National Biodiversity Week which continues until Saturday, is a celebration of Ireland’s native flowers, trees, insects, animals and birds.
Environmentalist Éanna Ní Lamhna says it infuriates her when people say biodiversity is hard to understand. Bio’ means living and diversity’ means lots of different living things, she says. In fact, the term first originated in the 1960s as biological diversity and was reduced to biodiversity in the 1980s. And, in this 25th anniversary of the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity, the Irish Environmental Network highlights walks, talks and workshops all over Ireland this week.
However, it would be naive not to acknowledge the ongoing destruction of biodiversity by humans in this, the Holocene or Anthropocene extinction the fifth massive extinction of species since life on Earth began.
There is more awareness of biodiversity now but there has been a great reduction in biodiversity in Ireland due to intensification of agriculture, says Ní Lamhna. Specifically, she refers to how most pastureland is now rye grass compared to meadow grass which had up to 60 species of wild grasses and wildflowers. Cutting silage instead of hay also has an enormous affect on pollinators, other insects, birds and animals like hares, she says. She is however encouraged by the efforts by Tidy Towns groups to plant native trees and let wildflowers grow all of which encourages biodiversity.
Ní Lamhna joined other environmentalists to celebrate the range of habitats, insects, birds and animals on the conserved Abbeyleix Bog in Co Laois last Saturday. Ecologist and Eco Eye presenter Anja Murray was also there.
Biodiversity Week is a lovely event which celebrates natural habitats and encourages people to open their eyes and get out in nature. Abbeyleix Bog for example is teeming with wildlife from carnivorous plants to rare flowers and birds, says Murray. More than 550 species have been recorded on this community-led project since it was leased from Bord Na Móna in 2009.
Like Ní Lamhna, Murray is keen to point out that Ireland has lost much of its species-rich grasslands and wild woodlands.
I think there was a backlash against nature when the Special Areas of Conservation and Special Protection Areas were designated in Ireland. Part of this backlash resulted in reduced funding to organisations like the National Parks and Wildlife Service and the Heritage Council, says Murray.
She says that it’s important to be positive about nature now.
The Irish Times Trust CLG