Ireland's action on climate change 'insufficient' according to European Commission document 

"The remains of a white-tailed Eagle were recovered in Fermanagh on Saturday, February 7th in the Newbridge Road area of Lisnaskae. Const. Maurice Blair said, "Many people may not have been aware that these birds are present in Fermanagh and that they are a protected species. We are working to establish the circumstances. If you can help please call the 101 number, quoting reference 6467215."

Ingar was almost 4 years old and had been released in Killarny National Park, Co. Kerry, in 2014 as part of the reintroduction programme for the species managed by the Golden Eagle Trust in partnership with with the National Parks & Wildlife Service. Given a chance, Ingar would have nested on one of the many islands on Lough Erne. The cause of death is unknown. Anyone with any knowledge of the circumstances leading to the death of this bird are urged to contact the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI). Click here for their Facebook. 

CELT Reach Final of Ashoka Change Maker's "Makers of More" 

Congratulations to CELT (Centre for Environmental Living and Training) on reaching the final of the Arthur Guinness Projects and Ashoka   Change Makers competition Makers of More - Your Idea, Your Community, Your Action.  

This initiative seeks to find people whose innovative ideas and inspirational work go beyond the ordinary to help unlock their community's potential. One Grand Prize of €30,000 will be awarded to one overall winner and two additional runner-up prizes of €10,000 will also be awarded.

  CELT's proposal is aimed at regenerating rural Ireland through Eco-tourism and the creation of a Centre of Excellence in Woodland Management, Agroforestry and Traditional Skills. The centre will be based in an eco-village setting and sheltered workshop areas will feature a range of traditional and ecological skills taught by professional tutors. Other training available at the Centre of Excellence will focus on creation of different woodland and agroforestry systems as replicable models. These will include traditional coppice-regime woodland, silvo-pasture and silvo-arable systems.  

Training will be aimed at landowners, farmers, gardeners and students. CE  LT envision this Centre for Excellence becoming a  tourism attraction with the possibility of linking to other eco projects. In time, thousands of people could be employed in their own localities creating new woodlands, agroforestry projects and skills training centres nationwide. To find out more about the project, and how you can help CELT succeed, please click here.

Congratulations also to the Irish Wildlife Trust who reached the semi-final with their wonderful 'Make it Wild' proposal.  Habitat loss is one of the greatest threats to biodiversity and wildlife. The Irish Wildlife Trust's 'Make it Wild' programme inspires people to help biodiversity and wildlife by replacing some of this lost habitat on their own properties and in their local communities. Find out more about the programme here.

Climate Conversations 2015

 The Climate Gathering is working with a number of other organisations to stage a series of conversations, lectures and debates in the first half of 2015, with the theme "Bringing people together for a new understanding on climate change".    

   

A number of organisations have come together to organise a series of conversations and debates in the early part of 2015 to try and promote greater understanding of what a low carbon future might bring for Ireland.  The collaboration between organisations focused on economic development, labour rights and social and environmental justice is symbolic of the greater cooperation we will need to change our response to the issue.  We seek to understand what cultural and social changes are needed, what costs and opportunities may arise and what economic model will best serve all our needs in making this transition.

The debates will be held at a time when our Government has to frame its own policy approach as part of the collective European position in the upcoming UN Climate negotiations in Paris in December 2015.  They could also be part of a wider national conversation as we emerge from the economic crisis and consider the future direction of our country, one hundred years on from the founding of our state.

This initiative has been prompted by a group of participants at previous Climate Gathering events, bringing on board a number of partner organisations. It is open to other interested organisations to join the process.  It is hoped that we can bring the public and the members of each of the participating organisations together at each venue. The events will be live streamed and the output shared in an open way.

Programme

18 March 2015 Launch Event: 'Communicating the Challenge' - Liberty Hall

26 March 2015 Session II: 'A New Economy' - The Stanley Quek Hall, TCD Biomedical Sciences Building

April 2015 Session III: 'The Sustainable Use of Our Land' - Date and Venue TBC

20 April 2015 Session IV: 'Prophetic Voices' - Christ Church Cathedral

  

Kilkenny Central Access Scheme - County Council destroying what it has a duty to preserve

An Taisce has opposed Kilkenny's Central Access Scheme every step since it was formally proposed in 2007 and made a major submission at the oral hearing in 2008 as well as written submissions at all stages.  

 

An Taisce also fought to preserve Nos.21-22 Vicar Street, which we believe the Minister for  Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht should have designated the site as a national monument.

   

An Taisce continues to be dismayed that Kilkenny Council is:

• Demolishing the houses on Vicar Street

• Extremely out of step with thinking on urban spaces and how they should develop in Ireland and abroad

• Building a significant road that separates St Canice's Cathedral from the historical core.

• Driving a major road into the centre of Historical Kilkenny city

• Facilitating and encouraging HGVs into the centre of the City

• Actively creating an environment where cyclists, pedestrians, cars and HGVs share a common environment, contrary to best-practice traffic management

• Ignoring and potentially damaging its tourist product

• Jeopardising the future success of Kilkenny City as a centre for tourism

• Wasting scarce money on a development that will be reversed when Ireland and particularly Kilkenny County Council recognise international traffic standards

• Squandering the work of countless public servants and private individuals over the last 50 years that have protected the historic centre of Kilkenny City.

