€ 97,547 has been allocated towards biodiversity projects in Donegal.
The money’s being provided under the National Parks and Wildlife Service Local Biodiversity Action Fund this year.
Seven projects have been approved in the county, including a bat monitoring survey, a wetlands survey, a species audit, and a programme to maintain predator exclusion fences.
National Release in full –
Ministers announce €2.9 million funding for local biodiversity projects
- 262 community projects across all 31 local authorities awarded funding through the Local Biodiversity Action Fund (LBAF)
- Projects support biodiversity education and awareness, bird conservation, invasive species management and wetland surveys
- All support the implementation of the 4th National Biodiversity Action Plan
Minister for Housing, Heritage and Local Government James Browne TD and Minister of State for Nature, Heritage and Biodiversity, Christopher O’Sullivan TD, have today announced €2.9 million in funding to local authorities for biodiversity projects under the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) Local Biodiversity Action Fund (LBAF) in 2025.
The fund was established in 2018 to assist local authorities in the implementation of actions in support of biodiversity. Almost €11 million has been granted to local authorities through the LBAF since the scheme was established. The Scheme is operated by the National Parks and Wildlife Service and represents a commitment to support implementation of the Irelands 4th National Biodiversity Action Plan at community, county and regional level.
All 31 local authorities applied for and will receive funding this year, with a total of 262 projects approved, covering a range of biodiversity related activities, including invasive alien species control, bird and bat conservation, wetland surveys and community biodiversity awareness and training.
Minister for Housing, Heritage and Local Government James Browne TD said:
“Local authorities are playing an essential role in protecting our biodiversity and the Local Biodiversity Action Plan recognises that role. Through these projects, each local authority will make a unique impact on their local biodiversity, but is also part of a bigger picture across the country. I welcome the focus on partnership, research and best practice. I wish all of those involved the very best with the work and look forward to hearing more as they progress.”
Minister of State for Nature, Heritage and Biodiversity, Christopher O’Sullivan TD said:
“I’m really impressed with the diversity of projects funded this year. The Local Biodiversity Action Fund will enable every local authority around the country to enhance their actions on biodiversity, including research and recording of our unique species, from the Irish Mayfly, Woodland Bats to barn owls, and management of precious habitats such as meadows and wetlands.”
“I’d like to commend local authorities for stepping up their efforts to tackle Invasive Species, including Japanese Knotweed and Himalayan Balsam, which pose a real threat to our landscapes and marine environment.”
The Local Biodiversity Action Fund
An amount of €3 million has been made available in 2025 for the NBAP Local Biodiversity Action Fund. The funding is available, in line with a grant application and award process, to biodiversity officers in the counties that have them, and heritage officers.
A full list of projects is available here.
Ireland’s 4th National Biodiversity Action Plan, ‘Actions For Nature’, was launched in January 2024 and is available here.
The 4th Plan sets out Ireland’s vision for biodiversity, that by 2050 “Biodiversity in Ireland is valued, conserved, restored and sustainably used, maintaining ecosystem services, sustaining a healthy planet and delivering benefits essential for all people”. The Plan strives for a “whole of government, whole of society” approach to the governance and conservation of biodiversity. The aim is to ensure that every citizen, community, business, local authority, semi-state and state agency has an awareness of biodiversity and its importance, and of the implications of its loss, while also understanding how they can act to address the biodiversity emergency as part of a renewed national effort to “act for nature”. This is Ireland’s fourth National Biodiversity Action Plan and the first to be published on a Statutory basis, under the Wildlife Amendment Act 2023. The legislation also requires all public service bodies to integrate biodiversity into their plans, policies and programmes, and report to the Minister on progress.
