The 2024 Communities Caring for Water Conference hosted by the Local Authority Waters Programme (LAWPRO) and The Rivers Trust will take place in Co. Westmeath next week.
The theme of the conference taking place on Saturday, November 9, at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Athlone, will be ‘Our water, our future: empowering communities to improve and protect’.
There will be a series of talks by community groups, experts and water quality advocates between 10:00a.m and 4:00p.m, covering the following themes:
- Climate change and working with nature;
- Hydromorphology pressures and solutions;
- Capacity building in community groups;
- The importance of public participation.
Speaking ahead of the event, Minister for Nature, Heritage and Electoral Reform, Malcolm Noonan, who will be opening the conference, said: “Our recently launched Water Action Plan acknowledges the crucial role of community in efforts to improve water quality.
“By engaging and empowering them to get involved, we will all be able to work together to protect our vital water resources.
“This conference will not only bring together remarkable groups who are working to make a difference, but it will provide a place for important discussions on water, climate, biodiversity policy and action.”
Director of services at LAWPRO, Anthony Coleman added that communities will play an “essential role” in the delivery of the Water Action Plan. “We wish to extend an invite to any member of a community group interested in attending.”
Members of community groups who wish to attend the 2024 Communities Caring for Water Conference can register on consult.watersandcommunities.ie under ‘applications’.
The Rivers Trust Ireland development manager, Dr. Constanze O’Toole stressed that collaboration is “key” to protecting our rivers and freshwater environments, and that it’s “vital” that we embrace shared responsibility for their care.
Dr. O’Toole said the conference is a “welcome opportunity to foster a deeper connection between people and their rivers, while equipping them with the knowledge and practical tools necessary to create lasting positive change”.