Latest news with #NationalBiodiversityActionPlan
Irish Independent
21-07-2025
- General
- Irish Independent
Public feedback sought on Wicklow biodiversity plan
The draft document covers the period over the next five years up to the end of 2030, and outlines "a shared vision for protecting and restoring biodiversity across the county, with practical, locally informed actions proposed for the next five years.' In 2019 the local authority became the first in Ireland to declare 'a biodiversity and climate-change emergency", after councillors were briefed by local students who participated in school strikes for climate action. The strategy aims to align with national priorities outlined in Ireland's fourth National Biodiversity Action Plan, which focuses on halting the loss of species, restoring ecosystems, building climate resilience and supporting community-based conservation initiatives. Cathaoirleach of Wicklow County Council Cllr Melanie Corrigan has encouraged members of the public to have their say. 'Wicklow's natural landscapes, from its mountains and rivers to its hedgerows and coastline, are what make our county special. This plan is about safeguarding that richness and working together for the future. I encourage everyone to take a moment to read the plan and share their thoughts.' The draft plan and supporting documents are available for review online, with hard copies available at Arklow, Bray and Greystones libraries, the Blessington Municipal District Office and County Buildings in Wicklow Town. You can also email your submission to the Senior Executive Officer at climatepolicy@ or send it by post to the Senior Executive Officer at Wicklow County Council, County Buildings, Station Road, Wicklow town, A67 FW96. Your submission needs to include your name and address, and, if applicable, the details of any organization, community group, or company you represent. The closing date for submissions or observations is 4pm on Monday, August 14.
Irish Independent
01-07-2025
- General
- Irish Independent
Wexford students celebrated for biodiversity artwork at awards ceremony
The artwork competition is an initiative run by the Environment Section of Wexford County Council in conjunction with Wexford Naturalists' Field Club and the theme of this year's competition was 'Bumblebees, Solitary Bees and Honeybee – Nature's Pollinators.' Councillor Ger Carthy, Leas – Cathaoirleach Wexford County Council, presented prizes to 40 school children representing both primary and secondary schools. Councillor Ger Carthy said: 'The aim of the competition was to raise awareness of the importance of Wexford's environment and to encourage all to explore its uniqueness as something to be valued and cherished. Wexford County Council is preparing a new Local Biodiversity Action Plan, supported by the Heritage Council." "The plan will provide a framework for biodiversity action for the next six years with the aim of halting biodiversity loss in County Wexford. It will be underpinned by the objectives of the National Biodiversity Action Plan and will set a vision for addressing biodiversity loss at a local level. An emphasis will be placed on actions that are achievable and measurable within the lifetime of the plan.' He encouraged all to take local action for biodiversity, whether it's getting involved in the many campaigns like 'Let Dandelions Bee,' 'No Mow May,' 'Let It Bloom June,' or by planting native pollinator trees, pollinator friendly bulbs and plants. "We all have a role to play in learning more about biodiversity and protecting the natural heritage of Wexford. The artwork displayed here today reminds, us all to look after our environment, a precious legacy for generations to come,' he added. He thanked Don Conroy for providing the colouring sheet and judging the artwork competition. He also thanked Wexford Naturalists' Field Club for supporting the competition and sponsoring birdboxes and he praised the young artists present and encouraged them to maintain a healthy respect for the environment as part of their lives. The overall winner from Primary Schools was Alice Buki Nemeth, Glynn National School and the overall winner from Secondary Schools was Leon Carthy of Selskar College Wexford. The winning artwork was displayed