This article is from page 15 of the 2008-06-03 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 15 JPG
WARNING that Ireland’s green in- frastructure is under threat, the Her- itage Council has launched an action plan to halt the decline of Clare’s biodiversity by awarding funds to five eco-friendly projects throughout the county.
Funding has been awarded to the Clare Bat Group for the conserva- tion of bat species and raising aware- ness with local community groups; the Clare Biodiversity Group for the planting of native trees, fruit trees and wild flowers along newly laid cy- cle lanes; Ennis and District Anglers Association for the restoration of a section of the River Fergus; Tuam- graney Development Association to restore an unmanaged woodland for wildlife; and Lisdoonvarna Commu- nity Centre for work on the Lisdoon- varna Biodiversity Park.
The Heritage Council has award- ed funding of over €7/00,000 to 52 projects around the country that will protect, manage and restore local bio- diversity. The funding is provided by the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government.
The council wants to highlight the importance of wetlands, as well as the damage caused by invasive spe- cies to biodiversity in Ireland. Wet- lands are essential for flood control, pollution control, water supply, and peat lands also serve as vital carbon sinks that could help address climate change. Invasive species are causing problems in our waterways and for- ests, impacting on native biodiversity and affecting water quality.
A South African pondweed sus- pected to have come from a local ornamental garden pond has become established in Lough Corrib, Ire- land’s second largest lake and home to salmon, otter and an internation- ally recognised wild trout fishery. The plant is forming a dense canopy on the lake surface and is blocking out light. This in turn impacts on the native fish and plants in the lake. A task force has been set up to remove the South African pondweed at con- siderable expense.
Other invasive plants such as Rho- dodendron and Gnuant Rhubarb, originally brought in as ornamental garden plants, are causing consider- able damage to native woodlands and the landscape, especially on the west coast.
Meanwhile, zebra mussels (pictured below) are having a serious effect in Lough Derg and waterways along the Shannon and elsewhere, block- ing water pipes and boat engines and affecting native fish species.
Among measures to halt the decline in biodiversity are the planting of na- tive trees, shrubs and flowers; cutting down on household chemicals; plan- ning new developments more sensi- tively as well as preserving wetlands, coastal areas and important habitats. For further information, see www. heritagecouncil.ie.