological services in Ireland. Our commitment to innovation, collaboration, and excellence ensures that we remain at the forefront of ecological advancements, driving positive change and setting new benchmarks in the industry.
Services offerings
We have successfully expanded our service offerings, including Aquatic Ecology, Environmental Clerk of Works (ECoW) and Conservation Detection with our dog team.
Our expanded aquatic ecology team successfully completed baseline monitoring, such as electrofishing, kick sampling, invertebrate sampling, pearl mussel surveys, crayfish surveys eDNA sampling and reporting for several renewable and transport infrastructure projects in 2024. In addition to baseline monitoring our team is engaged in several exciting projects ranging from barrier removals on natural rivers to canal restoration.
This year, we formed a dedicated Ecological/Environmental Clerk of Works team that provides an all-encompassing construction supervision and operational monitoring service. The team, which consists of Ecological and Environmental specialists, conduct preconstruction flora and faunal surveys, environmental monitoring including water sampling, and environmental supervision throughout all phases of development. Clients have been thrilled with our service, valuing the single point of contact for all their environmental planning compliance, construction supervision, and operational monitoring needs.
We have also formed a dedicated team specialising in biodiversity net gain assessments and assessment of nature-based solutions. We anticipate significant growth in these areas, especially within the transport, utilities, residential and renewable energy sectors.
Our Conservation Detection Dog Team grew its renewable energy client base and geographic coverage. The team performed phenomenally with some exceptionally minute finds demonstrating the value and efficiency of dog searches compared to human searches at wind farm sites. The recorded findings help to inform mitigation requirements which help to minimise impacts on sensitive species such as bats. We are delighted to announce that due to growing demand, our team is further expanding, and we are looking forward to welcoming two new certified dog handlers in the spring of 2025.
Highlights
We continued to work with the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) to produce and draft site-specific conservation objectives for midland Special Protection Areas (SPAs). This vital will help better define the favourable conservation status of special conservation interests and allow for better site management in the future.
We continued monitoring the three castle projects in Galway, focusing on bat roosting populations, including a significant roost of the Annex II species Lesser Horseshoe bat. After part of the roost collapsed due to storm damage in 2023, MKO was delighted to advise and supervise the restoration. Follow-up monitoring confirmed that the roost remains in use.
Our forest ecologist specialists expanded their work for Coillte and were excited to contribute to the Bioforest Project. This initiative aims to manage large areas of the Coillte estate sympathetically for biodiversity. Our team conducts assessments of potential forestry areas where biodiversity can be enhanced through sustainable management practices such as replanting with native species and continuous cover forestry.
We integrated drones into our survey work, significantly enhancing the accuracy of habitat mapping. Collaborating with our dedicated Drone Surveys team, we also developed an algorithm for invasive species identification. This innovative technology has been successfully used to complete invasive species surveys for public sector clients. The accuracy of the data helps streamline the identification and mapping of invasive species populations, providing real-time data to inform management and eradication procedures.
Raising awareness about biodiversity is vital to halting biodiversity loss in Ireland. Building on our Bioblitz success in 2023, we collaborated with Portumna Community School to run another Bioblitz. This event showcased the work of ecologists in Ireland and featured several public activities, including bat walks, detection dog demonstrations, and general ecology events on the grounds of Portumna Forest Park.
Events like this are crucial to spreading the message about the diverse career opportunities in our sector and the positive impact passionate individuals can have by enhancing their knowledge and working in the ecological sector. By showcasing the rewarding and impactful nature of ecology careers, we can inspire more people to join us in making a difference for the environment and society.
Conclusion
This year was marked by development and innovation for our Ecology team. We expanded our services, enhanced our technology, and made significant strides in team training and development. We also worked on impactful projects addressing environmental and societal challenges related to housing, public infrastructure, climate change, decarbonisation and nature restoration.
We are exceptionally proud of the team and eagerly anticipate the exciting and innovative achievements we will accomplish in 2025.
