Academic progression:

2005 – Present:
Ph.D. – Development of strategies for the restoration of a cutover raised bog.

Supervisors: Dr. Alan Cooper and Dr. Keith Day

Funding: DEL CAST - Department of Employment and Learning, supported by Bulrush Horticulture Ltd.

2003 - 2005: B.Sc. (Hons) in Environmental Science (1 st) - University of Ulster, Coleraine.

Hons dissertation: Ecological study of Inishcreagh Island Nature Reserve and its implications for management.

2001 – 2003: HND in Rural and Countryside Management. Greenmount College, Antrim.

1998 – 2000: ND in Amenity Horticulture. Greenmount College, Antrim.

Outline of current research project:
Restoration strategies at Newferry bog.

What are the ecological conditions and processes in a lowland raised bog currently being cut-over industrially and what are the best strategies for restoration that can provide business and biodiversity gains? This research aims to identify and rationalise the restoration strategies through analysis of the environmental and industrial variables driving change.

Introduction/background

The increased utilisation of peatland as a resource for energy, agriculture, horticulture and forestry on a commercial scale since the 1950s has coincided with an increased awareness of its environmental, ecological, aesthetic and scientific value (Joosten & Clarke, 2002). This awareness and a changing attitude towards the value of peatlands have placed a greater emphasis on their after-use.
Industrial ecological restoration is a site-specific activity and as such requires an understanding of the environmental, legal, ownership and industrial constraints that prevail at each site. As an increasing number of cut-over and cutaway sites become available for restoration, there is a need to identify strategies to guide their use post-extraction. Past research in this area has concentrated on restoring bog function through the development of peat accumulating systems using the re-establishment of bog hydrology and community structure or establishing other types of mire by flooding. Little is known about the vegetation communities and environmental conditions that occur at industrially milled peatlands and the contribution that these can make towards the rationalisation and decision making process of restoration. In order to make rational decisions on after-use, knowledge about the environmental conditions that govern the re-establishment of vegetation communities and landscape processes needs to be obtained (Chapman et. al., 2003).
The vegetation of disturbed plant communities at the Newferry site is being studied along with profiles of the underlying peat and other substrate in order to assess restoration possibilities.

References

Chapman, S., Buttler, A., Francez, A-J., Laggoun-Defarge, F., Vasander, H., Schloter, M., Combe, J., Grosvernier, P., Harms, H., Epron, D., Gilbert, D. and Mitchell, E (2003) Exploitation of northern peatlands and biodiversity maintenance: a conflict between economy and ecology. Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment, 1 (10):525-532.

Joosten, H and Clarke, D (2002) Wise Use of Mires and Peatlands: Background and principles including a framework for decision-making. IMCG and IPS, Canada.

Research interests:
Restoration ecology, plant community dynamics, biodiversity and business, conservation management.
Teaching experience:
2004 & 2005: Senior student tutor - 1st year undergraduate programme (Environmental science)
2005 & 2006: E-tutor – Online PgDip/MSc in Environmental Management.
Presentations:
Devlin, H. C. (2006) Restoration strategies for cut-over lowland raised bog. In Environ 2006: Proceedings of the 16th Irish Environmental Researchers Colloquium, University College Dublin, p. 20.