€3 million fund for biodiversity projects across country

Minister of State for Nature, Heritage and Biodiversity, Christopher O’Sullivan, TD, has today (Monday 24 November) launched the Local Biodiversity Action Fund 2026. Funding of €3 million is available for local authorities to access for biodiversity projects under the scheme, managed by the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS).

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage James Browne, TD, said: “It’s great to open this fund with Minister of State O’Sullivan today. Our public and shared places are important for biodiversity, and also for our health and wellbeing. Local authorities are uniquely placed to work with communities to protect biodiversity in our communities and this fund supports them to do that.”

“This year we awarded funding to more than 260 different projects in 31 local authorities, supported by biodiversity and heritage officers. Through this investment and our collective efforts, we can deliver on the ambition of our National Biodiversity Action Plan, to make a positive impact for nature and improve our communities.”

Minister O’Sullivan added: “This year’s Local Biodiversity Action Fund will put €3m in communities across the country to deliver practical, creative and locally-led actions for nature where it matters most. Previous grants have funded surveys of rare birds and plants, restoration measures in key habitats like wetlands, grasslands and rivers, as well as projects to protect species like Barn Owls and Lesser Horseshoe Bats.

“It is great to see the biodiversity officers network playing such a vital role in bringing local authorities together with communities to progress local initiatives and partnerships. I look forward to seeing what this year’s fund will support.”

The fund was established in 2018 to assist local authorities in the implementation of actions in support of biodiversity. Some €13 million has been granted to local authorities for their biodiversity work over the last seven years.

Activities ranged from surveys and monitoring of rare species, measures to tackle invasive species, manage and restore unique habitats.

Westmeath projects approved in 2025

• Training, Events, Equipment and Resources; a series of events, workshops, and training sessions tailored for various groups including local communities, secondary schools, NGOs, council staff, residential groups, and participants in library biodiversity days. These activities support citizen science monitoring efforts. Additionally, the project will host events to engage diverse segments of the broader community, such as the youth, elderly, and underprivileged sectors, including those with intellectual disabilities, to cultivate a deeper appreciation and understanding of local biodiversity €13,600

• Barn Owl Monitoring and Conservation; this project follows the successfully implemented Barn Owl survey in Westmeath in 2021 which was supported by the National Parks and Wildlife Service through the National Biodiversity Action Plan (2017-2021) (report available at westmeathculture.ie). Informed by the survey findings, a series of recommendations were outlined to help address some of the conservation issues affecting Barn Owls in the county and to provide benefits to the population, which included a targeted nest box scheme. Since 2022, the first dedicated Barn Owl nest box scheme was initiated in Westmeath and monitoring has revealed a high occupancy rate of the nest boxes provided (nine of the 15 nest boxes were occupied in 2024). Th plan is to continue to assess occupancy and breeding success in all registered nest boxes throughout the county as well as monitoring Barn Owl occupancy at traditional and identified breeding sites in the county. €6,162.50

• In Your Nature; this project aimed to produce, publish and promote three seasons (spring, summer, autumn/winter) of the In Your Nature podcast (inyournature.buzzsprout.com) in 2024. Episodes promote the importance of species and habitats and advocate for the conservation and protection of biodiversity. Episodes highlight specific conservation issues and vulnerable species while also promoting the general enjoyment of nature (wellbeing) and the natural world by promoting sites of interest and delivering content in a conversational and accessible way for audiences of all knowledge levels with regards to natural heritage. €3,966.95

• Robinstown Wetland Amenity Park; the aim of the Robinstown Wetland Amenity Area Baseline Ecological Assessment project is to establish a comprehensive understanding of the current ecological condition of the site. This will inform future management and decision making for the creation of the amenity wetland adjoining the Brosna River, ensuring the long-term protection and enhancement of biodiversity in the wetland ecosystem. €5,950

