Approval for ten new biodiversity officers to bolster local action for nature

Ten local authorities to appoint biodiversity officers.

The programme is being delivered by the Heritage Council and the County and City Management Association (CCMA) with the support of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage and the National Parks and Wildlife Service.

Ten local authorities have been awarded funding to appoint biodiversity officers to deliver and drive local action for biodiversity. The new biodiversity officers will have a wide variety of responsibilities. Among other things, they will be required to:

• Develop and implement a county biodiversity plan
• Advise the local authority on biodiversity related issues and the authority’s obligations in relation to protecting biodiversity
• Establish a county biodiversity forum
• Assist local authority departments in integrating biodiversity into their actions and policies through training and supporting information dissemination
• Promote new biodiversity initiatives based on best conservation practice

Once appointed, this will bring the total number of biodiversity officers employed in local authorities around the country to 14*, with funding for a further 15 officers to be provided as part of efforts to take greater action for biodiversity at the local level. A full national rollout is expected to be completed in the next three years.