All Posts by Kieran Flood

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Mar 06

Press Release: State failing to stop destruction of “protected” bogs

Press Release 06th March 2023 State failing to stop destruction of “protected” bogs   The Irish Wildlife Trust (IWT) is calling for greater law enforcement after new data, released after appeal to the Office of the Information Commissioner, revealed that illegal turf-cutting remains a significant problem in Special Areas of Conservation (SAC) designated for raised […]

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Jan 24

Press Release: Irish Wildlife Trust welcomes comments from Tánaiste that the State should buy land for rewilding

Press Release  24th January 2023 Irish Wildlife Trust welcomes comments from Tánaiste that the State should buy land for rewilding   The Irish Wildlife Trust (IWT) welcomes the comments from Tánaiste Micheál Martin, and which were reported in today’s Irish Independent newspaper (24/1/23), that the State “must purchase land for native woodlands and for simple rewilding at […]

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Dec 19

Press Release: Irish Wildlife Trust welcomes agreement at COP15 but warns there is an urgent need for implementation

Press Release  19th December 2022 Irish Wildlife Trust welcomes agreement at COP15 but warns there is an urgent need for implementation   The Irish Wildlife Trust (IWT) welcomes the announcement this morning (December 19th) that the signatories to the Convention on Biological Diversity have concluded a new deal to reverse biodiversity loss and stabilise global ecosystems. […]

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Nov 28

PRESS RELEASE: IWT welcomes recommendations from the Citizens’ Assembly on Biodiversity Loss

Press Release: Irish Wildlife Trust welcomes recommendations from the Citizens’ Assembly on Biodiversity Loss 28th November 2022   The Irish Wildlife Trust (IWT) warmly welcomes the recommendation from the Citizens’ Assembly on Biodiversity Loss that the constitution should be amended to better protect biodiversity. The IWT had asked in our submission that the rights of nature […]

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Nov 08

Irish Wildlife Trust welcomes €1.3 billion funding for new forest programme but warns that money alone will not address problems

PRESS RELEASE 08th November 2022 Irish Wildlife Trust welcomes €1.3 billion funding for new forest programme but warns that money alone will not address problems The Irish Wildlife Trust (IWT) welcomes the additional funding for forestry schemes announced last week (3/11/22) by Minister for Land Use and Biodiversity, Pippa Hackett. The increased grant and premium […]

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Oct 11

The Irish Wildlife Trust is hiring a Marine Advocacy Officer

The Irish Wildlife Trust is hiring a Marine Advocacy Officer    *** This job application is now closed ***   Job Title: Marine Advocacy Officer  Organisation: The Irish Wildlife Trust, 8 Cabra Road, Dublin 7, Ireland    Salary: €30,000 – €35,000 per annum subject to experience Hours: This is a full time 5 days per […]

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Jun 22

EU nature law could be gamechanger for marine biodiversity, but will be meaningless if fisheries not properly addressed – NGO reaction

EU nature law could be gamechanger for marine biodiversity, but will be meaningless if fisheries not properly addressed  NGOs react to the marine aspects of the law Brussels – Today, the European Commission presented its legislative proposal on nature restoration, a new law with binding targets to restore degraded land and marine ecosystems across the […]

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Jun 17

Species in Focus: Cormorant

Species in Focus: Cormorant As the summer starts to pick up speed, you might find yourself heading down to the beach to cool off. Keep an eye on the sea when you’re there, and you might spot a cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo) out on a fishing trip. Cormorants are common seabirds, although they’re often mixed up […]

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May 30

Event Announcement: Revitalising Ireland’s Seas – Irish NGO coalition presents report on identifying areas of interest for MPA designation

Revitalising Ireland’s Seas Irish NGO coalition presents report on identifying ‘Areas of Interest’ for Marine Protected Area designation in Irish waters Wednesday, July 6th, 2022, 11 AM (WEST) Where: Zoom Watch the recording of this event here: Event information Fair Seas is an Irish coalition campaign that seeks to build a movement of ocean stewardship […]

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May 19

Species in Focus: Painted Lady

Species in Focus: Painted Lady When you think of far-ranging animals found across all the continents, your mind probably goes straight to birds. But would you believe there’s a species of butterfly that does just as much exploring? The painted lady (Vanessa cardui) is the most widespread species of butterfly in the world. It occurs […]

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May 18

PRESS RELEASE: Irish Wildlife Trust opposes redesignation of 466 water bodies as ‘highly modified’

PRESS RELEASE 18th May 2022 Irish Wildlife Trust opposes redesignation of 466 water bodies as ‘highly modified’ – the move could leave thousands of kilometres of river permanently degraded and near lifeless The Irish Wildlife Trust has responded to the public consultation from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on the redesignation of hundreds of water […]

