Latest news with #LocalBiodiversityActionFund
Irish Independent
05-06-2025
- General
- Irish Independent
Meath's Tidy Towns lead the way in climate action and biodiversity
While many still picture Tidy Towns volunteers as simply planting flowers and tidying streets, today's groups have evolved into community engagement and support. From running circular economy initiatives to supporting homeless people and promoting local environmental resilience, the volunteers aim to make a difference in their communities. In Trim, the five-time winners of the overall competition, Trim Tidy Towns is pioneering innovative projects like the recently launched returnable coffee cup scheme, cloth nappy libraries, and reusable party kits – initiatives aimed at reducing waste, cutting carbon emissions, and saving families money. They also partnered with Birdwatch Ireland Meath to build a Sand Martin Wall along the Boyne River in August 2024, providing 72 nesting sites to protect this important bird species. Councillor Ronan Moore, Vice Chairperson of Trim Tidy Towns, highlighted the evolving role of the group: 'More and more people understand that the Tidy Towns Competition has long since moved past the simple aesthetics and litter-picking that it was once associated with.' The community group has been active since the mid-1960s and is currently chaired by Brian Hefferman. Mr Moore added: 'Through our involvement in multi-stakeholder initiatives such as the Trim Sustainable Energy Community and the Urbact SDG Global Goals project, as well as partnerships with schools, Men's Sheds, youth projects, and residential estates, more residents now recognise that Tidy Towns encompass everything positive about a community - from sustainability and biodiversity to improved streetscapes and public spaces.' 'We continue to give people hope that they can make a difference. Our message of 'come out and help make a difference' is getting through. We are the extra bit of voluntary workforce that community groups call on when they need a hand.' In Navan, the Johnstown Tidy Towns group has been working closely with Meath County Council to manually weed cycle paths and footpaths, a natural alternative to pesticides that benefits everyone, from local wildlife to children playing outdoors. Councillor Alan Lawes, Chairperson of Johnstown Tidy Town, said: 'We wanted to look after our community a little bit better; the manual weeding is something we are proud of. We've prevented thousands of litres of pesticides from being sprayed. That's a benefit for everyone, for the animals, and for the children playing in the area.' 'Everyone is looking for the government to do something for the environment but actually we can do a lot ourselves.' Meath County Council backs these local efforts through funding schemes, with the latest being €3m Local Biodiversity Action Fund announced this week. Johnstown Tidy Towns also use their funding to support outreach for homeless people in Meath. 'We go out every night to homeless people to bring them something to eat or sleeping bags. I'm hoping that by doing what we are doing, it's shining light on the area that is not being looked after by the government,' said Mr Lawes. Founded in 1958, the Tidy Towns competition celebrates the tidiest and most attractive communities across Ireland. Judged by independent adjudicators from May to August, towns receive reports praising positive developments and suggesting improvements. Awards cover various environmental categories, culminating in the announcement of Ireland's Tidiest Town each September. In Athboy, the Tidy Towns group hosts biodiversity talks to teach locals to appreciate and protect nature. Mary Flood, Chairperson, said: 'Our motto is to improve, protect and enhance our town, so a lot of the work we do is about education — showing people what we are doing and hoping they follow our example.' 'We tend to forget that we are part of nature… we are nature. If we destroy nature, we are destroying ourselves and leaving it in a bad state for future generations. So we have to teach people to love nature.' Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme
Irish Independent
03-06-2025
- General
- Irish Independent
Meath County Council awarded over €100,000 for biodiversity projects
The announcement was made by Minister for Housing, Heritage and Local Government James Browne, TD, and Minister of State for Nature, Heritage and Biodiversity Christopher O'Sullivan, TD. The funding comes under the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) Local Biodiversity Action Fund (LBAF), a scheme established in 2018 to help local authorities implement biodiversity actions at local and regional levels. Since its creation, almost €11m has been distributed through the fund. Minister James Browne said: 'Local authorities are playing an essential role in protecting our biodiversity and the Local Biodiversity Action Plan recognises that role. Through these projects, each local authority will make a unique impact on their local biodiversity, but is also part of a bigger picture across the country. He added: 'I welcome the focus on partnership, research and best practice. I wish all of those involved the very best with the work and look forward to hearing more as they progress.' Minister Christopher O'Sullivan highlighted the range of work being undertaken: 'I'm really impressed with the diversity of projects funded this year. The Local Biodiversity Action Fund will enable every local authority around the country to enhance their actions on biodiversity, including research and recording of our unique species, from the Irish Mayfly, Woodland Bats to barn owls, and management of precious habitats such as meadows and wetlands.' Meanwhile Ben Malone, Biodiversity Officer with Meath County Council, also welcomed the support. He said: 'We're delighted with the support received this year through the Local Biodiversity Action Fund. Our projects in Meath build on the success of previous years, supporting people to create habitats for wildlife, managing our own lands better for biodiversity, addressing urgent conservation needs and adding to our state of knowledge on biodiversity in the county.' Among the projects funded in Meath this year are: County Meath Wetland Survey – Phase 1 County Meath Tree, Woodland and Hedgerow Survey – Phase 1 Invasive Alien Species Project – Quagga Mussel in Lough Sheelin Invasive Alien Species Project – Common Cordgrass in the Nanny Estuary Recording Irish Mayfly – establishing conservation status The Hare's Corner – assisting landowners to create new habitats for biodiversity Commons of Lloyd Biodiversity and Conservation Agriculture Project Continuation of Barn Owl Conservation Project Development of the Woodland Bat Monitoring Scheme Community biodiversity initiatives and outreach support This funding is said to support the objectives of Ireland's 4th National Biodiversity Action Plan, Actions For Nature, launched in January 2024. For the first time, the plan has been published on a statutory basis under the Wildlife Amendment Act 2023, requiring public bodies to integrate biodiversity into their policies and report on progress. By 2050, the plan envisions that 'Biodiversity in Ireland is valued, conserved, restored and sustainably used, maintaining ecosystem services, sustaining a healthy planet and delivering benefits essential for all people.' Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme
