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 Wales and Ireland in mammal conservation.

The project ran from 2011 to 2015 and was a partnership between Vincent Wildlife Trust, Natural Resources Wales, Snowdonia National Park Authority, Waterford Institute of Technology, Waterford City & County Council and The National Biodiversity Data Centre.

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 East Ireland. With the help of volunteers and local people, we undertook monitoring and conservation activities for species of conservation interest, including red squirrel, otter, pine marten, polecat, dormouse, harvest mouse 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.

Photo: Red squirrel @Dave Pressland