Preparation of Clare Biodiversity Action Plan 2024-2030

Clare County Council is commencing the preparation of its 4th Clare Biodiversity Action Plan 2024-2030.

The Clare Biodiversity Action Plan sets out the vision and direction for biodiversity management for the next six years and when complete will represent an agreed plan for the future of Biodiversity in County Clare. The plan will provide a framework for biodiversity action with the aim of halting biodiversity loss in County Clare. The Clare Biodiversity Action Plan will be underpinned by the objectives of Ireland’s 4th National Biodiversity Action Plan 2023-2030.

Public participation at this early stage of the plan-making process is important to ensure that the new Biodiversity Action Plan both reflects and responds to public concerns and aspirations, as well as addressing the ‘biodiversity emergency’ and national and regional biodiversity strategies and guidelines. Clare County Council is seeking your input in order to establish the priority issues for biodiversity in County Clare. We look forward to your valued participation at this stage of the new Plan preparation and at future public consultation stages.

Under the Wildlife (Amendment) Act 2023, biodiversity is defined as including living organisms from all sources including terrestrial, marine and other aquatic ecosystems and the ecological complexes of which they are part and includes diversity within species, between species and of ecosystems.

Why start the new Clare Biodiversity Action Plan 2024–2030 now?

The current Clare Biodiversity Action Plan 2017-2023 was adopted in December 2017. The new Clare Biodiversity Action Plan 2024–2030 will take into account details from Ireland’s 4th National Biodiversity Action Plan 2023-2030 (published January 2024), Clare Heritage Plan 2024-2030 (came into effect in March 2024) and the Clare County Development Plan 2023-2029 (came into effect in April 2023). The Clare Biodiversity Action Plan 2024–2030 will have regard to the aforementioned documents and will build upon goals and objectives for Biodiversity across County Clare.

This initial stage of pre-draft consultation will run until the 4th of June 2024. Following this, a draft Biodiversity Action Plan will be produced and will be available for further public consultation and consideration. Clare County Council encourages public participation during the preparation of the new Clare Biodiversity Action Plan 2024-2030.

Have Your Say

Clare County Council wishes to draw attention to the broad areas which the Clare Biodiversity Action Plan covers. Community Groups, individuals, stakeholders or groups/associations representing the interests of children, are all encouraged to make observations in forming our new Clare Biodiversity Action Plan 2024-2030.

We want to hear your views or on any other issues that you may consider important to be included in the Clare Biodiversity Action Plan 2024-2030. The information gathered will feed into Clare County Council’s new Biodiversity Action Plan, which will guide the implementation of priority biodiversity actions in the county over the next six years with the aim to halting biodiversity loss and protecting, conserving and restoring biodiversity for future generations.

How can you get involved?

You can take part in the pre-draft consultation process by:

• Completing the online survey/questionnaire below during the period from 3rd May 2024 to 4th June 2024 inclusive.
• Making a submission/observation on the new Clare Biodiversity Action Plan 2024-2030 during the period 3rd May 2024 to 4th June 2024 inclusive. .

A submission/observation can be submitted by one of the following methods:

• By email to: biodiversity@clarecoco.ie Subject headline should read “Clare Biodiversity Action Plan 2024-2030”
• In writing to: Clare Biodiversity Action Plan 2024-2030, Planning Department, Clare County Council, New Road, Ennis, Co Clare. V95 DXP2
• Online Consultation: Clare Biodiversity Action Plan 2024-2030 Public Information https://yoursay.clarecoco.ie/clare-biodiversity-actionplan-24-30
• Events and talks (to be circulated on Clare County Council’s Social Media Account ‘Greener Clare’ (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter/X)
• In person at public walk-in events with Clare County Council’s Biodiversity Officer as detailed below:

All submissions should include your name and address, and where relevant, details of any organisation, community group or company etc., which you represent.

Note: As this is a public consultation process, submissions may be made available for public viewing and consequently personal details such as address, email address, and phone number should be submitted on a separate sheet accompanying the submission or observation.

We would welcome your views on these or indeed any other issues that you may consider important for inclusion in the new Clare Biodiversity Action Plan 2024-2030. Please note that events and talks have been organised by Clare County Council’s Biodiversity Officer during National Biodiversity Week which runs from 17th to the 26th of May 2024 and you can find out more details on how to make a submission at these events (events to be circulated on Clare County Council’s Social Media Account ‘Greener Clare’ (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter/X)).

The deadline for completion of the online survey and receipt of submissions/observations is Tuesday, 4th June 2024.

If you have any queries or require more detail, please contact the Forward Planning Section by email at: biodiversity@clarecoco.ie or by phone at 065 6846408.