Minister Noonan announces € 2.8 million funding awarded for local biodiversity projects

• 233 community projects have been funded through the Local Biodiversity Action Fund (LBAF) across all 31 local authorities

• LBAF projects include biodiversity education and awareness projects, bird conservation projects, invasive species management and wetland surveys

• All support the implementation of the 4th National Biodiversity Action Plan

Minister of State for Nature, Heritage and Electoral Reform, Malcolm Noonan TD, has today announced that € 2.8 million has been awarded to local authorities to carry out biodiversity projects through the Local Biodiversity Action Fund (LBAF).

First established in 2018, the Local Biodiversity Action Fund was created to assist local authorities in the implementation of actions in support of biodiversity. A total just over €8.6m has been granted to local authorities through the LBAF since the scheme launched.

Minister Noonan said:

“Local Authorities play a vital role in addressing the biodiversity crisis and in this important week for biodiversity, I’m delighted to see a record number of projects approved through the Local Biodiversity Action Fund 2024. The benefits realised by the locally-led projects created through this Fund are shared by all of us, not least local communities. As more and more Biodiversity Officers join the ranks of our local authorities through the Biodiversity Officer Programme, I know that the benefits for nature and people that this Fund provide are only going to grow. I’d like to congratulate the successful applicants and wish them the very best of luck in the implementation of their projects this year.’

Engagement with communities and local authorities is crucial to the implementation of Irelands 4th National Biodiversity Action Plan, launched in January this year. The LBAF is operated by the National Parks and Wildlife Service of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage and represents a commitment to support implementation of the Irelands 4th NBAP at community, county and regional level. The Fund recognises the importance of the work carried out by local authorities through their Biodiversity and Heritage Officers. All 31 local authorities applied for and will receive funding this year, with a total of 233 projects approved, covering a range of biodiversity related activities, including invasive alien species control, bird and bat conservation, wetland surveys and community biodiversity awareness and training.

Niall O’Donnchú, Director General, NPWS said:

“We’re so impressed with the diversity and creativity of these projects. Partnership is the engine that will deliver the National Biodiversity Action Plan. By working with local authorities, we can make a difference in communities on the ground, and that combined effort will make a huge impact in delivering on the ambition of the plan.”

Projects approved this year include:

• A two-year project involving 29 local authorities recording the Irish mayfly

• Six local authorities will participate in the Hare’s Corner project looking to create new habitats for biodiversity

• Carlow County Council will survey protected and rare flora species across the county over the next three years

• Wexford County Council will devise a programme of biodiversity training for the staff in the Council

• Sligo County Council will carry out an Invasive Alien Species programme across the county, mainly treating Giant Hogweed

• Dublin City Council will carry out a Biodiversity Stewardship programme

• Kerry County Council are building a Strategic Alliance for the Management of Marine Biodiversity

For the full list of projects in 31 local authority areas, download the document below:

Local Biodiversity Action Fund (LBAF) 2024

Projects funded under the Local Biodiversity Action Fund (LBAF) 2024

Íoslódáil

Further Information

The 2024 NBAP Local Biodiversity Action Fund is 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.

Irelands’ 4th National Biodiversity Action Plan ‘Actions For Nature’ was launched in January 2024