in County Hall. Prizes were also presented for the Snap into Action Competition, which is open to both schools and community groups. This competition encourages people from all walks of life to take action against litter. Danescastle National School received first prize in the Snap Into Action School Competition and received a prize for €500. Kilmyshall National School and Ballyoughter National School were presented with runner up award of €250. Enniscorthy Tidy Towns were the winners in the Snap Into Action Community Group Competition and received a prize of €500. Campile Area Development Group and Kilmuckridge Tidy Towns were presented with runner up award of €250. Councillor Ger Carthy congratulated all involved and praised the groups for all their voluntary work in Keeping Wexford Beautiful. Full list of artwork winners: Junior Infants: 1st prize: Ava Andrew, St Leonards National School, Ballycullane 2nd prize: Tuiren Doyle, Ballyduff National School 3rd prize: Julia Whelan, Ballyduff National School Highly Commended: Sariad Holmes, St Kevin's National School, Tara Hill Highly Commended: Tess Devereux, Piercestown National School Senior infants: 1st prize: Elena Caffery, Scoil Naomh Bríde 2nd prize: Amy O'Keeffe, St Leonards National School, Ballycullane Highly Commended: Eva Flynn, Rathnure National School Highly Commended: Cian McHale, Scoil Naomh Maodhóg, Ferns First and Second class: 1st prize: Kallum Hennessy, Greene Kilmore National School Joint 2nd prize: James Kahwati, Glynn National School Joint 2nd prize: Arthur James, Danescastle National School Joint 3rd prize: Saoirse Egan, Gusserane National School Joint 3rd prize:Shayna Walsh, Glynn National School Third and Fourth class: 1st prize: Ella Roche, Kilmore National School 2nd prize: Faye Bernadette Murphy, Kilmore National School Joint 3rd prize: Ella Tobin, Scoil Ghormáin Naofa ,Castletown Joint 3rd prize: Hanna Doyle, Ballyduff National School Highly Commended: Dillon O'Neill, St Kevin's National School, Tara Hill Fifth and Sixth class: 1st prize: Hanna Violet Walsh, Kennedy Park National School Joint 2nd: Rachael Gahan, Scoil Naomh Maodhóg, Ferns Joint 2nd: Cathal Bowe, Ballyduff National School 3rd prize: Addison O' Leary, Scoil Naomh Bríde, Blackwater Highly Commended: Mila Barry Mythen, Kilmore National School First year – Third year: 1st prize: Conan Kelly, St Peters College, Wexford 2nd prize: Shara Alcock ,Selskar College, Wexford Joint 3rd prize: Krisztina Barta, Selskar College, Wexford Joint 3rd prize: Lucy Salisbury, Kennedy College, New Ross Highly Commended: Logan Murray, St Peters College, Wexford Fourth year – Sixth year: 1st prize: James Furlong, St Peters College Joint 2nd: Niamh O'Connor, Kennedy College, New Ross Joint 2nd: Cormac Deane, St Peters College, Wexford 3rd: Darragh Sherlock, St Peters College, Wexford Highly Commended: Luke Burke Kennedy College, New Ross Overall Winner Primary School: Alice Buki Nemeth, Glynn National School Overall Winner Secondary School: Leon Carthy, Selskar College Snap Into Action Primary School Winners: Winner: Danescastle National School Runner Up: Ballyoughter National School Runner Up: Kilmyshall National School Snap Into Action Community Group Winners: Winner: Enniscorthy Tidy Towns
Agriland
13-06-2025
- Agriland
Report published on work of NPWS in 2024
A report detailing the work of the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) in 2024 has been published by the government. Among the notable highlights in the report is the increase of national parks from six to eight, including the establishment of Ireland's first marine national park, Páirc Náisiúnta na Mara Ciarraí in Co. Kerry. National parks in Ireland saw over 5.5 million visitors in 2024, according to the report. 