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Biodiversity


What is Biodiversity?

Short for 'biological diversity', Biodiversity is the variety of life we see around us everyday - trees, flowers, insects, mammals, birds and fish. Biodiversity also includes the habitats or places where plants and animals live, such as hedgerows, meadows, rivers, woodlands and even your back garden.

Why is Biodiversity Important?

Although we may not readily appreciate it, biodiversity provides us with many of the essentials that sustain our lives - our oxygen, water, food, clothing and places to relax in. The value of biodiversity extends from the spiritual benefits to be gained from contact with nature in your garden or local park, to the economic gains for local businesses associated with outdoor pursuits in Fingal such as farming, angling, hiking, boating and diving.

What are the threats to Biodiversity in Fingal?

Despite the important role Biodiversity plays in every day life, there is a growing concern for biodiversity in Ireland and throughout the world. Fingal contains a wealth of wildlife, but the pattern of loss mirrors the global pattern as our local habitats are lost and species numbers have declined. The challenge for Fingal is to develop and grow in a way which maintains and enhances biodiversity for future generations.


Fingal Biodiversity Action Plan

The Fingal Biodiversity Action Plan will be the guiding document for nature conservation efforts in Fingal over the next 10-20 years. The Biodiversity Action Plan puts forward an ambitious programme of a 100 actions to protect the sites, habitats, plants and animals that can be found in our County. These actions can be divided in three categories:

Delivery of the Ecological Network across Fingal. About half of the actions relate to the management of individual sites that collectively make up the Fingal Ecological Network.

Research & monitoring. New studies are to be undertaken to gather new data on important sites, flora and fauna, particularly in the countryside

Raising awareness. Educating people of all ages and backgrounds about biodiversity in Fingal and the essential role it plays in our society and economy

GET INVOLVED

Everybody can get involved in the Biodiversity Plan and do their bit for biodiversity, such as: 


• Make your garden more interesting for wildlife,
• explore your local parks and nature conservation areas,
• become a member of a nature conservation organization
• join the Conservation Volunteers Dublin on one of their practical conservation days for a bit of fun and exercising

FINGALBIODIVERSITY.IE

Please visit www.fingalbiodiversity.ie for more information on nature in Fingal, nature conservation projects, how to get involved, survey reports and upcoming events.

For more information and advise you can also contact the Biodiversity Officer on 01 8905605 or via email on biodiversity@fingalcoco.ie