The Eastern Mournes habitat map has been primarily created from the 1990 Phase 1 vegetation survey. This survey was scanned and digitised directly with no reference made to underlying orthophotography. As a result the polygon locations are approximate and habitat change since 1990 has not been taken into account. Some boundary areas were not included within the 1990 survey. These were surveyed, Phase 1 mapped and digitised by Fieldfare Ecology in 2021.

These two maps were merged to create this map. No QA of either of these maps by NIEA has taken place. Interpretation of the original mapping was carried out to create an Annex 1 map of SAC Annex 1 habitats. The Annex 1 map is limited by the underlying Phase 1 maps, i.e. no H4060 Alpine and Boreal Heaths was mapped on Slieve Binnian although it is known to occur there.

All natural areas of siliceous scree and cliffs are also not mapped in the original survey.

Refinement of this map is required, but for the purposes of the Conservation Management Plans alone, this map can be used.

For more information on Annex 1 codes in the UK please see the following website - https://sac.jncc.gov.uk/habitat/