Irish in the dark about threat to biodiversity

MOST Irish people say they have never heard of and don’t know anything about the loss of biodiversity, despite up to half of all Europe’s birds, butterflies, fish and animals being threatened with extinction.

The Irish were also at the bottom of the class when it came to knowing how such a loss would affect them, according to a poll carried out for the European Commission across the EU.

Scientists say the rapid disappearance of all kinds of life, from bacteria and insects to plants and animals, is as dangerous as climate change, and closely related to it. Without the variety, things we take for granted are under threat.

Ireland has a wretched record when it comes to implementing programmes to protect the natural environment and the commission has had to bring the Government to court several times.

Environment Minister John Gormley is about to prepare the country’s second biodiversity programme and yesterday asked those interested to make suggestions.

The survey figures did not surprise Tony Lowes of Friends of the Irish Environment.

“If you start talking to builders, planners or developers about the effect of works on birds or the environment, they think you are nuts. They have no respect at all for nature,” he said.

The EU is to launch a campaign later this year to educate people about the need to protect biodiversity, especially in their own country.

* Any organisation or member of the public wishing to make a submission can contact [e-mail] or visit the website of the National Parks and Wildlife Service at www.environ.ie.