2024 also saw the publication of Ireland's fourth National Biodiversity Action Plan, which is the first to be backed by legislation and legal requirements for public bodies to 'embed biodiversity and report their progress'. The report also said that protection of waters in Ireland increased from 2% to 9%, including the 'Seas off Wexford' Special Protected Area (SPA). The report noted that peatland habitat restoration measures were completed on an area of more than 565ha across eight protected raised bog sites under NPWS programmes. On the issue of 'wildlife crime', the report said that the NPWS enhanced collaboration with other enforcement agencies, including An Garda Síochána, with 30 new prosecution cases for alleged breaches of wildlife legislation. Throughout 2024, the NPWS continued to administer seven LIFE projects, including the LIFE 'integrated projects' (IPs) such as Wild Atlantic Nature and the Corncrake LIFE. The purpose of these projects, according to the NPWS, is to protect and restore Ireland's habitats and species. Other projects include Tochár Wetlands Restoration, and a new European Innovation Partnership (EIP) for breeding wader birds. Commenting on the NPWS report, Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage James Browne said: 'Notable achievements for the NPWS last year included the acquisition of land for nature; the expansion of national parks; rolling out a range of conservation projects; and strengthening partnerships with communities around the country.' 'This government is committed to continuing this work. 2025 sees record levels of investment in our natural heritage, including €78 million in core funding to the NPWS. 'I would like thank NPWS staff around the country for their exceptional work to protect our valuable natural heritage for all of us and future generations,' Minister Browne added. Also commenting on the report, Minister of State for Nature, Heritage and Biodiversity Christopher O'Sullivan said: 'Our National Parks and Nature Reserves are vital ecosystems which combat climate change, protect biodiversity and provide spaces for recreation, mental wellbeing and the enjoyment of Ireland's wild landscapes. 'Ensuring that the NPWS has the resources it needs to thrive is essential to safeguarding these spaces for the species which depend on them for survival, along with the 5.5 million people who visited and enjoyed Ireland's national parks last year,' Minister O' Sullivan added. Niall Ó Donnchú, Director General of the NPWS, said: 'A wide range of NPWS initiatives, projects and funding streams are now delivering positive change for nature. 'Partnership with communities, farmers and landowners has been key, and I would like to pay tribute to them for their ongoing collaboration,' Ó Donnchú.
RTÉ News
23-05-2025
- General
- RTÉ News
Council approves 'crucial' Conamara restoration project
Galway County Council has approved plans by Coillte to carry out an environmental restoration project in Conamara. Coillte said the Derryclare peatland restoration project forms part of a wider initiative, which aims to restore over 2,000 hectares of blanket bog and wet heath along the western seaboard. It applied for permission to fell and remove over 340 hectares of existing plantations, in order to allow for the restoration of peatland and to undertake a replanting programme. The lands in question are at Doire an Chláir and Cúil na Ceártan in Co Galway. The restoration project will involve the removal of pine and conifer trees, the blocking of drains and the control of invasive species on the site. It is planned to rewet some 281 hectares of blanket bog, with the remaining portion of land to be replanted with native tree species. An earlier application was refused by the local authority last year and a new submission was made by the company last December. Coillte said the project will have a "wide array of environmental benefits", including enhanced carbon sequestration, rare habitat protection and flood risk management. In its submission to the council, it argued the initiative would reverse damage caused by previous forestry practices and was in keeping with the National Biodiversity Action Plan. The company said without intervention the site would continue to experience peat degradation and that a "crucial opportunity to restore vital environmental functions" on the area would be lost. Planners have attached seven conditions to the permission, including stipulations that the project be overseen by an on-site peatland ecologist and that adequate soakaways are constructed, in order to ensure there is no impact on existing land or road drainage. Coillte has welcomed today's decision and said work will now begin on incorporating the conditions into the wider restoration plan.
