BREAKING: Over €60,000 in funding approved for biodiversity projects in Tipperary

Six biodiversity projects have been allocated €68,551 in funding under the Local Biodiversity Action Fund. 

Minister of State for Heritage and Electoral Reform Malcolm Noonan announced the funding for local authorities, which totals €2.7 million nationwide.  

The Tipperary projects awarded grants for 2023 are: 

• Phase 3 of the Wetlands Survey (€26,138)
• Biodiversity Awareness Programme (€17,000)
• Lough Nahinch Enhancement (€11,987)
• Monitoring the Alpine Newt population (€4,810)
• Birds Survey Schohoboy Bog/Sopwell Woodlands, Nahinch Bog, and Lake and Knocknaree Woodlands (€4,496)
• The River Shannon Quagga Mussel Project (€4,120)

The fund is operated by the National Parks and Wildlife Service of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage and was launched in 2018. 

Since then, a total of just over €6m has been granted to local authorities through the LBAF for projects that support actions in the third National Biodiversity Action Plan (NBAP). This year’s grants will build on that investment. 

Minister of State for Heritage and Electoral Reform, Malcolm Noonan TD:

“Given that it’s Biodiversity Week, I’m especially delighted to announce the funding of over €2.5 million for 188 biodiversity projects. 

"The Local Biodiversity Action Fund is an enormously impactful scheme that supports local authorities and communities to deliver on Ireland’s national objectives for nature, from invasive species to habitat restoration to awareness-raising to surveys and monitoring work. 

"As more and more Biodiversity Officers join the ranks of our local authorities, I know that the benefits for nature and people that this Fund provides are only going to grow,” said Mr Noonan. 

Small Recording Grants

Additionally, recorders of dragonflies and damselflies in Tipperary have also been awarded a share of €193,000 under the Small Recording Grants. 

The Small Recording Grant scheme, managed by the NPWS, aims to help established naturalists recording in Ireland to maintain and enhance their expertise in species identification, and to develop the next generation of natural history recorders.

The Small Recording Grants scheme supports volunteers, groups, societies and associations of recorders who have limited or no access to financial support for their work.

Sixty-seven applicants have been notified of their funding allocations, at a combined total of €193,000. 

The data generated by these recording exercises is utilised by the NPWS to inform its understanding of the distribution and ecology of many species and to assess their status. 

In turn, it informs advice on nature conservation objectives and practical measures to protect species and habitats.

“It is fantastic to be able to fund these local initiatives once again. In 2022, my Department funded 24 projects to the tune of €70,000. This year, we have significantly increased resources for this very worthwhile scheme, with 67 projects approved at a cost of €193,000 – almost three times the projects and three times the funding. 

“This scheme supports the work of the NPWS in recording many aspects of individual species that it would be almost impossible for my staff to carry out themselves, ” said Mr Noonan.