Public urged to learn further on biodiversity

More to learn from SurveyOne of the key targets of conducting the recently-published Biodiversity Survey of the Liffey in Kilcullen was to involve the local community, writes Brian Byrne.

With last year's Wild Weekends as part of that, it was a target well achieved. But more is possible.

In every chapter of the Survey, Dr Mary Tubridy has provided suggestions for getting further information on the specific chapter themes. These are aimed both at adults and young people, and include directions to other reading, websites, and making direct field observations.

These are well worth looking at to identify a project for kids in school, or for further education of adults themselves, and will serve to make even more awareness of how fortunate we are in Kilcullen to have the Liffey flowing through the town, and that it is in a healthy state.

We can't afford to take that for granted. Our waterways and the life — animal and plant — which depends on them are always in danger of attack from a variety of sources. Don't depend on the authorities to make sure they are protected ... we have as much, or more, responsibility ourselves to ensure that our future generations of Kilcullen people can enjoy what we have today.

So, as a first step, read the Survey and its associated reports. They're not heavy, and in many ways quite fascinating. You can access them on the KCA website.