New funding stream for Biodiversity Officers
In recognition of the vital work that local authorities and their staff undertake in tackling the biodiversity crisis, Malcolm Noonan TD, Minister of State for Heritage and Electoral Reform announced that the Local Biodiversity Action Fund will receive funding of €1.5 million in 2022 - a 300% increase in funding for this scheme since 2019. Minister Noonan also announced that a new funding stream will be made available to ensure that all local authorities have a dedicated Biodiversity Officer.
Biodiversity Officers are the public face of biodiversity at the local level. They are tasked with supporting the implementation of the National Biodiversity Action Plan (NBAP) and the delivery of national biodiversity targets, commissioning biodiversity surveys and working with the community on projects to improve the status of biodiversity in the local authority area.
Commenting on the announcement, Greystones Cathaoirleach and Green Party Councillor Lourda Scott said:
“I’m delighted to hear that funding to this vital biodiversity funding scheme has been increased. Local Authorities play a key role in addressing the biodiversity emergency, and the benefits of this are shared by all of us, not least local communities. As the incoming Chair of the Climate and Biodiversity Policy Group I’m particularly pleased that the increased funding includes a new stream to extend the Biodiversity Officer programme across the country. Wicklow County Council have already done a fantastic job working within their own biodiversity plans and with communities, to help halt biodiversity loss. However having a dedicated Biodiversity Officer to support this work would be greatly impactful. Reversing biodiversity loss is among the greatest challenges of our time and this increased investment will go a long way to boost their efforts. Biodiversity officers are a key part of this and I have already urged Wicklow County Council to apply for funding for this role.”
An amount of €1.5 million has been made available in 2022 for the NBAP Local Authority Biodiversity Grant Scheme. The funding was made available, in line with a grant application and award process, to biodiversity officers in the counties that have them, and heritage officers. Funding awarded is:
a. Subject to provision of an agreed level of co-funding from the local authority’s own resources;
b. Spent on a project directly related to one or more actions of the National Biodiversity Action Plan or targeting Invasive Alien Species projects, including species which are included on the on EU IAS list of Union concern;
c. The project outputs must be reported to the Department before the end of the year.
Targeted project areas include:
- Projects tackling IAS, especially species on the EU IAS list of Union concern
- Wetland habitat creation
- Management of road verges for native species
- IAS remediation work in LAWPRO Priority Areas for Action
- Remediation of damaged river corridors
- Sustainable visitor management in coastal amenity areas
- Restoration/maintenance of foredune habitats
The National Biodiversity Action Plan 2017-2021 and its’ Interim Review are available at https://www.npws.ie/legislation/national-biodiversity-plan
Work on drafting Ireland’s 4th NBAP is underway and it will go for public consultation and launch in 2022.
For further information, queries can be sent to biodiversitypolicy@housing.gov.ie