Glenroe-Ballyorgan Parish embrace biodiversity drive
The Parish Habitats and Biodiversity (PHAB) project is a one year project which supports farmers to enhance biodiversity and habitats across Glenroe-Ballyorgan Parish, including within the catchment of the Keale and Ahaphuca Rivers and in the uplands of Glenroe-Ballyorgan in Co. Limerick.
A recent survey carried out in the community identified that the majority of respondents recognised biodiversity loss as a serious problem which impacts on food production, the economy and our quality of life. However, despite the overwhelming majority (96%) of respondents declaring their willingness to “do their bit to protect biodiversity”, results showed that approximately half of the survey participants were unsure of how to do so.
PHAB is a collaborative project, led by Ballyhoura Development, in partnership with Glenroe- Ballyorgan Community Council, Ballyhoura Heritage & Environment, Teagasc, the Local Authorities Water Programme, the Technological University of the Shannon, and the Irish Farmers Association.
The PHAB project helps to bridge that gap by providing training and capital support for local farmers to carry out actions to protect and promote biodiversity on their farms, for example through planting native trees or hedgerows, establishing multi-species swards, or trialling novel holistic grazing practices.
If you are a farmer living in the Glenroe-Ballyorgan area, and have any questions about the project, or if you would like to participate in the project, please get in touch! Project manager Nicole Dennehy can be contacted by call, text or e-mail at 086 066 0561 or nedennehy@ballyhoura.org.
This project is funded by the European Innovation Partnership Scheme, which funds projects that allow farmers, scientists and other experts to collaborate together to develop new practices that are environmentally friendly and economically sustainable.