Funding to secure the long-term ecological health of Mayo island

Inishturk Community Club CLG is receiving a boost with a new grant to support a local Biodiversity Action Plan to protect and promote plants, wildlife and habitats.

The grant from Community Foundation Ireland in partnership with the National Parks and Wildlife Service will ensure that the steps to protect local biodiversity will be guided by the expert knowledge of ecologists.

Sinéad Cahalan, Development Manager of Inishturk Community Club CLG, is welcoming the support saying: “We are deeply grateful for the support granted for the Inishturk Community Biodiversity Plan. This funding will enable us to implement crucial measures to restore habitats, conserve native species, and promote sustainable land use practices, ensuring the long-term ecological health of the island. The project is a vital step in aligning with the Inishturk Island Development Vision 2050, focusing on sustainability, community engagement, and environmental stewardship.

“By involving local residents and stakeholders, we aim to foster a sense of ownership and responsibility for Inishturk’s natural heritage.The initiative will not only protect the island’s unique biodiversity but also serve as a model for sustainable development in small island communities, showing that environmental protection and community well-being can go hand in hand.”

Nationally more than 94 projects are receiving support with more than 250 communities implementing local action plans since the partnership between the Community Foundation and the Parks and Wildlife Service started in 2019.

The support being provided comes from philanthropists and donors to the Foundation matched with public funding.

Working together

MAKING the announcement, Minister of State for Nature, Heritage and Biodiversity Christopher O’Sullivan TD said: “If we are to successfully tackle our national biodiversity crisis, we must all work together. This partnership between the National Parks and Wildlife Service and Community Foundation Ireland is a great example of how we can empower and support community organisations to learn about their local biodiversity and use that knowledge along with their creativity to come up with a plan which is unique to their area. I’m really impressed with the range of projects involved and excited to see the outcomes of their work.”

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Under the partnership the connectivity of the Foundation to local communities built up over 25-years as a philanthropic hub is matched with the expertise and knowledge of the National Parks and Wildlife Service. More than €591,000 is being provided under the current round to 94 projects.

Proud

CONGRATULATING Inishturk Community Club CLG, Denise Charlton, Chief Executive of Community Foundation Ireland said: “We are particularly proud that local efforts to protect habitats, plants and wildlife are increasingly growing into a national movement. The fact that this current grant round is impacting in every county shows the groundswell of support for biodiversity action. The partnership of the Foundation, its philanthropists and community partners together with the National Parks and Wildlife Service is effective and works. Our natural heritage is being protected for generations to come.”

Niall Ó Donnchú, Director General of the National Parks and Wildlife Service added: “NPWS is delighted to work with the Community Foundation of Ireland and to support the community groups participating in enhancing their local biodiversity. This is exactly the whole- of-society approach we advocated for in the 4th National Biodiversity Action Plan.”