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Minister Deenihan launches Bioblitz 2011 and National Biodiversity Week 2011 in Killarney National Park

Mr.  Jimmy  Deenihan  T.D.,  Minister  for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht

today  (20  May  2011)  officially  started  the BioBlitz 2011 at Killarney

National  Park,  Co  Kerry. The event also marked the International Day for

Biological Diversity which falls on Sunday 22 May and National Biodiversity

Week, 21-28 May 2011.

BioBlitz  is a scientific race against time, organised through the National

Biodiversity  Data  Centre.  The  aim  of this fun event is to find as many

species as possible within a park over a 24 hour period. During last year’s

event,  the  champions,  Connemara  National  Park  recorded  a massive 542

species over a 24 hour period.

Five  of Ireland’s magnificent state-owned properties will be vying for the

title of BioBlitz 2011 Champions, with each site pitted against one another

to  see  which property can find most species.  They are Ballycroy National

Park, Co. Mayo, Dromore Nature Reserve, Co. Clare, Killarney National Park,

Co.  Kerry,  The Raven Nature Reserve, Co. Wexford, and Liffey Valley Park,

South  Dublin. From soaring eagles to the smallest bugs in the undergrowth,

teams  of scientists and volunteers will comb the parks recording what they

find.

Speaking at the event, the Minister said ‘It is great to see so many people

here   today   interested  in  such  an  important  issue  as  biodiversity

conservation.  Biodiversity  is  one of the most important issues the world

faces today; it is the variety of all life forms on Earth, from the tiniest

bugs living in the soil, to the butterflies in your garden, the plants they

feed from, to the biggest whales of the sea.”

This  is  a  unique event where scientists, students and the general public

can  come  together and learn how scientists and recorders use their skills

to   study   the   wildlife  of  an  area.   It  will  also  introduce  the

non-specialist  to  the  fabulous  wealth  of  biodiversity that occurs all

around  us.  200  scientists  are  giving  of  their  time  and skills in a

voluntary capacity.

The  event  will commence at 17.00 hrs on Friday 20 May and finish at 17.00

hrs on Saturday 21 May.

National Biodiversity Week

In Ireland National Biodiversity Week is organised as a week long series of

celebrations  around  Biodiversity  Day.  As  part of the celebrations, the

National  Parks  & Wildlife Service together with environmental NGOs, Local

authorities  and  a  wide range of other organisations have arranged a week

long  celebration of Ireland's biodiversity with plenty of activities aimed

at  all  age  groups. Events taking place include nature walks, traditional

craft  fairs,  music and storytelling events, bat walks, public lectures to

name but a few.

“Loss   of   biodiversity  has  potentially  devastating  impacts  on  our

environment,  health  and economy. Because of the lead-in time, the effects

of  any  actions  taken  may  not  be seen for many years. If we are to put

things  right we must start now. People need to become aware of these risks

and threats as quickly as possible” said Minister Deenihan

This  week  provides  an  opportunity  to  raise  public  awareness  on the

importance  of  biodiversity  for sustainable development. Conservation and

sustainable  use of biodiversity creates opportunities for reducing poverty

and  improving  human well-being.  Indeed, reversing biodiversity loss will

progress  goals  towards ending extreme poverty and hunger, ensuring health

and  education  for  all  and  achieving  environmental  sustainability and

international cooperation.

“The  truth  is that we have a large part of the solution in our own hands”

said  the  Minister,  urging  people to take action to help Biodiversity by

carrying out simple things like:

·  put up a bird feeder;

·  plant a native tree or shrub or flower;

·  cut down on your water consumption;

·  dispose of waste and packaging properly;

·   sign up for a nature walk – its only when you get out there will you

realise  just  how much biodiversity is out there, how much a part of

it you are, and can be, and how you can influence it.

My  Department  is not the only body involved in Biodiversity” the Minister

added,  “the  Zoo  and  the  Botanic  Gardens,  for example, also have busy

programmes  of  events throughout the year. All of these are very important

elements in raising awareness of biodiversity.”

International Biodiversity Day

The  United  Nations proclaimed May 22 the International Day for Biological

Diversity  (IDB)  to  increase  understanding and awareness of biodiversity

issues.  2011  is the International Year of Forests and forest biodiversity

is the theme for this year's IDB.

Forests  are  of  vital  importance  to  life  on  the planet. They help to

regulate  the  climate  of  the earth, regulate the flow and quality of the

water  in  rivers  and lakes, stabilise and maintain the fertility of soils

and,  last  but  by  no  means  least, they provide habitats for myriads of

species  of  wildlife or biodiversity, which is so important for sustaining

life on our planet.

The  extensive  natural forests that once covered Ireland have been largely

felled  and  cleared.  In the last century new forests, mostly of conifers,

have  been  planted,  to  replace those that were lost. Recent research has

found  that  these  forests  contain a much greater variety of biodiversity

than  was  previously  thought  and  that  they provide much more than just

timber.

However,   it  is  our  native  woodlands  which  are  most  important  for

biodiversity. We only have a very small area of native woodlands in Ireland

compared with other countries – about 2% of the land area – but here in the

Killarney  National  Park  we  have  the  most extensive and diverse native

forests  left  in  the  country  – about 1200ha of oak, ash, alder, yew and

birch woodland. These forests contain a wealth of biodiversity.