Minister announces huge €2.8 million biodiversity fund and includes Carlow groups

Minister of State for Nature, Heritage and Electoral Reform, Malcolm Noonan TD, has announced funding of €2.8 million has been awarded to local authorities to carry out biodiversity projects through the Local Biodiversity Action Funding and includes groups from Carlow.

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.’

The breakdown of funding for Carlow groups is as follows:

-Biodiversity Awareness through the Hare’s Corner:€4,000

-IAS – Control across the county:€12,500

-3yr Wetlands Survey across the county:€12,500

-County Carlow Hedgehog Survey:€3,000

-County Carlow Otter Survey:€13,600

-Carlow Protected & Rare Flora Survey:€11,050

-Carlow Riparian Habitat Gaps & Fragmentation Survey:€12,750

-Carlow River and Riparian Restoration:€8,500

-County Carlow Urban Pollinator Foraging Network Mapping & Management:€8,000

-Recording Irish mayfly – establishing conservation status:€1,289