Deccan Herald
22-05-2025
- General
- Deccan Herald
India needs to rethink its relationship with nature
India hosts 7-8% of global biodiversity on just 2.4% of Earth's land, supporting food systems, livelihoods, and ecosystems. Yet, extractive development models have led to widespread habitat loss, species decline, and ecosystem halt biodiversity loss by 2030 and move toward a nature-positive world by 2050, the Kunming-Montréal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF), adopted in December 2022, calls for transformative and inclusive action across all sectors of society. One of its 23 targets, Target 3, popularly known as '30 by 30', seeks to conserve at least 30% of terrestrial, inland water, and marine areas through well-connected, equitably managed has aligned its national priorities with global biodiversity targets through the National Biodiversity Action Plan, aiming to restore 30% of degraded ecosystems by 2030, and expand protected areas, which currently cover over 18% of land and 1.35% of marine zones. Key initiatives such as project-based conservation initiatives, eco-sensitive zones, biodiversity finance initiative, etc., reflect this commitment. Additionally, integrating access and benefit sharing (ABS) mechanisms ensures fair compensation for communities contributing traditional knowledge and genetic resources, fostering equity and Mission LiFE promotes sustainable lifestyles by encouraging behaviour-driven change, positioning nature as a partner, and shifting consumer demand to support nature-positive products, strengthening corporate action on environmental sustainability. Together, these efforts signal a shift toward inclusive and sustainable biodiversity governance, supported by the Biological Diversity Act (2002).For effective implementation, the KMGBF emphasizes a 'whole-of-government and whole-of-society' approach, urging nations to mobilise public institutions, local communities, indigenous people, the private sector, and civil society in co-ordinated efforts. For India, aligning national policy and resources around biodiversity conservation is a critical the KMGBF's financial mobilisation target, an additional $700 billion per year globally, requires co-ordinated efforts across sectors. This scale of investment can only be realised through a collective approach, with the private sector playing a critical role alongside governments and India, the private sector accounts for over 30% of the GDP, and influences land use, supply chains, and natural resources. Therefore, corporate engagement is essential not just for compliance, but to also access green finance, reduce ecological risk, and align with growing global expectations for ethical and sustainable some companies have begun directing corporate social responsibility (CSR) funds toward nature-based solutions (NbS), the overall adoption remains limited. A 2024 study found that about 70% of India's top 100 companies now integrate NbS into their sustainability strategies, but only 15% have allocated more than 2% of CSR budgets to such initiatives. Regulatory uncertainty, high upfront costs, low short-term returns, and limited capacity in biodiversity risk assessment continue to discourage investment. Meanwhile, greenwashing concerns deter companies from disclosing actions without robust monitoring systems.A sustainable path forward requires all stakeholders — governments, businesses, communities, academia, and civil society — to act in collaboration. National and state governments must strengthen legal frameworks, invest in large-scale restoration, and ensure biodiversity considerations are mainstreamed across all sectors, including agriculture, infrastructure, and industry. Fiscal tools such as tax incentives, concessional loans, green credits, and biodiversity-linked credits for companies investing in restoration, sustainable agriculture, and mangrove conservation can help bridge India's $50 billion biodiversity finance private sector must move beyond compliance toward active stewardship, by adopting science-based targets, building nature-positive supply chains, and practicing transparent biodiversity disclosures aligned with KMGBF goals. To enhance green cover and address ecological challenges, pooled financing mechanisms like a biodiversity investment fund can channel CSR and green finance into scalable restoration support for innovative models such as land sharing, leasing, or acquisition for reforestation and wildlife corridors can promote biodiversity conservation, enhance carbon sequestration, and mitigate human-wildlife conflict. To address past inequities, governments and corporates must jointly implement ABS frameworks that ensure fair compensation for local and Indigenous communities, fostering long-term trust and cooperation, as outlined in the Nagoya a globalized world where consumption, finance, and supply chains are interconnected, international cooperation and knowledge sharing are essential. 'Harmony with nature and sustainable development' — the theme of this International Day for Biological Diversity (May 22) — must not remain a theme, it must become a shared commitment. We must shift from using nature for short-term gain to working with it for long-term well-being. Nature is not a backdrop to development; it is our co-architect, our sustainer, and our enduring partner.(Aniruddh Soni is Fellow, and Neha Sharma is Research Associate, Land Resources Division, The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI).)Disclaimer: The views expressed above are the author's own. They do not necessarily reflect the views of DH.
