CONCERNS voiced by anglers and conservationists about pondweed — both the Canadian and African varieties — in some of our most famous lakes highlight the impact of many invasive, alien species in Ireland.

ONE of the most visible signs of the urbanisation of Ireland must surely be the huge number of apartments that are being provided in our cities and towns.

HOW to change a national addiction to the car is one of the big challenges facing the government as it attempts to bring about a dramatic reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.

MANY people have been talking about exceptionally prolonged, windy weather this winter, which has caused a good deal of damage.

IF GOLDEN eagles can be successfully re-established in Donegal, why can’t white-tailed sea eagles grace the coasts of Kerry and west Cork?

THE Celtic Tiger has radically changed — some would say devoured — our landscape.

MANY powerful people are, at long last, waking up to the real threat being posed to the world by global warming and consequent climate change. No matter how serious a situation is, human nature remains the same — we don’t start to act until a crisis arises.

FOR a country that gets so much rain, it would be easy to believe we’ll never run short of water. Not so, however. In fact, we’re no better off in this regard than many other parts of the world.

IT’S a moral quandary, even a ghoulish issue, some might say. The respect that ought to be accorded skeletal human remains that turn up in long-forgotten cemeteries and, especially, in bogland excavations continues to exercise people.

GIVEN reasonable weather, thousands of people will be taking to the outdoors for long walks during Christmas — a good way of working off excess calories and the over-indulgence of the festive season.