€45,000 in funding for Mayo biodiversity projects
Mayo Fine Gael TD Alan Dillon has today welcomed €42,965 funding for Biodiversity projects in County Mayo to supports actions for biodiversity in local areas.
He said: “There is good news for nature in County Mayo.
"Community-level action is so important, and the initiatives provided for through this grant demonstrate the scale and breadth of interest in biodiversity and the natural world across the county.
"I look forward to getting out and visiting them over the coming year.”
Up to 70 Biodiversity Projects around the country has been announced today total €789,785, ranging from pollinator-friendly projects to Biodiversity Action Plans, flora, fauna and green space surveys to sand dune restoration and wetland surveys to radio awareness campaigns.
All projects supported by the scheme range from those that aim to increase appreciation of biodiversity and ecosystem services.
Alongside these, some €391,000 in department funding, is going to 31 individual invasive alien species projects tackling species such as hogweed, Himalayan Balsam, Japanese Knotweed, American Skunk Cabbage and Rhododendron.
The successful Mayo projects are as follows:
* Mayo Wetland Survey: Approximately 900 wetland sites will be mapped – €5,000
*Survey and map the locations of Himalayan Balsam along the banks of the Castlebar River/Lough Lannagh river using Mayo County Council’s Invasive Species Recording App – €23,616
* Citizen science and strategic survey to assess the status and breeding performance of Barn Owls in Mayo and to identify their conservation requirements – €14,349
The funding will assist local authority biodiversity officers (and heritage officers in local authorities without a biodiversity officer). All projects to receive funding promote actions contained in the National Biodiversity Action Plan (NBAP) 2017-2021.
This year the funding of €1.35 million is double that of 2020.
First launched in 2018, the scheme supports actions for biodiversity in local areas and is an important element of the overall NBAP implementation.
Engagement with communities and local authorities is crucial to the implementation of the plan and the grants help raise awareness of biodiversity issues locally, regionally and nationally.
Under the scheme exchequer funding meets 85% of the cost of the projects, with the local authority providing the remaining 15%.