Minister Madigan said “This important two-day event will see artists, businesses, economists, musicians and farmers join conservationists and scientists to seek answers to the question of how we can work together to reverse biodiversity loss.
Globally, she said, we are losing biodiversity at a rate unprecedented in human history. In Ireland, many of our protected habitats are in poor condition, and 14% of species assessed are thought to be endangered. The number of plants, insects, mammals and birds that are threatened or endangered is growing year on year. Every one of these species is a masterpiece of biodiversity. Echoing President Macron, she added, there is no Planet B. The biodiversity of this planet is the greatest resource we have and it is up to this generation to move beyond rhetoric and on to action. That action is not for the prescient few. It is a societal obligation, and this conference will broaden that dialogue to more of those determined not to lose more of natures’ masterpieces.”
Dr Ciaran O’ Keeffe, Head of Science and Biodiversity at the NPWS said: ”This matters for people as well as the planet. As the web of life breaks apart, the natural systems that give us food to eat, air to breathe and water to drink are increasingly vulnerable.”
The conference comes on the back of Ireland’s 3rd National Biodiversity Action Plan, ‘Actions for Biodiversity 2017-2021’, which was launched last October. Through talks, debates, workshops and creative elements, this event aims to raise awareness of the Plan and explore some of its key aspects, including:
- How to better engage with communities across Ireland to conserve biodiversity
- How biodiversity can help us adapt to a changed climate
- How biodiversity can improve our health and wellbeing
- Where funding for biodiversity comes from, and how that money is spent
Information about the conference is available at www.biodiversityconferenceireland.com
(*) Biodiversity is the term used to describe the full variety of life on earth including plants, animals and the ecosystems supporting them. Biodiversity is vital to human health and well-being and key ecosystem services provide us with products and services such as food, fresh water, clean air, raw materials, carbon storage and the genetic materials used in the development of many modern medicines.
Ireland’s Vision for Biodiversity is articulated in the National Biodiversity Action Plan, as follows: that in the future “biodiversity and ecosystems in Ireland are conserved and restored, delivering benefits essential for all sectors of society and that Ireland contributes to efforts to halt the loss of biodiversity and the degradation of ecosystems in the EU and globally”.
Further information:
Biodiversity Policy and Awareness Unit
National Parks & Wildlife Service
Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht
7 Ely Place
Dublin 2
IRELAND D02 TW08
Tel: 1890 383 000
Email: biodiversitypolicy@chg.gov.ie
www.npws.ie
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