Press Release

Invasive Species Talk and Land Cruise of River Faughan

Friday 16th May

As part of an ongoing campaign to make people aware of the need to protect biodiversity within rivers and riversides, the Lough’s Agency, based at Prehen, has organised a range of events that will take place during ‘Biodiversity Week – The Living Foyle’.

Biodiversity is the variety of life, but this variety is being threatened by invasive species of animals and plants that find a way into natural habitats such as rivers.

Invasive non-native plant and animal species are the second greatest threat to biodiversity worldwide, after habitat destruction. They can negatively impact on native species, can transform habitats and threaten whole ecosystems causing serious problems to the environment and the economy.

The River Faughan is an important river for wildlife in the Derry City Council area. It rises in the northern Sperrins, near the village of Park, and flows roughly north east to Drumahoe where it turns north to enter Lough Foyle some six miles north of Derry. It is well known in this area as a salmon and sea trout river but it is also important for a host of other wildlife, otter and kingfisher to name a few. However like the majority of rivers in Northern Ireland it is under threat from aliens.

A talk will be held on at 06.00pm on Thursday 22nd May in the Lough Agency’s River Watch Centre, Prehen, to give information on the variety of alien plant and animal species invading our local rivers and the need to monitor their unwelcome presence. Following this there will be the opportunity to take part in a land cruise to visit sites along the River Faughan and see these aliens at action.

This event should be of interest to anglers, landowners and others who have an interest in protecting the river. Annie Mullan, Biodiversity Officer at Derry City Council said that the talk would provide valuable information for those who use the river, such as anglers, landowner, as well as other interested people. She continued,

“It’s essential to know what plant and animal life needs to be kept away from particular natural habitats in order to preserve their inhabitants. Participants will have the opportunity, to hear about and see these ‘aliens’ in action, and learn ways to tackle the problems they pose.”

This event is supported by Environment and Heritage Service through their Natural Heritage grants programme and has been organised by Derry City Council in partnership with Loughs Agency and Envirocentre. For more information on this and other events during Biodiversity Week visit www.loughs-agency.org.uk.

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