Funding announced for local biodiversity projects

Funding to the tune of €2.7 million has been announced for a host of biodiversity projects across the region, including a number of local projects.

Under the scheme, announced on Wednesday by Malcolm Noonan TD, Minister of State for Heritage and Electoral Reform, over €2.5 million is being awarded to local authorities to carry out biodiversity projects through the Local Biodiversity Action Fund (LBAF) and €193k is being granted to the natural history recording community through the Small Recording Grants scheme.

Among these projects is €34,000 in funding for the Bride River Valley Project.

A total of 188 projects have been approved across all 31 local authorities, covering a range of biodiversity-related activities, including invasive alien species control, dune restoration, wetland surveys and biodiversity awareness and training.

€13,643 was also made available under the scheme in County Cork for a Barn Owl Survey.

“It is fantastic to be able to fund these local initiatives once again. In 2022, my Department funded 24 projects to the tune of €70,000. This year, we have significantly increased resources for this very worthwhile scheme, with 67 projects approved at a cost of €193,000 – almost 3 times the projects and 3 times the funding.

“This scheme supports the work of the NPWS in recording many aspects of individual species that it would be almost impossible for my staff to carry out themselves,” Minister Noonan said.

County Waterford saw €18,700 allocated towards a training programme on Best Practice for Biodiversity for council staff, as well as €15,390 towards Barn Owl Conservation and €9,000 towards the Brent Geese tagging project and more.

Limerick was awarded €15,683 in funding for giant hogweed clearance on the River Loobagh, which stretches towards Ardpatrick.

A sum of €15,500 was announced for a hedgerow survey in Limerick, with €8,691 towards barn owl conservation and €2,304 for a barn owl booklet.

Tipperary saw € 26,138 allocated towards Phase 3 of the Wetland Survey while €17,000 was made available for a biodiversity awareness programme and €4,810 for monitoring the alpine newt population.

Several other projects across Cork, Waterford, Limerick and Tipperary as well as across the country were also allocated funding under the scheme.