The programme started with a Welcome Address by Tracey O’Dwyer, Leas Cathaoirleach, Kildare County Council and included 11 individual 30-minute presentations on a wide range of biodiversity topics.
A 45-minute panel discussion followed by closing statements concluded the event.
Tracey O’Dwyer
Leas Cathaoirleach, Kildare County Council
Welcome Address
Sean Byrne
Kildare Wildlife Rescue
The Role Wildlife Rescues Play in Biodiversity and Conservation
Bridget Loughlin
Heritage Officer, Kildare County Council
Panel Discussion and Actions
Paddy Madden
Dúlra Éireann
Can Primary Schools Do More to Foster Biodiversity?
Dr Méabh Boylan
Biodiversity Officer, Kildare County Council
Kildare County Council: Actions for Biodiversity
Nuala Madigan
Irish Peatland Conservation Council
Kildare’s Peatland — A Lost Habitat for Biodiversity?
Panel Discussion and Actions
Senator Pippa Hackett
Minister of State for Land Use and Biodiversity
Address to the Congress and Q&A
Lorraine Benson
Birdwatch Kildare
Birds on the Brink
Noel Bugler
National Parks and Wildlife Service
NPWS Work in Kildare
Anna Collins
Kildare Bat Group
The Secret Life of Bats and their Impact on Kildare’s Biodiversity
Chris McKenna and Philip Strickland
Wild Kildare
Moth Mapping Project
Paddy Walsh
Kill Tidy Towns
Composting Project
A panel discussion on actionable steps towards biodiversity conservation were also integral parts of the conference. Over lunch break, all attendees were given a simple form to note down three actions they would like see discussed further and to suggest steps to take to achieve these actions. These forms were then gathered and the most suggested themes and questions were discussed by four panellists: Bridget Loughlin, Nuala Madigan, Trevor Harris and Stephen Morrison.
Among the topics discussed were a variety of questions regarding legislation — from enforcement of existing legislation such as the Wildlife Act to ways to campaign for new and better legislation surrounding wildlife conservation and protection.
There was a lively debate on current topics, including discussion about the potential EU ban of glyphosate. The attendees have also expressed strong support for protection of Kildare’s peatlands and establishment of National Peatlands Park. Both the attendees and the panellists expressed their desire to foster ongoing cooperation between the various groups and staying in contact after the conference.
With this panel discussion, the event provided a platform for meaningful discourse on environmental issues and potential solutions.
Kildare hosts a first Biodiversity Conference
THE first ever ‘Biodiversity Conference’ in Kildare took place on Saturday (14 October) in The Keadeen Hotel, Newbridge, organised by Kildare Wildlife Rescue in partnership with Kildare County Council, and funded by the Local Biodiversity Action Fund, which is operated by the National Parks and Wildlife Service.
Kildare Wildlife Rescue leads the inaugural Kildare Biodiversity Conference in Newbridge
Kildare Wildlife Rescue (KWR), which recently achieved charity status, lead the inaugural Biodiversity Conference held in the Keadeen Hotel in Newbridge today.
A number of groups were in attendance at the sold-out event, which included: Hedgerows Ireland, The Irish Peatland Conservation Council (IPCC), Bat Conservation Ireland, Kildare Bat Group (KBG), and Birdwatch Ireland.