Three Laois biodiversity projects awarded nearly €30,000

Three Laois biodiversity projects are getting almost €30,000 of funding, supporting nature education and a special living bog.

New signs identifying native roadside planting in Portlaoise, a nature podcast and Abbeyleix Bog Project were awarded, among 233 projects nationwide sharing a pot of €2.8m from the Local Biodiversity Action Fund (LBAF).

In Portlaoise, €13,976 will go towards Biodiversity Awareness on the Portlaoise Orbital Route, where Portlaoise Tidy Towns has planted flowering meadows along the roadside and on roundabouts.

In Abbeyleix, €11,766 will fund IAS (invasive alien plant species) treatment on the restored bog, tackling damaging species like rhododendron. It follows a grant of over €10,000 for the same issue last year.

Fnally the In Your Nature podcast series with Laois bird expert and Offaly Biodiversity Officer Ricky Whelan, and Niall Hatch of Birdwatch Ireland, has received €3,967.

Minister of State for Nature, Heritage and Electoral Reform, Malcolm Noonan TD, announced the € 2.8 million, awarded through local authorities to carry out the biodiversity projects.

Some of the other projects approved this year include:

• A two-year project involving 29 local authorities recording the Irish mayfly
• Six local authorities will participate in the Hare’s Corner project looking to create new habitats for biodiversity
• Carlow County Council will survey protected and rare flora species across the county over the next three years
• Wexford County Council will devise a programme of biodiversity training for the staff in the Council
• Sligo County Council will carry out an Invasive Alien Species programme across the county, mainly treating Giant Hogweed
• Dublin City Council will carry out a Biodiversity Stewardship programme
• Kerry County Council are building a Strategic Alliance for the Management of Marine Biodiversity

First established in 2018, the fund was created to assist local authorities in the implementation of actions in support of biodiversity. A total just over €8.6m has been granted to local authorities through the LBAF since the scheme launched.

Minister Noonan said:

“Local Authorities play a vital role in addressing the biodiversity crisis and in this important week for biodiversity, I’m delighted to see a record number of projects approved through the Local Biodiversity Action Fund 2024. The benefits realised by the locally-led projects created through this Fund are shared by all of us, not least local communities. As more and more Biodiversity Officers join the ranks of our local authorities through the Biodiversity Officer Programme, I know that the benefits for nature and people that this Fund provide are only going to grow. I’d like to congratulate the successful applicants and wish them the very best of luck in the implementation of their projects this year.’

Engagement with communities and local authorities is crucial to the implementation of Irelands 4^th National Biodiversity Action Plan, launched in January this year. The LBAF is operated by the National Parks and Wildlife Service of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage and represents a commitment to support implementation of the Irelands 4^th NBAP at community, county and regional level. The Fund recognises the importance of the work carried out by local authorities through their Biodiversity and Heritage Officers. All 31 local authorities applied for and will receive funding this year, with a total of 233 projects approved, covering a range of biodiversity related activities, including invasive alien species control, bird and bat conservation, wetland surveys and community biodiversity awareness and training.

Niall O’Donnchú is Director General of the NPWS. 

“We’re so impressed with the diversity and creativity of these projects. Partnership is the engine that will deliver the National Biodiversity Action Plan. By working with local authorities, we can make a difference in communities on the ground, and that combined effort will make a huge impact in delivering on the ambition of the plan,”  he said.