RTÉ News
21-05-2025
- General
- RTÉ News
Plan to control invasive species of turtles awarded funding
Hundreds of turtles have been dumped into Ireland's waterways over the past 20 years, after people who buy them for cuteness often later abandon them due to their size and care requirements. This is according to Senior Science Officer at the Herpetological Society of Ireland Rob Gandola, and comes as a plan to control invasive North American freshwater turtles has been awarded funding via the Local Biodiversity Action Fund. Several local authorities will now develop turtle control protocols and best practice guidelines for a particular species of freshwater turtle known as the pond slider (Trachemys). Pond sliders are considered to be highly invasive and hence are included on the EU list of Invasive Alien Species of Union Concern. Speaking on RTÉ's Morning Ireland, Mr Gandola said even though a ban on the import of this genus of turtles has been in effect since 1997, they are still widely traded as babies when it is hard to differentiate them from non-banned, closely related species. "So we end up with the current situation of people buying for 'cuteness' and then abandoning due to large size, and advanced care requirements," Mr Gandola said. Over the past 20 years, Mr Gandola says that "literally hundreds" of individual turtles have been dumped in Ireland and released into waterways. "There have been no studies to date on the ecology of these non-native turtles in Ireland. "So, we have no idea about the impacts they may or may not be having on native species, but the EU says that we as a country are required by law to control them," he added. Mr Gandola said that right now the law requires people who find a pond slider and wish to keep it to get a permit, but no permitting system exists. "As far as we know, and it is unlikely under current climate conditions, Trachemys cannot successfully breed and recruit in Ireland. "So, all these animals are former pets who have enjoyed consistent feeding until they are abandoned," he added. All sightings of pond sliders in Ireland should be reported to the National Biodiversity Data Centre. Around 262 community projects and local authorities were awarded funding via the Local Biodiversity Action Fund yesterday. In total, €2.9 million was awarded in funding for local biodiversity projects across the country. Some of the other projects funded include a 'Hare's Corner' project with the aim of creating new habitats to benefit biodiversity. Five local authorities will undertake 'Return to Nature' projects, in support of the Catholic Church's target to return 30% of church grounds to nature by the end of the decade. Six local authorities will undergo workshops to support policies to reduce light pollution.
Agriland
20-05-2025
- General
- Agriland
€2.9m in funding for local biodiversity projects
€2.9 million in funding is to be allocated to local authorities for biodiversity projects under the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) Local Biodiversity Action Fund (LBAF) in 2025. All 31 local authorities applied for and will receive funding this year, with a total of 262 projects across the country approved. The projects cover a range of biodiversity related activities, including invasive alien species control; bird and bat conservation; wetland surveys and community biodiversity awareness and training. Biodiversity The LBAF was established in 2018 to help local authorities in the implementation of actions in support of biodiversity. Almost €11 million has been granted to local authorities through since the scheme began. The scheme is operated by the NPWS and supports the implementation of the Ireland's fourth National Biodiversity Action Plan at community, county and regional level. Examples of projects funded under this year's scheme include: Seven local authorities will participate in the 'Hare's Corner' projects with the aim of creating new habitats such as ponds, woodlands and orchards to benefit biodiversity; Five local authorities will undertake 'Return to Nature' projects, in support of the Catholic Church's ambition to return 30% of church grounds to nature by 2030; Artificial lighting training for local authorities in Connacht: Six local authorities delivered workshops on artificial lighting, bringing together experts from Dark Sky Ireland, NPWS and Mayo County Council, to support the development and delivery of policies and actions to reduce light pollution; Establishing effective guidance and control protocols for invasive freshwater turtles of EU Concern in Ireland: Seven local authorities will participate in this project to provide a workable guidance and protocol document for anyone who deals with these species. Minister for Housing, Heritage and Local Government James Browne said that local authorities are playing an essential role in protecting biodiversity. 'Through these projects, each local authority will make a unique impact on their local biodiversity, but is also part of a bigger picture across the country. 'I welcome the focus on partnership, research and best practice. I wish all of those involved the very best with the work and look forward to hearing more as they progress,' he said. Minister of State for Nature, Heritage and Biodiversity, Christopher O'Sullivan TD added that he was impressed by the diversity of projects funded this year. 'The Local Biodiversity Action Fund will enable every local authority around the country to enhance their actions on biodiversity, including research and recording of our unique species, from the Irish Mayfly, woodland Bats to barn owls, and management of precious habitats such as meadows and wetlands. 'I'd like to commend local authorities for stepping up their efforts to tackle invasive species, including Japanese Knotweed and Himalayan Balsam, which pose a real threat to our landscapes and marine environment,' he said.
