Irish national park twins with Yosemite
Wild Nephin National Park in Mayo has been twinned with Yosemite National Park in California in a five-year sister park agreement. Pictured on the day of the twinning, Cicely Muldoon (Superintendent at Yosemite National Park) and Catriona Ryan (NPWS Director of National Parks and Nature Reserves) at Wild Nephin National Park. Picture: Michael McLaughlin
The centenary of diplomatic relations between Ireland the United States has been highlighted by the signing of a five-year agreement between two national parks - Wild Nephin in Co Mayo and Yosemite in California.
Connemara National Park already has a twinning agreement with Terra Nova in Newfoundland, Canada, while Killarney National Park is linked with Glacier National Park in the American state of Montana.
The sister parks facilitate international co-operation and knowledge exchange to support nature conservation, natural and cultural tourism Minister of State Malcolm Noonan and US Ambassador to Ireland Claire Cronin visited Wild Nephin for the signing of the latest agreement by Catriona Ryan, National Parks and Wildlife Service, and Cicely Muldoon, Yosemite National Park.
Each said the agreement presents exciting opportunities for both parks. While they may differ in size and geographical features, the challenges they face are similar.
“These include balancing nature conservation with visitor impact, preserving our ecological and cultural heritage, controlling invasive species, and educating new generations.
This agreement marks another connection in the shared history of Ireland and the USA and has a special meaning here in Co Mayo.
“It is also a reminder that the challenge of protecting biodiversity is both a local and a global one,” he said.
Minister Noonan said he was thrilled to celebrate a new sister parks agreement, especially in the 100th year of US-Irish diplomatic relations.
“These two parks are treasures of natural beauty and biodiversity. This partnership strengthens our commitment to conservation and highlights the deep historical ties between Co Mayo and the United States,” he said.
Catriona Ryan said the national parks in Killarney and Connemara have seen the benefits of sister park arrangements. It was great to see another park participate in a such an international partnership.
“They are pathways to new thinking and ideas, create a sense of solidarity and are hugely motivating for our staff,” she said.
NPWS Divisional Manager Denis Strong said they are looking forward to tapping into the wealth of knowledge at Yosemite National Park over the next five years.
“While Wild Nephin is the younger sister in this arrangement between our National Parks, we also have lots to share in terms of our conservation work, along with our community and stakeholder engagement.
“Forestry and woodlands restoration, fire management and dark skies are just some of the themes that we’re hoping to pursue through our collaboration,” he said.
Nephin, located on the western seaboard in north-west Mayo, was designated as Ireland’s sixth National Park in 1998.
It comprises 15,000ha, is dominated by the Nephin Beg Mountain range and is home to Owenduff Bog, one of the largest intact active blanket bog systems in Western Europe.
It also has a wide range of protected species and habitats, including internationally important freshwater river systems and associated habitats.
Nephin showcases some of the most pristine night skies in the world and is certified as a Gold Tier standard International Dark Sky Park, drawing new visitors over the winter months.
On a clear night, visitors can see thousands of stars, along with other planets in the solar system.
Yosemite, which was designated as a national park in 1890, consists of over 300,000ha, 95% of which is wilderness. It is visited by over 3.5 million people each year.
It is home to five of the world’s highest waterfalls, granite domes and wells, deep valleys, giant sequoia groves and lakes and is known for unique and pronounced landform features because of glacial action on granitic bedrock.
