Environmentalists are seeking to establish a third level research field station in the Fermanagh/Cavan/Leitrim border area. They are asking people who would like to get involved to get in touch with them (see contact details below). They are especially looking for help with support, outreach, legal advice and fundraising.
The group believes that Ireland would be more connected to the world community of ecologists active in understanding the natural world with the establishment of Fionse Field Station.
The field station would result in the growth of a community of scientists who will come to know the area and share their knowledge. The station would also result in permanent and seasonal jobs for locals in hospitality, maintenance, higher education and research.
The group is currently working to draft a Memorandum of Understanding with the Northern Irish Forest Service. It will be the model for agreements with county governments (Fermanagh, Cavan, Leitrim) and Coillte in the Republic.
Many thanks to Robert Foulkes for sending us the following:
Fionse Field Station Mission Statement
The mission is to restore a close to nature forest environment for use as the centre of a natural laboratory. The process of restoring the forest environment will be a learning tool in itself. The field station will be a place of empirical enquiry into forest and inland marine ecology, archaeology, geology – the natural history and human history of Ireland. A need exists for restored woodland landscapes to gather in, a place for scientists, students, artists, enquirers and local people to work together to understand the world we live in.
PART 1 The Physical Model for this Effort – The University of Michigan Biological Station (UMBS) at Pellston, Michigan www.umbs.org
At the U of M Biological Station coursework and research encompasses organismal, population and landscape level ecology. Undergrad and graduate level field courses take place during a 4 week spring and 8 week summer session with research happening all months of the year. Selected courses include:
General Ecology, Biology of Birds, Biology of Insects, Biology of Mammals, Wetland Ecology, Botany, Ethnobotany, Natural History, Archeology, Parasitology, Environmental Writing, Forest Ecology, Biology of Fishes, Freshwater Ecology and others.
Research covering terrestrial, atmospheric and aquatic interests are funded by multiple universities, government agencies and private foundations in numerous countries.
Local residents with specialized or ‘folk knowledge’ of plants, animals and habitats are often called upon to supplement scientific inquiry and findings. “Week long” mini-courses are held for interested children and adults to expand their fluency in interpreting and appreciating the local flora and fauna. These courses cover a broad spectrum of interests from mushroom identification to art in nature. Local and regional educational and natural resource groups use station facilities for a fee for meetings and retreats.
101 years ago in a remote area of glacial lakes and streams (an area much like Cavan/Leitrim/Fermanagh) a group of University of Michigan faculty and students pitched tents and camped on the shores of Douglas Lake to begin a process of empirical learning. That effort is still going on today. A small area of land was given by a private donor for this purpose. The entire area had just been logged of every sellable tree. Today the UMBS’s size has grown to more than 10,000 acres and the forests have returned.
The students and faculty have been watching and learning as the forest has recovered. Climate data has been kept from the beginning and the hottest days and coldest nights were in the first years when the forests was completely gone (but the mean average temperature has risen steadily).
This Northern Michigan forest has grown new generations of scientists, ecologists and leaders as well as oaks, maples, aspens…a Fermanagh/Cavan/Leitrim Field Station will help grow the next generation of ecologically informed Irish leaders.
Benefits
Ireland will be more connected to the world community of ecologists active in understanding the natural world with the establishment of Fionse Field Station. This area of the world can participate in macro level studies that require world wide data.
Permanent and seasonal jobs for locals in hospitality, maintenance, higher education and research.
The growth of a community of scientists who will come to know the area and share their knowledge. The recognition of “citizen scientists” whose life long knowledge should be shared.
PART 2 The Organizational Model for this Effort – The Black Rock Forest Consortium
Fionse Field Station will be a Not for Profit Corp. that will own a Benefits Corporation Forest Management Company. The profit from forest management will support the Field Station (estimated at 10% of annual operating costs beginning year 5 ).
Fionse Field Station will have member/users that will pay an annual membership fee (as at Black Rock Forest Consortium). The membership fees will cover an estimated 1/3 of operating expenses at year 5).
Fionse Field Station will collect fees for housing, food and “bench” fees (bench fees cover the cost of lab space and other research costs). These fees will cover 1/3 of operating costs by year 5.
General Grants will be used for start up costs, acquisition costs.
So 1/3, 1/3 and 1/10 does not add up to economically self sustaining, but it is getting close. At year 5 we hope to have a business model in place that says the forest management company can grow for the purpose of job local creation and further support for the work of Fionse Field Station.
If you would be interested in getting involved, please contact Robert Foulkes at [email protected].