• Damaging significantly the investment by Faille Ireland of €5.5m on the medieval mile.

An Taisce is and has always been completely opposed to this development in its entirety.

However, An Taisce met Kilkenny County Council in April 2014 when they agreed the Late Medieval Gable would be retained. This commitment should be acknowledged and welcomed. This retention does not make what is happening acceptable or reduce the clear opposition of An Taisce and many other residents of Kilkenny and visitors to this development.  
 

 

 

HEDGEROW CUTTING IS ILLEGAL FROM 1ST OF MARCH TILL 31ST AUGUST  

 

PLEASE SHARE THIS MESSAGE! 

 

As many of you know, hedge cutting is illegal in Ireland from 1st of March till 31st of August. However, many people are either not aware of this regulation or decide to ignore it because of the almost non-existent enforcement of Ireland's wildlife law.

  

Please help us share this message and remind your friends and family members that hedgerows play a very important role in our biodiversity and their cutting in closed season can be prosecuted.

  

If you witness or have information about illegal hedge cutting in your area, please let us know. We would really appreciate if you also reported any illegal activity to your local Garda station and local NPWS ranger and provide them with as many details as possible.

  

Please keep in mind that photographic or video evidence increases the chances of a successful investigation.

 

Crann celebrate ESB National Tree Week

As part of ESB National Tree Week, Crann is this week visiting a number of schools in Cork and Waterford to carry out its environmental education workshops as well as planting trees with the students.    

Crann are also hosting a tree planting event for staff of Merrill Lynch and school children from Tallaght. Those who are taking part will get time away from their desks to make a difference during National Tree Week.

It's not too late to still take part! Crann are hosting a guided walk this Saturday at Belvedere House, Gardens and Park.See the events section here for more information.   

Hop To It National Frog Survey Ireland

Every year IPCC needs the help of people all over Ireland to take part in the National Frog Survey Ireland. Please record where frogs, spawn and tadpoles occur in the Hop to It Irish Frog Survey.   

There are a few options available to you to send your frog record (including frog spawn, tadpoles, adult frogs or froglets) to the IPCC. 

1. Fill in the survey form below (please note that if the "Submit" button is not active on your computer or other device you cannot fill the form below in on line, please choose the next option).

2. Download a microsoft word version of the form from this link:  Blank-Frog-Survey-card. You can fill this form in on your own computer then send it to IPCC as an email attachment at bogs@ipcc.ie 

3. You can print the form, complete it by hand then post it to IPCC at: Hop To It Frog Survey 2015, IPCC, Lullymore, Rathangan, Co. Kildare.

4. You can request a printed copy of the survey card from the IPCC office if you prefer. Just email your request to bogs@ipcc.ie with your name and address asking for the National Frog Survey Ireland 2014 Form. You can also telephone the IPCC for a card on Telephone: 045-860133.

Whatever way you choose to send us your record please make sureto give the IPCC all the information they have asked for.  Thanks very much for your help! 

* Please enter a grid reference for where you made your observation. You can find the grid reference for your observation by visiting www.biology.ie/convert and clicking on the map! You can then copy the grid reference into the space provided.

Irish Wildlife Trust Launch "Mad March Hare" Video Competition 

The Irish Wildlife Trust is launching its "Mad March Hare" Video Competition for the month of March to help promote this charismatic species and the threats it faces to the Irish public.

March is the mating season of hares when "mad March hares" are often seen boxing each other. Contrary to popular belief, the fighting is not typically of males fighting over the opportunity to fight over a female but is in fact females fighting off the advances of unwanted males.

To take part in the campaign, we would like you to do two things:

1. Record video footage of Irish hares boxing and post it on the IWT Facebook page 
2. Submit sightings of rabbits and hares (Brown or Irish) to the Atlas of Mammals in Ireland run by the National Biodiversity Data Centre. Records can be submitted online at here or by downloading the Irish Land Mammals App, which is available on android smart phones.

Alternatively you can email the IWT your sightings (preferably with photos) at iwtmadmarchhare@gmail.com

The person with the best video of boxing hares will be awarded a copy of "Mammals of the British Isles: Handbook", kindly donated by the Mammal Society, and the IWT Mad March Hare Certificate.

Coomhola Salmon Trust founder receives honourary degree for commitment to environmental education

Brian Farrell, Mark Boyden (Coomhola Salmon Trust) and Kevin Flannery

Mark Boyden, founder of the Coomhola Salmon Trust and StreamScapes Project Director, was conferred with an Honorary MSc by UCC at a ceremony on Thursday, 26 February.

 The honorary degree was in recognition of 25 years development of the innovative StreamScapes Aquatic & Biodiversity Education Programme (www.streamscapes.ie), as well as for efforts in other fields including successful captive breeding research of Freshwater Pearl Mussels. 

 Boyden paid tribute to those who he has worked with over the past 25 years: "It was a recognition of the fruitful collaboration I have enjoyed with scores of people across the civil service, academia, and multiple sectors including environmental NGO's through IEN and SWAN."