Donegal County Council has become Ireland’s 17th local authority to sign-up to the All-Ireland Pollinator Plan.
Under the agreement which will require a cross-directorate approach, Donegal County Council has committed to consider the All-Ireland Pollinator Plan in its policies, plans and management decisions and has committed to undertake a number of actions each year to help pollinators.
The National Biodiversity Data Centre outlines 30 actions that local authorities can take to help pollinators and Donegal County Council will report annually on progress.
These actions include managing pollinator-friendly roadside verges, creating meadows, undertaking pollinator-friendly mowing, planting native hedgerows, reducing/eliminating use of pesticides, erecting signage to indicate pollinator-friendly habitats, promoting and distributing pollinator-friendly guidelines as well as facilitating training on pollinators and how to take action to protect them.
A ceremony took place last Wednesday in the Council offices in Buncrana, with Cllr. Nicholas Crossan, Cathaoirleach, Donegal County Council was joined by Joe Peoples, Director of Housing, Corporate & Cultural Services and members of Buncrana Tidy Towns and Donegal County Council staff present to witness the signing of the agreement between Donegal County Council and the National Biodiversity Data Centre.
“One third of our 99 bee species are threatened with extinction from Ireland” explained Juanita Browne, All-Ireland Pollinator Plan Project Officer at the National Biodiversity Data Centre.
“This is because we have drastically reduced the amount of food, wildflowers and safe nesting sites in our landscapes. The All-Ireland Pollinator Plan was launched in 2015 as a shared plan of action to try to reverse these declines and work with local authorities, communities, businesses, parks, schools and farms to make an Ireland where pollinators can survive and thrive.”
Since 2016, Local Authority Heritage Offices & Biodiversity Offices in partnership with the National Biodiversity Data Centre have sponsored an annual Local Authority Pollinator Award as part of the ‘Tidy Towns’ competition. Buncrana Tidy Towns won the National ‘Tidy Towns’ Pollinator Award for the first time in 2019 and the regional ‘Tidy Towns’ Local Authority Pollinator Award for the North West & West Region in the Large Town Category for the third year in a row.
The focus of the award is on biodiversity and the crucial role that the declining population of Irish bees play in the pollination of our plants, trees and vegetables. The award encourages local groups to implement pollinator-friendly actions in their towns and villages.
The National Biodiversity Data Centre has produced a series of booklets that highlights actions that local authorities and local communities can undertake to address the All-Ireland Pollinator Plan. If you would like to play your part or help Donegal County Council play its part, further information is available at: www.pollintors.ie
Tags: