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Minister Noonan announces that 31 Local Authorities will carry out over 50 projects that promote biodiversity across the Country

Date Released: Friday, October 9, 2020

National Biodiversity Action Plan Local Authority Biodiversity Grant Scheme

The Minister of State with responsibility for Heritage and Electoral Reform, Malcolm Noonan, TD, today attended the Dublin City Council launch of a new booklet on the city’s woodlands, funded in conjunction with the Council through the Local Authority Biodiversity Grant Scheme. The Local Authority Biodiversity Grant Scheme is operated by the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) of the Department and offers funding to assist local authority biodiversity officers (and heritage officers in local authorities without a biodiversity officer) with the implementation of projects that promote actions contained in the National Biodiversity Action Plan (NBAP) 2017-2021.

First launched in 2018, the Scheme supports actions for biodiversity in local areas and is an important element of the overall NBAP implementation. Engagement with communities and local authorities is crucial to the implementation of the Plan and the grants help raise awareness of biodiversity issues locally, regionally and nationally.
All 31 local authorities have been awarded funding through the Scheme in 2020. Local authorities will use the €696,000 funding awarded this year to carry out over 50 projects that promote actions in the NBAP. Projects supported by the Scheme range from those that aim to increase appreciation of biodiversity and ecosystem services, to projects that support endangered species, and include:
• A multiannual project to tackle invasive alien species in County Sligo

• Projects to raise awareness of biodiversity in Cavan, Clare, Roscommon and Longford

• Surveying of breeding birds in North Bull Island, Dublin, to enhance understanding of the range, number and location of species nesting on the island

• A project to assist in the adoption of the All Ireland Pollinator Plan in Galway

The Department advised successful applicants that all works must be carried out in compliance with physical distancing instructions and other public health measures determined by the Government and the HSE.