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Communities will be coming together to celebrate biodiversity and connect with nature in their local area during National Biodiversity Week 2023, to take place from 19-28 May. Events such as biodiversity walks, fun talks on the familiar and not-so-familiar plant, insect and animal species in the landscape and workshops for those looking to encounter the natural world up close will be taking place in towns and villages throughout the country, with something for everyone. All events – many of which are free - are listed on www.biodiversityweek.ie.
Welcoming the launch, Minister of State for Heritage and Electoral Reform Malcolm Noonan said:
“National Biodiversity Week offers something for everyone to go wild and have fun connecting with nature in their local area. I’d like to encourage everyone to check out the website and see what’s going on locally, get involved in one of the hundreds of free events and learn about the work being done by organisations around the country to protect and conserve our natural world. I’d also like to congratulate the many groups participating in Biodiversity Week and the huge work done by the Irish Environmental Network to coordinate an excellent programme in celebration of nature.”
National Biodiversity Week is coordinated by the Irish Environmental Network and funded by the National Parks and Wildlife Service of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. The purpose of the week is to engage the public in a range of nature-related activities, and to generate greater awareness of Ireland’s nature at a local level. Community groups, education providers, NGOs and nature experts are amongst those leading events to create a better understanding of nature and to share their expertise in Ireland’s habitats, plant and animal species and ecosystems.
Justin Byrne, Chief Operating Officer at the Irish Environmental Network said:
“Irish Environmental Network is pleased to announce more than 150 events to celebrate Biodiversity Week 2023. Providing opportunities for people to explore nature is essential to bringing greater awareness to the biodiversity crisis in Ireland. When we spend time in the company of nature, we can’t help but be reminded of how precious our natural heritage is. Biodiversity week is all about reconnecting with the natural world, developing respect for it, and playing our part to protect it.”
National Biodiversity Week also presents an opportunity for the public to learn more about the organisations working in their local area to reverse biodiversity loss and conserve nature. The Local Biodiversity Action Fund was doubled to €3 million this year to assist local biodiversity activities. First launched in 2018, the Local Biodiversity Action Fund offers funding to help Local Authorities achieve actions identified in the National Biodiversity Action Plan, recognising the important role they plan in addressing the biodiversity emergency. This funding stream enables the development of projects that address biodiversity loss in Local Authority areas by helping to create new habitats, restoring existing ones and by tackling invasive alien species.
Increased resourcing for local biodiversity initiatives has been made available this year, with funding now in place which will see a biodiversity officer appointed to every local authority in the country by the end of 2024. The Biodiversity Officers will drive local biodiversity action for biodiversity, advising the local authority on biodiversity-related issues and the authority’s obligations in relation to protecting biodiversity. They will also help local authorities to fully integrate biodiversity conservation into all of their policies, plans and actions, through training and the provision of expert advice. The programme is being delivered by the Heritage Council and the County and City Management Association (CCMA), with the support of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage and the National Parks and Wildlife Service arising from a commitment in the Programme for Government to tackle the climate and biodiversity crisis.
Virginia Teehan, CEO of the Heritage Council, commented:
“It’s wonderful to see such momentum behind our natural heritage and as the biodiversity officer network grows I know we’ll see even more local activities to involve communities in biodiversity protection. Local communities play a huge part in preventing further biodiversity loss and National Biodiversity Week will help to get more people involved in local efforts. Congratulations to all the groups who have put on events in celebration of nature.”