Thursday, June 12, 2008

Biodiversity Plan being made

The Heritage Office in Kildare County Council is looking for submissions from the public as part of the process of preparing a County Biodiversity Plan.

Biodiversity is another term for nature, natural heritage, wildlife or the natural world. Biodiversity or biological diversity simply means the variety of all living things on earth - including people, plants, animals, fungi and micro-organisms. Biodiversity is everywhere and all around us, from gardens to hedgerows, woodlands to wetlands, rivers to bogs. We all depend on biodiversity to provide clean air and water, healthy soils, food, building materials, and medicines.

This plan will provide a framework for the conservation, management and enhancement of the rich natural heritage and biodiversity in the county.

The views of all members of the community are important in putting together the Kildare Biodiversity Plan. Consultation with the general public, stakeholders and all interested parties is an essential part of the process.

You can have your say by making a submission to the Heritage Office of Kildare County Council (Kildare County Council, Planning Department, Áras Chill Dara, Devoy Park) before the deadline of the 31st of July 2008. A consultation form has been prepared to assist in the formulation of submissions but general comments and submissions are also welcome.

Some of the questions the consultation process aims to address include: What are the most important issues concerning biodiversity or nature conservation in Kildare? What are the main threats to Kildare’s natural heritage? What are the most important actions that need to be taken to conserve and enhance nature and biodiversity of Kildare?

The Biodiversity Plan consultation form can be down loaded from the Kildare County Council website (see the Heritage Section of the Kildare County Council website. It is also available from local libraries and the Planning Office of Kildare County Council.

When all submissions to the Kildare Biodiversity Plan have been received, the draft plan will be put on public display and additional comments will be welcomed. A public meeting will be held in September 2008 to discuss draft Biodiversity Plan and to seek further input. If you would like to get involved in the preparation of the plan, complete a consultation form and attend the public meeting.

Bridget Loughlin.