New group aims to safeguard and retore East Cork’s rivers

By Finnian Cox

“Healthy rivers are essential for biodiversity, farming, recreation and the wellbeing of our communities.”

Those were the words of river scientist Dr Eliot Taylor at the launch of the East Cork Rivers Trust (ECRT), a new, community-led environmental organisation.

Dedicated to the management, protection and restoration of rivers in East Cork, the trust aims to make conservation a cornerstone of life in local communities.

They aim to achieve this by involving people in practical projects, with volunteers learning how to combat invasive species, assist in fish migration, as well as a number of other educational activities.

The trust also hopes to improve overall water quality in the region’s rivers and restore habitats for native species.

As well as these practical efforts, the ECRT aims to engage with individuals, schools, community groups and farmers, outlining the economic and environmental benefits of maintaining rivers.

Dr Taylor, who is the chair and founding member of ECRT described how maintaining a healthy river ecology has an important impact on the wellbeing of the regions they wind through.

He said their goal is to make it “easier for individuals and communities to play a role in protecting their local streams and rivers. We’re setting up ECRT to bring people together around practical solutions.”

“Only by all sectors of society and our community pulling together, will we be able to make a difference and ensure our rivers are kept as, or returned to, the fantastic natural treasures that they once were,” he said.

The ECRT will operate around 4 sub-catchments, in Tibbotstown, Womanagh, Farrannamanagh and Owenacurra.

A catchment is a term for an area where water is collected by the natural landscape, and the organisation has used this to divide East Cork into smaller, more manageable sections.

Their approach to maintaining these areas will follow science-based research, largely addressing the root causes of river degradation and benefitting from the expertise of members like Dr Taylor.

However, as well as the informed approach the trust aims to be a collaborative effort, combining this scientific expertise with local knowledge and the input and assistance of stakeholders.

In order to begin their work, the ECRT has received funding from Local Authority Waters Programme (LAWPRO), via its Catchment Support Fund.

The organisation has also received a grant from the Rivers Trust to aid with the set up and running.