Atlantic Technological University (ATU) is  a multi-campus university providing a leading role in higher education, research, industry engagement, and internationalisation for the west and north-west of Ireland. ATU’s involvement will be led by personnel from the Agroecology and Rural Development team in the Marine and Freshwater Research Centre (www.mfrc-atu.ie). Comprising >100 staff and PhD students, the MFRC conducts applied research that is policy relevant, develops innovative solutions to natural resource management challenges, and supports evidence-based decision making. Of relevance to the proposed project is ATU’s track record of participation in Land Use review phase 1, and Environment Policy development. We have worked on developing supports for HNV farmland in conjunction with the Heritage Council and the European Forum on Nature Conservation and Pastoralism over the last 3 CAP policy cycles. In 2024, as part of a CLIMATE+ SFI co-centre operating across the UK, NI and ROI, MFRC will be taking a central role in a rapid policy response unit developing integrated land use policy responses to climate, nature, and water challenges.  ATU has been involved in the Hen Harrier and Pearl Mussel EiPs, as well as CrexLIFE and numerous applied ornithological and conservation genetics research projects.

Atlantic Technological University will take an active role in the Operational Group  and Steering Committee of the EIP by providing research, monitoring and policy support services within the project.  The ATU team led by Ian O’Connor, Head of Dept of Natural Resources and the Environment, will specifically engage in: 

Applied research to provide conservation evidence to inform various management actions. One PhD student will investigate approaches to pasture management for the enhancement of invertebrate communities as wader food resources. A second PhD student will use genetic techniques to investigate population genetics of target wader spp. and subsequent population modelling to inform baseline genetic diversity estimates, inbreeding coefficients and structure/migration patterns, population health and targeted headstarting. 

Informing Agriculture and Land Use Policy. Working with the team from ATU, one Post Doctoral Scientist will lead a policy component with a focus on needs of waders within the context of developments in Land Use, Nature Restoration and CAP. 

Bespoke training and upskilling.  ATU in consultation with the wider EIP team can develop bespoke CPD training (accredited/non-accredited) for advisors, nest protection officers, land managers/farmers and wider EIP team as required. Ongoing training needs assessments will inform CPD programme development and implementation.