We cannot afford not to support our flora and fauna

WHEN I read Cormac MacConnell’s article (Farming, Sept 1) my shoulders dropped. Do people really still think like this? I had to check it wasn’t April 1.

Mr MacConnell seems to think we cannot afford to support our corncrakes. The truth is that we cannot afford not to support our flora and fauna. The natural environment is not something that exists outside our cities, disjointed from our lives. We know that animals and plants and humans depend on each other. We are aware of the critical importance of retaining our biodiversity. It is paramount that both our government departments and non-governmental organisations that are working hard to conserve our biodiversity, do not have their budgets cut any further. Their work is directly relevant to us. If we let our species go, one by one, we will reach a tipping point, sooner, rather than later, and we will end up living in a derelict wasteland. Cad a dhéanfaimid feasta gan adhmad? This is not a battle we will inevitably lose – public awareness and the cooperation of the farming community has led to an increase in some bird numbers, and animals like otters, are returning to our now-cleaner rivers. Nonetheless, we must fight for every species. Ireland is one of the last refuges for corncrakes when they make the long journey back to Europe from Africa in summer.

I hope Mr MacConnell’s article was written with his tongue firmly in his cheek. He speaks of the harsh discordancy of the lone voice in the night. Perhaps he is referring to himself and not the corncrake.