Biodiversity exhibition to hit the road

A major travelling biodiversity exhibition will take to the country’s roads over the next five months educating the public on Ireland’s natural beauty.

Launched by the Minister for the Environment John Gormley today, the roadshow involves 11 environmental non-governmental organisations (NGOs), including Coastwatch Europe, An Taisce and Bird Watch Ireland.

Its aim is to raise awareness about nature’s diversity and experts will travel to schools and communities nationwide, as well as major public gatherings like Electric Picnic and the National Ploughing Championships.

Coastwatch Europe spokeswoman Karin Dubsky said: “Its aim is to let people know about all the different aspects of biodiversity and to show the beauty of nature.”

The scheme, which is being co-funded by the Department of the Environment, will run until Christmas.

Scientists and volunteers will travel to schools around the country to speak with pupils about insects, bugs, bats, bogs, butterflies and various other wildlife, as well as highlighting the beauty of the country’s landscape.

They will also attend the Electric Picnic concert running this weekend in Stradbally, Co Laois, expected to attract over 30,000 revellers, as well as the National Ploughing Championships in Tullamore at the end of September.

The exhibition premiered last weekend at the Festival of World Cultures in Dun Laoghaire, Co Dublin, at which Ms Dubsky said they received an enthusiastic response from the public.

“With the exhibition comes expertise, experience and ideas, as all national environmental groups working on nature protection include scientists as volunteers or permanent staff,” said Bridget Farrell of the Environmental NGOs Core Funding Ltd, which is involved in the scheme.

“Apart from mass gatherings like the Electric Picnic and the National Ploughing Championships, the environmental groups are hoping to address smaller venues and events where aspects of biodiversity may be explained and discussed, management plans considered, or best practice demonstrated.”