Nature News July 2007

Local Biodiversity Action Plan

Galway County Council, through the People and Nature will be preparing a Local Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) over the coming months. The process is being assisted by a new Department of the Environment initiative to be administered by the Heritage Council.

Biodiversity refers simply to the variety of living things on earth including people, plants, animals and the habitats in which they live. The aim of the BAP is to set out objectives and actions to promote, protect and enhance biodiversity in County Galway for the benefit of both people and the environment in the coming years. The County Galway BAP will be a subset of the county Heritage Plan and will cover a period of five years (2008-2012).

Consultation is an essential part of the process to produce the plan and input is welcomed from all interested parties. The production of BAP is an action of the Heritage Plan. All interested persons are encouraged to become involved in the development of the plan. If local individuals and groups have any issues or suggestions that they would like considered for the BAP they would be very welcome.

Some issues, which may be of concern, may include:

Special habitats or species in the Athenry area
Biodiversity awareness and education
Threats or problems facing biodiversity in County Galway
Priorities for biodiversity research in the county.

Regarding queries about the project or submissions to the plan, contact the People and Nature project manager, Elaine O’Riordan, Galway County Biodiversity Project, Applied Ecology Unit, centre for the Environmental Science, NUI Galway or email elaine.oriordan@nuigalway.ie