Biodiversity refers to the variety of plant and wildlife on earth. It also describes the wide variety of places where all of the above interact with each other, and in South Dublin that means grasslands, woodlands, hedgerows, roadside verges, streams, rivers, upland bogland and heath, public parks, and private gardens. Across the world and here in Ireland, the biodiversity crisis is showing us the damage caused to the natural world through human activities.

South Dublin County Council’s Biodiversity Action Plan 2020-2026 presents a background to the diversity of nature in the County and to the challenges that face biodiversity and the County in a time of change. The plan outlines a series of objectives and actions that aim to achieve the protection and enhancement of the County’s biodiversity, while aiming to ensure that the County’s residents, businesses and visitors continue to enjoy and benefit from the many services that nature provides. The action plan has been a response to national obligations under the National Biodiversity Action Plan 2017-2021 and under the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030.

The draft action plan went on public consultation in the summer of 2020 and was adopted by the elected members of the Council at the November 2020 Council Meeting.

Implementation of the plan is progressing.