Minister Malcolm Noonan announces â¬1.35 million for Local Authority biodiversity projects on World Wildlife Day
Malcolm Noonan T.D., Minister of State for Heritage and Electoral Reform, has today, World Wildlife Day (March 3rd 2021), announced that over â¬1.35 million will be made available to local authorities in the Local Authority Biodiversity Grant Scheme for projects which tackle Invasive Alien Species (IAS) and to carry out actions in the National Biodiversity Action Plan 2017-2021 (NBAP).
First launched in 2018, funding for the grant scheme has been increased from â¬700,000 in 2020. The scheme comprises two streams: a â¬500,000 fund for projects tackling Invasive Alien Species (IAS), including species which are included on the EU IAS list of Union concern, and â¬850,000 for other maintenance, restoration and awareness-raising projects under actions in the National Biodiversity Action Plan.
Fingal County Council has just completed the first phase of a wetland development project in the Turvey Nature Park in Donabate.
In this phase completed this year, an existing wetland area was extended and a new two-acre wetland area was created.
A new Sandmartin Hut was also installed which is the first of its kind in Ireland.
Building on this progress next year the Council intends to construct another two large wetland areas to create a connected series of freshwater ponds and wetlands in the Nature Park.
It is envisaged that this will attract a wider range of plants and animals to the park.