Tuesday, January 16, 2007

The threat to native wildlife species

'Notice Nature', a public awareness campaign launched January 2007, aims to highlight the threat to around 150 species of native Irish wildlife, some of which face extinction unless remedial action is undertaken. Some of the species are national symbols, including the salmon, corncrake and mountain hare.

Preventing loss of biodiversity is an issue of Global, European and National importance. Through local meetings and providing advice on how to protect and care for biodiversity, the campaign links the presence of wildlife with our quality of life. It is targeting both the general public and any sector that poses a serious threat to Irish biodiversity, such as the construction industry and farming.

According to Elizabeth Arnett, project manager for the Notice Nature campaign, Ireland's natural heritage is often taken for granted, compared with its artistic and literary heritage:
"Not protecting Ireland's natural heritage of plants, birds, animals and their habitats is akin to taking a painting from the National Gallery of Art every month and burning it."
The campaign in being run by the National Parks and Wildlife Service of the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government.
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The island of ireland

Once upon a time, and for 15000 years, ice a mile high blanketed Ireland. When the lingering Ice Age finally released and the Irish ice departed it left a landscape scoured. Across land bridges linking Ireland, Britain and mainland Europe plants and animals arrived to colonise the new lowlands, mountains and valleys. The world’s ice continued to melt, the sea levels to rise, and some 8000 years ago Ireland became the island we now know, accounting for just 0.01% of the world's total land area and the most westerly point of Europe.

Though at Alaskan latitudes, the country's climate is tempered, due partly to the neighbouring waters of the Gulf Stream and partly the prevailing southwesterlies that veering and backing make landfall on our sodden coast. These offerings from the Atlantic mean it is never too hot, never too cold. But without doubt it is wet. Rain lingers year round, never far away, though is most frequent in winter, the western counties and, inevitably, on the day of your parade.