SEA Environmental Report for the Draft Cork City Development Plan 2022-2028
Support services highlight the importance of ecosystems to provide habitat for migratory species and to maintain the viability of gene- pools. Cultural services include non-material benefits that people obtain from ecosystems such as spiritual enrichment, intellectual development, recreation and aesthetic values 7 . In preparing the Draft Plan and developing policy objectives, the Council have followed these ecosystem services approach principles: a) Consideration of natural systems - by using knowledge of interactions in nature and how ecosystems function (including at Plan Chapter 6 “Green and Blue Infrastructure Open Space and Biodiversity”); b) Taking into account of the services that ecosystems provide - including those that underpin social and economic well-being, such as flood and climate regulation (including at Plan Chapter 5 “Climate Change and the Environment”), resources for food, fibre or fuel (including at Plan Chapter 6 “Green and Blue Infrastructure Open Space and Biodiversity”), or for recreation, culture and quality of life (including at Plan Chapters 3 “Delivering Homes and Successful Neighbourhoods” and 7 “Economy and Employment”); c) Involving people - those who benefit from the ecosystem services and those managing them need to be involved in decisions that affect them. Public consultation has informed the preparation of the Draft Plan which will be further refined before adoption, taking into account submissions/observations made on the Draft Plan during public display. The following natural capital and ecosystem services issues are relevant to this SEA and have been taken into account in the provisions of the Draft Plan: Air quality; Noise pollution; Light pollution; Water quality and river basin management including interactions with soil; Soil/geological storage of water, contributing towards flood control; Land supporting food production; and Natural resources supporting energy production and recreation. 4.6 Biodiversity and Flora and Fauna 4.6.1 Introduction Information on biodiversity and flora and fauna that is relevant to project planning and development and associated environmental
in line with local, national and European environmental objectives. Potential conflicts between transport emissions, including those from cars, and air quality. Potential conflicts between increased frequency of noise emissions and protection of sensitive receptors. Potential conflicts with climate adaptation measures including those relating to flood risk management. Potential effects on protected and unknown archaeology and protected architecture arising from construction and operation activities. Occurrence of adverse visual impacts and conflicts with the appropriate protection of designations relating to the landscape.
4.5 Natural Capital and Ecosystem Services Cork City’s natural capital comprises its renewable and non-renewable resources (e.g. plants, animals, air, water, soils, minerals) that combine to yield a flow of ecosystem services that provide benefits to people. These benefits can include clean air and water, a stable climate, protection from floods, food, resources for fuel, building materials, clothes and medicines, recreation. Managing natural capital so that it can continue to deliver the ecosystem services that give us these benefits is important in order to ensure sustainable development. Unmanaged natural capital risks the continued degradation and depletion of these assets, and in turn, of their capacity to provide the economy and society with the ecosystem benefits that they depend on. These services also regulate climate, regulate water flows (e.g. through wetlands and forests), sequester and store carbon in peatlands and improve soil quality for crops. Ecosystems are multifunctional communities of living organisms interacting with each other and their environment. Ecosystems provide a series of services for human well-being (ecosystem services) either directly or indirectly contributing towards human wellbeing. There are four main types; provisioning, regulating, supporting and cultural services. Provisioning services are the products obtained from ecosystems such as food, fresh water, wood, fibre, genetic resources and medicines. Regulating services are defined as the benefits obtained from the regulation of ecosystem processes such as climate regulation, natural hazard regulation, water purification and waste management, pollination or pest control.
7 https://biodiversity.europa.eu/topics/ecosystem-services
CAAS for Cork City Council
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