Limerick natural environment under “significant threat”

LIMERICK’S natural environment is under significant threat from various sources, a Green Party city councillor has warned.

According to Saša Novak, Green Party councillor for Limerick City North, the main causes for concern are water pollution, alien invasive species, overuse of natural resources and climate change.

The Green Party have organised a public meeting to discuss the current state of biodiversity in Limerick and to hear the public’s views on what can be done to protect and restore nature in our city, towns, villages, and countryside.

‘Biodiversity in Limerick; Challenges and Opportunities’, will take place at the Strand Hotel at 7.30pm on Friday May 19.

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It will open with a talk by botanist Tom Harrington and ornithologist Tom Tarpey to outline where we are regarding biodiversity in Limerick, followed by questions from the floor and a discussion about the issues.

This is one of a series of events that will be held by Limerick Greens in the coming months.

The topics for further events will include ‘Opportunities for Wind Energy off the West Coast’, ‘Developing a Sustainable Economy for Limerick’, and ‘Developing a Liveable City’.

“This meeting is an opportunity for Limerick people to discuss what we can do on a local level to protect and improve biodiversity in Limerick,” Cllr Novak told the Limerick Post.

Last September Limerick Council held a conference on ‘how local authorities  can address the Biodiversity emergency’. Some of the recommendations from this event were to ensure the full enforcement of current regulations and legislation, incorporating the needs of biodiversity firmly within the planning process and producing a detailed county habitat map.

“Limerick has a very rich and diverse range of natural ecosystems on our doorstep, including the riverine habitats of the Shannon, Deel, Feale, Maigue, and Mulkear, the uplands areas such as the Ballyhouras, Galtees, Hills of West Limerick and Sliabh Felim and the agricultural lowlands of the Golden Vale. We need to cherish protect and enhance these habitats for future generations,” Green Party TD Brian Leddin explained.

In May 2019, the Dáil voted upon and declared both a National Climate and Biodiversity Emergency, making Ireland the first country in the world, after the UK, to do so.

The Recommendations and Report of the Citizens’ Assembly on Biodiversity Loss – the first such national citizens’ assembly anywhere in the world – was launched on April 5. It contains over 150 recommendations that have the potential to dramatically transform Ireland’s relationship with the natural environment.

It is recommended that those wishing to attend the meeting in The Strand Hotel on May 19 register through Eventbrite.