Louth County Council announce step forward for biodiversity

Photo: Guests and Members at the launch of the new Louth Biodiversity Working Group. L-R: Colm Barry (Teagasc), Eoghan Connaughton (LAWPRO), Cllr John Sheridan (Ardee MD), Brian Dunne (ACRES), Liam Woods (ORCCA), Fiona Lennon (Louth CoCo), David Hanratty (Louth CoCo), Robert O’Dwyer (NPWS), Helen Hanratty (Louth CoCo), Mary O’Neill (Louth Local Development), Martin O’Rourke (Louth Beekeepers Association), Clare Patten (An Taisce), Cllr Marieanne Butler (Dundalk MD), Éanna Ní Lamnha, Rory Sheehan (Louth CoCo), Claire Hughes (Louth CoCo), Peter Dunne (IFA), Ciarán Flynn (BSBI), Turlough King (Louth CoCo), Enda Murphy (Louth CoCo), Elias Mlimba (LouthCoCo), Breffni Martin (Louth Nature Trust) & Michaela Kirrane (IFI). [Also present at the meeting but not in the photograph; Jennifer Lynch (NPWS) & Mary Murtagh (Louth Tidy Towns Together)]

Louth County Council celebrated a landmark in the development of the Louth Biodiversity Action Plan with the inaugural meeting of the Louth Biodiversity Working Group and the launch of a public consultation seeking input on the proposed content of a new Louth Biodiversity Action Plan 2025-2030.

The new Louth Biodiversity Working Group has been set-up to support the development, delivery and implementation of the Louth County Council Local Biodiversity Action Plan 2025-2030. Operating as a non-statutory advisory Group, it will meet quarterly during the development and implementation of the Plan. Membership of the Group has been agreed by the Council Management Team with representatives drawn from a wide range of representative groups including:

• Local Elected Representatives
• Local Government Officials
• State Agencies
• Community & Voluntary Organisations
• Landowners & Farming Representatives
• Educational Institutions
• Local Development & Business

The inaugural meeting of the Group was held on 25th October 2024 at the Ballymascanlon Hotel, Dundalk. The Group heard from guest speaker Éanna Ní Lamhna about the importance of Louth’s biodiversity, with Biodiversity Officer, Helen Hanratty setting out the aims of the Group and the vision and process for the development of the Louth Biodiversity Action Plan.

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A Pre-Draft Consultation on the Louth County Council Local Biodiversity Action Plan was launched at the meeting. Louth County Council are seeking feedback on how to address biodiversity loss locally and what actions should be prioritised in Louth to inform the development of the Plan. 

The Plan is a key initiative aimed at protecting and enhancing Louth’s rich natural heritage. The Louth Biodiversity Working Group’s role is to guide the development of the plan, by working with key stakeholders and the public.

Submissions to the consultation are sought from all interested parties including members of the public, community groups and organisations during this first phase of the development of the Plan. A series of drop-in events will be held over 6-week consultation period. The consultation closes at 4pm on Friday 6th December 2024.

More information on the consultation can be found on consult.louth.ie.