IRELAND

News
The National Biodiversity Data
Centre Annual Review 2014
The Annual Review 2014 serves as a benchmark of
progress with delivery of the work programme of the
Data Centre. The Review presents the work programme
as a series of case studies, outlining what each is
expected to achieve and how the different projects fit
into the wider strategic objectives of the Data Centre.
The Review serves as part of the reporting requirement
to the Heritage Council, who established
the National Biodiversity Data Centre.
Big boost to the national Crop
Wild Relative and Vascular Plant
Databases
Paul Green spent the summer recording Crop Wild
Relative species in Co. Mayo on behalf of the Data
Centre. Recording was focused on the 181 Irish species,
specifically targeting those that are native and that do
not have a widespread distribution. As part of this work
Paul collected a total of 22,200 vascular plant records,
greatly adding to our knowledge of the flora of Co. Mayo.
This work was possible thanks to funding from the
Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine through
their grant aid scheme for the conservation of genetic
resources for food and agriculture. Species accounts for
all 181 Irish Crop Wild Relatives are available online at:
http://species.biodiversityireland.ie
Download a copy of the Annual Review 2014 at http://
www.biodiversityireland.ie/wordpress/wp-content/
uploads/Data_Centre_Annual_Review_2015_WEB.pdf
The National Ploughing
Championships
The Data Centre was well represented at the National
Ploughing Championships in September. Liam Lysaght
was invited by the Labour Party to give a talk at its
stand on ‘Biodiversity – its value to the environment
and the economy’. The talk was introduced by local
Senator John Whelan, and generated quite an amount
of lively discussion. There was general agreement that
nature conservation shouldn’t only be about regulatory
enforcement but should also promote the many positive
ways that land owners and land managers can help the
conservation of biological diversity.
Dr Úna Fitzpatrick joined with An Bord Bia’s Origin
Green stand to promote the All-Ireland Pollinator Plan
2015-2020. An Bord Bia has been a
strong supporter of the Pollinator
Plan, and its production was warmly
welcomed by visitors to the stand.
Colette O’Flynn joined with the
Kerry Japanese Knotweed group to
highlight the harm that this rampant
invasive species can cause to the
Irish environment.
Liam Lysaght speaking on ‘Biodiversity – its
value to the environment and the economy’
at the Labour Party stand at the National
Ploughing Championships in September.
© Justin Byrne
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