The County Donegal Heritage Forum and the County Donegal Heritage Office, Donegal County Council will be launching the ‘Biodiversity Species List for County Donegal’ and the ‘Hedgerow Survey of County Donegal’ during ‘Biodiversity Week’ that takes place from Sunday, May 17 to Sunday, May 24, 2009. The ‘Biodiversity Species List for County Donegal’ was compiled by ecologist Ralph Sheppard and is the first comprehensive list plant and animal species found in the county. It will be launched by Dr. Liam Lysaght, Director of the National Biodiversity Data Centre, at Glenveagh Castle in Glenveagh National Park, Church Hill on Tuesday, May 19 at 5 p.m. The event is free and open to the public but please reserve your place by contacting Glenveagh National Park in advance on (074) 913 7090. A free bus will be provided from the Visitors’ Centre, Glenveagh National Park to Glenveagh Castle at 4:30 p.m. Ralph Sheppard will provide a short presentation entitled ‘Diversity Counts’ to highlight some of the rich biodiversity that exists within the county.
On Thursday, May 21, the ‘Hedgerow Survey of County Donegal’ report will be launched in the County Museum, High Road, Letterkenny at 7:30 p.m. The hedgerow survey was commissioned as part of the implementation of the County Donegal Heritage Plan (2007-2011) and was undertaken by Aulino Wann & Associates using a methodology developed by Networks for Nature. The purpose of the hedgerow survey was to identify the extent, composition, structure, condition and management of hedgerows in County Donegal and to make recommendations on conservation priorities and management strategies. Ecologist John Wann will give an illustrated presentation entitled ‘Donegal Hedgerows: a cultural landscape’ at the launch. The event is free and open to the public but please book your place by contacting the County Museum in advance on (074) 912 4613.
“Biodiversity, or Biological Diversity, is the term given to the variety of life on earth. It exists everywhere and at a variety of scales,” explains Joseph Gallagher, County Donegal Heritage Officer. “Ireland is a signatory to the U.N. Convention on Biological Diversity and we are all obliged to safeguard the biodiversity of the areas where we live and work. The ‘Biodiversity Species List for County Donegal’ and the ‘Hedgerow Survey of County Donegal’ makes it easier for us to see the significance and relevance of biodiversity to our lives and our local communities.” The surveys and reports were funded by Donegal County Council and The Heritage Council as part of the implementation of the County Donegal Heritage Plan (2007-2011). Free copies of the reports are available at the launches or from the County Donegal Heritage Office, Donegal County Council on (074) 917 2576 or by e-mail at heritage@donegalcoco.ie
For further information, please contact:
Joseph Gallagher
Heritage Officer,
County Donegal Heritage Office,
Donegal County Council,
Station Island,
Lifford,
County Donegal.
Telephone: (074) 917 2576
E-mail: heritage@donegalcoco.ie