Funding boost for local biodiversity projects
Funding for biodiversity projects in Westmeath and the rest of the country has been doubled to €3m for 2023.
Local authorities can now apply to the National Parks and Wildlife Service to avail of funding to deliver local biodiversity projects. Over €59,000 was allocated to local projects through the Westmeath Local Authority in 2022.
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.
The scheme, operated by the National Parks and Wildlife Service of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, has proven hugely popular, with 109 projects funded in 2022. A wide variety of projects were financed including in the areas of Wetland Restoration, Bird Surveys, Dune restoration, Biodiversity Awareness and Invasive Alien Species.
Commenting on the announcement of the funding increase, Malcolm Noonan TD, Minister of State for Heritage and Electoral Reform at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage said:
“I’m delighted to be able to double the funding for this vital biodiversity funding scheme, which has proven immensely popular with Local Authorities, who have carried out really impactful projects with the funding. We have seen increasing participation in biodiversity and invasive species projects year-on-year, and the benefits of this are shared by all of us, not least local communities.
"Reversing biodiversity loss is among the greatest challenges of our times. Locally-led initiatives can be extremely impactful – supporting them is an important part of the response. Local Authorities play an important role in these efforts. Combined with our announcement last year of the appointment of Biodiversity Officers in the Local Authorities, today’s funding increase will allow the Local Authorities to play an ever more active role in our plans to address biodiversity loss. The State has increased its funding to the NPWS in light of the biodiversity crisis and I’m delighted that we’re able to in turn increase funding to important initiatives such as this.”
Examples of local projects that received funding in 2022 include:
Old Rail Trail Greenway: the engagement of an ecologist to develop projects to enhance biodiversity at four specific locations on the Greenway, including a site survey and the preparation of a Biodiversity Management Plan for Council lands at Ranelagh.
The development of Biodiversity Management/Enhancement Plans for Council-owned lands at Kerinstown/Balrowan.
A citizen science and strategic survey to assess the status and breeding performance of Barn Owls in Westmeath and to identify their conservation requirements.
An Invasive Alien Species Management Plan (IASMP) for Belvedere House, Gardens and Park.
A study of the Quagga mussel carried out by several local authorities and a team from UCD to asses this high impact aquatic invasive alien species that was discovered in the Shannon in 2021.
A biodiversity awareness campaign on Midlands 103 Radio that will include a full schedule of nine infomercials running one per week (as appropriate to the time of year), with specific messaging around Biodiversity Week.
Continued surveying of wetlands throughout County Westmeath on sites of County value and those sites identified as ‘indicative’ in previous surveys, with survey reports contributing to outreach for World Wetlands Day.