The Rosmurrevagh Dunes Project is a very strong example of community-led ecological restorationbringing a natural system back to itself: clean and healthy based in observation, care, and long-term commitment. Started by local farmers in 1996, the project began as an answer to bad erosion and ”when. Over time, it became a leading example of learning together and how to protect the land from the sea using natural ways and not just building walls. Today, Rosmurrevagh is known as one of Ireland’s strongest sand dune systems. This was not just against erosion from the sea, but because the community learned to work with nature. Read the full case study to explore the Rosmurrevagh Dunes story and what it achieved.
Where?
Mulranny Co. Mayo
Who started this action?
Led by Mulranny Environmental Group & Local Farmers
Some quick facts about the project
- Started in 1996 by a group of about 30 local farmers managing shared land beside the sea in Mayo
- Project controlled eight big tidal breaches when the sea could have washed away the land across the Machair peninsulaa large piece of land sticking out into the sea that is around it on three sides
- Instead of building walls and big rock, the team planted marram grass and brought down the number of cattle and sheep so there were stronger dunes
- The project won the first-ever National Tidy Towns Notice Nature Award in 2007
- Cares for rare animal and plants like the Belted Beauty Moth and grassland fungi.
What makes this stand out?
- Grew from just controlling erosion to understanding how important to nature and animals the dunes themselves were
- Used on cheaper ways of doing things where ordinary people helped out together over thirty years
- It brought together restoring the dunes with allowing local people and tourists to come and see and learn all about the special environment there.
- The project brought together a strong team made up of the community, the local county council and organisations that are expert in protecting nature: this is a great example to other groups.
- The dunes work in Mulranny show how land we think may be waste land or not important is in fact very important for nature and animals
Highlights
• Marram grass planting stopped the dune washing away while allowing natural life to continue
• Surveys showed Rosmurrevagh as an important site for rare grassland fungi and insects
• Information signs and loop-walks now welcome visitors and locals to the dunes where they can walk and learn about the nature in the area
• The project helped people to think about the problem or erosionwhere the sea washes away the land, dunes or beaches as part of healthy dune nature and not just stopping damage from the sea.
• Shared what it learned with other projects, including the nearby Achill Strand dune restoration
Why this matters
This project shows that important climate and nature protecting work doesn’t always need lots of money. But it does need long-term thinking, trust, and learning. By allowing nature to lead and by building a team of experts and ordinary people from different areas, the Rosmurrevagh Dunes Project has turned an area that was once under threat from the sea into a growing and healthy natural area. It shows us a hopeful way of doing things for communities that have the same worries and problems along Ireland’s coast and beyond.
SDG Alignment & Keywords
- SDG 13: Climate Action
- SDG 15: Life on Land
- SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
- SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals
Keywords: dune restoration, nature-based solutions, Machair, community conservation, coastal resilience
Find Out More about the project
Listen to this podcast to learn how the people of Mulranny use the best communications practice to make sure they build alliances within their community
Community Group Best Communications Practice Builds Success
Resources from Climate Connected that you can use to do follow this example in your area
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