The DLR County Biodiversity Action Plan 2021 -2025
We are all aware a National Biodiversity Crisis was declared by Dail Eireann in 2019. This highlights the importance of the role of local authorities, including DLR, in addressing biodiversity loss and how we can take action to restore and enhance our biodiversity and ecosystems. The main message for this Plan is Nature Recovery, Restoration and Reconnection.
The new DLR County Biodiversity Action Plan can be found at the end of this page.
We recognise that as an urban environment, there are many challenges for biodiversity and we need to expand, improve and connect biodiversity in order to improve the landscape’s resilience to climate change, providing natural solutions to reduce carbon and manage flood risk, and to sustain vital ecosystems, such as improved soil health, clean water and clean air. This will also allow us to enjoy and connect with nature where we live, work and play, benefiting our health and wellbeing.
The new DLR Biodiversity Action Plan 2021-2025, the second Plan for the County, builds on the aims of the first Plan and continues to move us towards our overall EU and National Vision for Biodiversity. It is Government policy for the Local Authorities to take the lead role in the production of Local Biodiversity Action Plans. This Plan demonstrates DLR’s continuing commitment to achieving our obligations to protect our biodiversity for the benefit of future generations. This is achieved through a series of targeted actions provided in this Plan.
The preparation of the DLR Biodiversity Action Plan 2021-2025 is informed by existing knowledge and a review of the information contained in the previous DLR Biodiversity Plan 2009-2013 – Treasuring Our Wildlife. Consultation with our Biodiversity Steering Group, the general public, Public Participation Network (PPN) and interested groups such as BirdWatch Ireland (BWI), An Taisce, Coastwatch and others who influence biodiversity conservation in DLR.
It is also informed by legislation, policy and strategies at local, national, European and international level including some of our DLR plans and policies such as the DLR Climate Change Action Plan 2019-2024, DLR County Development Plan 2022-2028 and DLR Invasive Alien Species Action Plan 2020. In particular, this Plan is informed by the seven strategic objectives and associated targets of the third National Biodiversity Action Plan 2017-2021, Ireland’s Vision for Biodiversity and also the EU Biodiversity Strategy 2030.
The DLR County Biodiversity Action Plan has been prepared by the Biodiversity section. The SEA Screening for the DLR IAS Action Plan has been carried out and is consistent with the process as recommended by the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government guidance document entitled Implementation of SEA Directive 2001/42/EC Assessment of the Effects of Certain Plans and Programmes on the Environment November 2004, in line with Schedule I of SI435 and uses the criteria for SEA Screening set out in the SEA Directive. A Screening for Appropriate Assessment has been prepared in line with Article 6(3) of the EU Habitats Directive (92/43/EEC). The SEA Screening Report and Determination and the Screening for Appropriate Assessment are provided in the Related Documents section on the right of this page.
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