Mammals in a Sustainable Environment (MISE)

Mammals in a Sustainable Environment (MISE) was a project funded by the European Regional Development Fund under the Ireland Wales Programme 2007-2013 (INTERREG IVA) that aimed to foster involvement of communities in Ireland and Wales in mammal conservation.

The project started in 2011 and was a partnership between The Vincent Wildlife Trust, Waterford Institute of Technology, Waterford City & County Council and with National Biodiversity Data Centre, Natural Resources Wales and Snowdonia National Park Authority in Wales.

The MISE project developed non-invasive DNA-based techniques to monitor small and medium sized mammals in areas of west Wales and in and around Waterford in Ireland. With the help of volunteers and local people, we undertook monitoring and conservation activities for species of conservation interest, which in Ireland were the red squirrel, otter, pine marten and bats. Analysis of samples collected from field surveys allowed the identification of potential threats to individual species which will be used to advise conservation work to safeguard the future of these mammals.