Minister of State for Heritage and Electoral Reform, Malcolm Noonan has today (Thursday, September 22), announced funding of over €1.4 million for biodiversity projects through the Local Biodiversity Action Fund (LBAF). 

Biodiversity projects are being carried out locally throughout Ireland in support of the National Biodiversity Action Plan (NBAP) 2017-2021, and already almost €4 million has been granted through the LBAF since 2018.

Projects, which cover a wide range of biodiversity-related activities, including invasive alien species control; dune restoration; wetland surveys; and biodiversity awareness and training, include:

A total of 128 projects across all 31 local authorities have been funded this year, which, the minister said "will have real, tangible impact for nature and it couldn’t come at a more crucial time".

Announcing the new funding for local authorities today, Minister Noonan said communities are at the heart of biodiversity action. He continued:

Members of the public are encouraged to submit their views on Ireland’s fourth NBAP to a public consultation which is run by the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS).

Submissions can be made by the public until Wednesday, November 9.

The draft NBAP sets out a vision for an Ireland in 2050 in which biodiversity is valued, conserved, restored and sustainably used, and includes the following objectives:

The final version of the NBAP will be published in early 2023, to allow the recommendations of the ongoing Citizens’ Assembly on Biodiversity Loss to be considered.