130: The CANN Project with Abby McSherry

It is my pleasure to present another series of podcasts discussing yet another cross-border environmental project. In this series, we’re going to talk with scientists and leaders from the CANN project. CANN stands for Collaborative Action for the Natura Network. It is supported by the European Union’s INTERREG VA Programme and managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB). CANN aims to produce 27 Conservation Action Plans (CAPs) for a range of sites across the Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) across Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland and Scotland. These plans will help meet key EU biodiversity targets and ensure the future of these internationally important habitats. Also, a direct conservation action will be carried out on 3,650 hectares of SACs.

In this episode, Abby McSherry, the Communications and Outreach Officer for CANN, introduces the project. We discuss how CANN is working with stakeholders, landowners, farmers and local communities to bring about positive environmental change, to raise awareness of the value of these habitats and species, and the importance of protecting them. We also talk about how Conservation Action Plans will be used in strategic planning to ensure that SACs sites are guided towards favourable conservation status after the CANN project is finished.

Check out our conversation and make sure you subscribe to the podcast to not miss the upcoming episodes where we’ll discuss work on specific habitats in greater detail.

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