• Managing Public Lands for Pollinator-Friendly Actions: Achieving Key AIPP Actions; training workshops on grassland meadow management for pollinators and biodiversity within the districts (MD) areas (at a later date the community groups). These will include practical workshops at meadows currently under management, focusing on identifying wildflowers, interpreting what these species indicate about the soil, and understanding management practices. Training will also cover wildflower seed saving and strategies for addressing management challenges. Following the practical sessions, the council plan to collaborate with the staff managing those areas to create a straightforward management plan for the meadow areas and verges. €1,700

• Hedgerow Survey; hedgerows are important wildlife habitats and ecological corridors allowing the movement and dispersal of many species through the countryside. Their importance as wildlife corridors or green infrastructure is highlighted in article 10 of the European Habitats Directive. Hedgerows also provide invaluable wider ecosystem services; their regulatory functions include carbon sequestration, flood protection, protection from soil erosion and preventing aquatic siltation. They are also an important cultural resource, and many mark old routeways, or green roads, form part of townland boundaries or are remnants of ancient woodlands. The survey will examine sites previously recorded in a 2005 survey, to obtain information on extent and condition of these hedgerows, and in general assess environmental trends for these habitats in the county. Part of the project will be to identify hedgerow policies in local plans, such as the County Development Plan and Climate Action Plan and to recommend how these might be improved in future iterations to better protect existing hedgerow habitats and create new native corridors. €17,000

• Recording Irish mayfly – establishing conservation status; in 2024 samples were collected across the country and identified to species level. In addition, datasets with verified species level data were incorporated and there are now some 2000 records in the dataset. The coverage is reasonable but there are plenty of gaps that need to be filled throughout the country. There are none or a very limited number of records for several species which will need to be specifically targeted in 2025 (these include among others species such as Siphlonurus armatus, Emphemerella notata, Rhithrogena germanica, Leptophlebia marginata). Collection kits have been supplied to a number of angling clubs, private individuals and LAWPRO staff. Further engagement with angling clubs was prioritised in 2025 to extend the reach of the project and to improve the engagement with stakeholders. €1,228.28

• Biodiversity Mgmt Coolure; the Biodiversity Enhancement Plan for Coolure Demense aims to discourage damaging activities, establish appropriate habitat management and increase local appreciation of the biodiversity value of the site while maintaining appropriate public access. Proposed for 2025 were: continued seasonal grazing, scrub control, bat survey of old boat house and site; marsh Fritillary survey of site; programme of events on site; install information sign on site. €6,800.00

• Biodiversity management council lands; sites Culleenmore, Ranelagh, Bogganfin and Portlick are council owned lands identified for biodiversity. Ecological reports and an Enhancement management plan have been carried out identifying opportunities and threats for conservation management of the sites. Priority actions for each site have been identified to control, protect and enhance the habitat and species on site. Other council owned lands identified for biodiversity conservation measures will be included for actions or surveys. €9,350

• Westmeath County Semi Natural Grassland Survey 2025 and 2026; audit of grassland surveys to collate data. Produce a county master Grassland shapefile. Review to inform target fields surveys. Botanical field work using the NPWS methodology for grassland survey and mapping. A review of council owned grasslands sites will inform a selection of suitable sites for botanical field work in year 1 to update locally important areas, map data, inform policy, plans, restoration and management. 2026 - targeted Botanical Field surveys, county shapefile, and a final report on-completion. €25,500

• IAS management and eradication at Belvedere House and Gardens; ground truth the five-year eradication Management Plan for Invasive Alien Species at Belvedere House, Gardens and Park, which was prepared, and AA screened in 2020. €4,250

• Survey of the invasive alien aquatic bivalve Quagga mussel in Lough Sheelin; aim of project is to conduct a baseline survey to determine the presence of the Quagga mussel and assess the density and biomass across the lake. Dredge samples will be used to determine the extent of the distribution of the quagga mussel relative to zebra mussel in the water body. This will provide a map showing the relative densities within the water body. Representative populations will be characterised to inform its invasion history in the system. Van Veen grab sampler will be used to estimate the density and biomass to inform the potential impact of the species on the aquatic habitat. €1,533.40