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Ireland’s National Biodiversity Conference announced

  • Major two-day conference on biodiversity to be held in February 2019 at Dublin Castle
  •  Brings conservationists together with communities, farmers, artists, businesses and economists
  • Aims to progress the 3rd National Biodiversity Action Plan 2017-2021

Josepha Madigan, T.D. Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht marks International Day for Biodiversity.

Today is the International Day for Biodiversity (22nd May 2018) and Minister Madigan, the National Parks and Wildlife Service (npws.ie) and Irish Forum on Natural Capital (naturalcapitalireland.com) are announcing Ireland’s National Biodiversity Conference titled ‘New Horizons for Nature’.

Minister Madigan said

This important two-day event will see artists, businesses, economists, musicians and farmers join conservationists and scientists to seek answers to the question of how we can work together to reverse biodiversity loss.

Globally, she said, we are losing biodiversity at a rate unprecedented in human history. In Ireland, many of our protected habitats are in poor condition, and 14% of species assessed are thought to be endangered. The number of plants, insects, mammals and birds that are threatened or endangered is growing year on year. Every one of these species is a masterpiece of biodiversity. Echoing President Macron, she added, there is no Planet B. The biodiversity of this planet is the greatest resource we have and it is up to this generation to move beyond rhetoric and on to action. That action is not for the prescient few. It is a societal obligation, and this conference will broaden that dialogue to more of those determined not to lose more of natures’ masterpieces.

Dr Ciaran O’ Keeffe, Head of Science and Biodiversity at the NPWS said:

This matters for people as well as the planet. As the web of life breaks apart, the natural systems that give us food to eat, air to breathe and water to drink are increasingly vulnerable.

The conference comes on the back of Ireland’s 3rd National Biodiversity Action Plan, ‘Actions for Biodiversity 2017-2021’, which was launched last October. Through talks, debates, workshops and creative elements, this event aims to raise awareness of the Plan and explore some of its key aspects, including:

 

  • How to better engage with communities across Ireland to conserve biodiversity
  • How biodiversity can help us adapt to a changed climate
  • How biodiversity can improve our health and wellbeing
  • Where funding for biodiversity comes from, and how that money is spent

Information about the conference is available at www.biodiversityconferenceireland.com