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May 04

Press Release: The Irish Wildlife Trust welcomes report adopted by the European Parliament calling for urgent action on bottom-contacting fishing gear, but questions why majority of Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) would not support a ban on bottom trawling in Marine Protected Areas

PRESS RELEASE: The Irish Wildlife Trust welcomes report adopted by the European Parliament calling for urgent action on bottom-contacting fishing gear, but questions why majority of Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) would not support a ban on bottom trawling in Marine Protected Areas Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) adopted an Own Initiative Report […]

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Apr 29

Real Marine Protected Areas are within the EU’s grasp

Real Marine Protected Areas are within the EU’s grasp An important vote on the Initiative Report of MEP Isabel Carvalhais “Toward a sustainable blue economy in the EU: the role of the fisheries and aquaculture sectors”, is taking place in the European Parliament on May 3rd. MEPs will have the chance to vote on prohibiting […]

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Apr 28

Species in Focus: Dandelions

Species in Focus: Dandelions  At this point in the year, I’d imagine anyone who likes a manicured lawn is sick of seeing a certain stubborn yellow flower pop up all over their grass. However dandelions are a valuable native wildflower and have much to offer wildlife and us. Dandelions are useful and industrious plants that […]

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Apr 07

Species in Focus: Freshwater Pearl Mussels

There are many animals in Ireland that are under threat from various sources, and the freshwater pearl mussel (Margaritifera margaritifera) is catching it from all sides. Freshwater pearl mussels, like the saltwater mussels we eat, are bivalves. Bivalves are molluscs with soft bodies protected by a hinged shell which can open and close as they […]

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Mar 30

Don’t Mow, Let it Grow!

Take Action for Wildlife: Don’t mow, let it grow!     1. Protect our dandelions. Hold off with that first cut of grass till late April to allow dandelions feed the bees until other flowers come into bloom. 2. When you do start cutting the grass manage your lawn in a nature friendly manner cutting […]

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Mar 16

Species in Focus: Slow Worm

Species in Focus: Slow Worm Whoops, looks like Saint Patrick is slacking on the job! Or is he? Despite its scientific name meaning ‘fragile snake’, this slithery little reptile is actually a kind of legless lizard, called a slow worm (Anguis fragilis). You might be wondering what the difference between a legless lizard and a […]

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Mar 10

Species in Focus: Common Frog

Species in Focus: Common Frog At this time of year, plenty of animals are only just waking up and getting down to business after a long hibernation. The common frog (Rana temporaria) is one such animal. Common frogs are small amphibians that can be found all across Ireland, as long as there are suitable bodies […]

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Feb 23

‘Fair Seas’ campaign launches to demand fifteen-fold increase in Ireland’s Marine Protected Areas

‘Fair Seas’ campaign launches to demand fifteen-fold increase in Ireland’s Marine Protected Areas The Irish Wildlife Trust is delighted to be a partner in the Fair Seas campaign launching today and calling for the protection of Ireland’s marine life through the creation of a network of ecologically coherent marine protected areas.   Leading national environmental […]

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Jan 20

PRESS RELEASE: Burning in Wicklow Mountains National Park contrary to climate and biodiversity aims

PRESS RELEASE 20th January 2022 Burning in Wicklow Mountains National Park contrary to climate and biodiversity aims   The Irish Wildlife Trust wants to express our opposition to the on-going burning of lands within the Wicklow Mountains National Park. See https://www.facebook.com/pages/Wicklow-Mountains-National-Park/261433833868972 Given the poor state of upland habitats, plus the emissions of smoke, water pollution […]

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Dec 08

Irish Wildlife Trust submission to CAP Strategic Plan 2023-2027

December 8th 2021 Irish Wildlife Trust submission to CAP Strategic Plan 2023-2027 Link to downloadable pdf of submission To Whom it May Concern, The Irish Wildlife Trust (IWT) is a national, charitable, membership-based organisation which was established in 1979. Our goal is to raise awareness of our natural heritage and its benefits to people. We […]

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Dec 08

Press Release: Irish Wildlife Trust calls for rewilding to be incentivised as part of €9.8 billion Common Agricultural Policy (CAP)

Press Release 8th December 2021 Irish Wildlife Trust calls for rewilding to be incentivised as part of €9.8 billion Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) The Irish Wildlife Trust (IWT) is calling for rewilding to be included in Ireland’s CAP Strategic Plan as an option for farmers. Rewilding is a method of restoring natural ecosystems and is […]

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Nov 12

PRESS RELEASE: IWT welcomes acknowledgement of the biodiversity crisis and role of healthy ecosystems, including oceans, in the latest draft COP 26 text

PRESS RELEASE 12th November IWT welcomes acknowledgement of the biodiversity crisis and role of healthy ecosystems, including oceans, in the latest draft COP 26 text   The Irish Wildlife Trust (IWT) welcomes the prominence of nature in the latest draft of the COP text which appeared in Glasgow today (November 12th). The draft acknowledges in […]

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