Kildare groups offered Biodiversity Action support

Kildare communities are being offered supports to take steps to protect and promote local plants and wildlife with new grants as well as a one-stop-shop information website.

Community Foundation Ireland is now inviting applications from local groups who wish to take biodiversity action. Grants of up to €11,000 are available under two criteria.

Local groups which wish to formulate their own Community Biodiversity Action Plan are being offered the opportunity to engage an expert ecologist to guide their efforts. Secondly those who already have an action plan can apply for support to turn it into firm action.

To date the Community Foundation, a philanthropic hub with an equality mission, has through a partnership with Government supported more 180 such action plans to bring new life to green areas, quarries, riverbanks, hedge-rows and many other local amenities.

Details of the grant applications are available in the Apply For Funding section of CommunityFoundation.ie

In addition, Kildare groups are also being invited to further inform their work by accessing a new website developed by the Foundation in partnership with the National Biodiversity Centre. Online guides, information videos as well as an interactive map of existing action plans can be accessed at ActionForBiodiversity.ie

Announcing both initiatives, Denise Charlton, Chief Executive of Community Foundation Ireland said, “In Kildare wildlife is under threat. Animals and plants are either under threat or disappearing altogether. We have been proud to work with many communities who are taking action to reverse this emergency. Through our new grant round as well as the information website we hope that others will now join us and protect local wildlife for future generations.”