‘Council goes bats’, but that’s not the real issue

IN response to your report headlined ‘Council goes bats with taxpayers’ money’ (November 28), it is important for the public to appreciate that spending public money on nature conservation is not a waste of resources.

The variety of life on earth, known as biodiversity, is vital for providing clean air, water, fertile soils and flood control as well as food and recreation, ie, the support systems that make life possible. In Ireland, biodiversity underpins the tourism, agriculture and marine-based economies, and was estimated by the Government to be worth at least €2.6 billion each year.

This is provided free of charge and generally goes unnoticed.