On this week’s Ours to Protect, series producer Ethna Quirke spoke to Bernadette Moloney, Biodiversity Officer with Kilkenny County Council ahead of National Biodiversity Week, which takes place later this month.
What is Biodiversity?
Biodiversity is all the different kinds of life you’ll find in one area—the variety of animals, plants, fungi, and even microorganisms like bacteria that make up our natural world. Each of these species and organisms work together in ecosystems, like an intricate web, to maintain balance and support life. Biodiversity supports everything in nature that we need to survive: food, clean water, medicine, and shelter.
What is National Biodiversity week?
National Biodiversity Week is all about connecting you with nature. It’s about communicating the importance of biodiversity and providing motivation to play your part in protecting it.
National Biodiversity Week is organised by the Irish Environmental Network (IEN), with thanks to funding from the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS). Events are run by IEN member groups, as well as by Heritage Officers and other local groups.
The role of the biodiversity officer is a very varied one. Their responsibilities include:
Providing advice on biodiversity for local authority staff. Community engagement and raising awareness. Development of strategies, policies, and projects relating to wildlife, habitats and biodiversity.
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