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Ireland’s Environment – An Assessment 2016
60
Knowledge Base
National Biodiversity Data Centre
The collection of data on our natural world is critical
to allow informed decisions on nature protection.
The effective management of biodiversity in Ireland
is dependent on having accurate information on the
condition of ecosystems of interest and importance, as
well as information on trends over time. The National
Biodiversity Data Centre (NBDC) is a national organisation
that collates, manages, analyses and disseminates data
on Ireland’s biodiversity.
11
The NBDC currently maintains
in excess of 3.8 million records relating to over 15,000
species in Ireland, a large proportion of which are records
from NPWS and verified records submitted by the public.
The NBDC also hosts a suite of biodiversity indicators
( indicators.biodiversityireland.ie )which inform the public
and policymakers on biodiversity status, trends and
pressures and the effectiveness of policy measures outlined
in the National Biodiversity Plan.
11
www.biodiversityireland.ieResearch
A driver for nature protection through knowledge
generation and pilot programmes.
Ireland recently submitted an evidence-gathering
questionnaire through the NPWS to the European
Commission as part of its fitness check of the Birds and
Habitats Directives. Appendix I of that document
12
outlined
relevant biodiversity research undertaken on species and
habitats listed in the Habitats Directive in Ireland.
Much information and knowledge about ecosystems is
generated from research projects and demonstration
projects. These projects help to pilot management
measures to show how effective management can be in
improving conditions for biodiversity. The EU provides
funding for nature/biodiversity, environment and climate
action under the LIFE programme. A number of Irish
projects incorporate a significant element of nature/
biodiversity research in their remit.
n
Burren LIFE and its successor, Burren Programme, aim
to protect and support the heritage, environment
and communities of the Burren
( burrenlife.comand
www.burrenprogramme.com)
12
www.npws.ie/sites/default/files/publications/pdf/Fitness%20Check%20 15%204%2015.pdfAll-Ireland Pollinator Plan 2015‑2020
The All-Ireland Pollinator Plan 2015‑2020 (NBDC, 2015) is a voluntary plan of action
supported by 68 organisations from the public, private and NGO sectors. The overall
aim of the plan is to tackle pollinator decline, caused mainly by the loss of natural
and semi-natural habitats, and to make Ireland’s landscape one where pollinators
can survive and thrive, providing invaluable pollination services to both crops and
wild plants. The plan has five objectives: (1) to make Ireland pollinator-friendly, (2)
to raise awareness of pollinators and how they can be protected, (3) to manage
pollinators by supporting beekeepers and growers, (4) to expand our knowledge
on pollinators and their services and (5) to collect evidence to track change and
measure success.
The plan can be downloaded at
www.biodiversityireland.ie/pollinator-plan,
with a junior version at
ark.ie/downloads/Junior_Pollinator_Plan_for_Web2. pdf.Guidelines (NBDC, 2016) on how to make gardens more pollinator
friendly are available at:
www.biodiversityireland.ie/wordpress/wp-content/ uploads/Gardens_actions-to-help-pollinators-July-2016.pdf.The declining bee population is also an early warning of the wider systemic
risk posed by habitat loss and pesticide use.
Gardens:
actions to help pollinators
www.biodiversityireland.ie/pollinator-planGuidelines2
Onlineedition: ISSN2009-6852
Printedition: ISSN2009-6844
NationalBiodiversityDataSeriesNo.9.
All-Ireland
Pollinator Plan
2015-2020
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What does a pollinator
friendly garden look like?
Forgardenstobegood forpollinators,theyneedtoprovide food inthe
formofflowers,shelter fornestingandsafety fromchemicals.
Food:
Pollinator
friendlywindow
boxes/hanging
baskets/potted
herbs
Food:
Dandelions
andclover
blooming in strips
orpatchesof
longgrass
Food:
Flowering
hedgerows
surrounding
property
Shelter:
Areasof
longgrass for
bumblebee
nesting
Bee friendly
gardenplants
that flower from
Spring-Autumn
Shelter:
Earthbanks/
bare soil/dry stone
walls for solitary
beenesting
Shelter:
Solitarybee
nestboxes
Safety:
Manual
weeding instead
ofpesticideuse
Food:
Flowering
hedgerows,
shrubsor trees
Garden for
pollinators so they
willbe there tovisit
your fruitandveg
(e.g. strawberries,
fruit trees, tomatoes,
courgettes,etc.)