The Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage is encouraging local authorities, including Louth and Meath County Councils to apply for funding from the 2022 Local Biodiversity Action Fund which has opened to applications from local authorities.
The fund, which increased to €1.5m this year, supports locally-led projects that align with actions under the National Biodiversity Action Plan.
Local authorities play a vital role in addressing the biodiversity emergency. This funding stream enables them to develop projects that address biodiversity loss in their localities by helping to create new habitats, restoring existing ones and by tackling invasive alien species.
The funding will be made available, in line with a grant application and award process, to local authorities’ biodiversity officers in the counties that have them, and heritage officers, subject to certain criteria.
The scheme, operated by the National Parks and Wildlife Service of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, has proven hugely popular, with all 31 local authorities seeking funding in 2021.
A wide variety of projects were financed, ranging from the surveying of breeding birds and the creation of pollinator-friendly initiatives, to projects raising awareness of the importance of biodiversity to our well-being.
Commenting on the announcement, Green Party TD and Minister of State for Heritage and Electoral Reform, Malcolm Noonan said:
“… Greater funding allows us to be increasingly ambitious in our efforts to reverse biodiversity loss. Action for nature at the local level is critical.
“Local Authorities and communities are a huge part of the biodiversity solution and I’d encourage everyone to see what can be done in their community, engage with their local Heritage and Biodiversity Officers, and get their applications in.”
