Sustainability - Biodiversity - Irish Examiner

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BIODIVERSITY IN ACTION

Sustainability collection highlighting content that relates to protection of our natural world and human life.

BIODIVERSITY IN ACTION

Sustainability collection highlighting content that relates to protection of our natural world and human life.

<p>Although its numbers are said to be falling, and litters are smaller than in the past, the Alpine marmot is not listed as a threatened species. Picture: Getty</p>

outdoors

Groundhog day: Call for end to hunting of French marmots

Shooting marmots is permitted from September 1 each year in France, however, animal rights activists do not approve and are calling on the French government to prohibit such hunting on humane grounds

<p>Hedgehogs are currently preparing for winter hibernation. They are eating more to put on weight, consuming slugs and worms and as much protein as possible. Picture: PA</p>

outdoors

Urban crawl: Number of hedgehogs in cities spikes

<p>Although farmers retain strong public support, citizens increasingly see the farming lobby as a block on progress. As a consequence, the social contract with farmers is breaking down. Picture: iStock</p>

outdoors

Farming bailouts a barrier to climate-resilient food system

hummingbird hawk-moth foraging close-up

spotlight

Hummingbird hawk moth spotted in Cork as climate change brings more southern species to Ireland

A real buzzkill: Ecological change and the potential threat from mosquitoes

outdoors

A real buzzkill: Ecological change and the potential threat from mosquitoes

ragwort in a hay field

farming

One law for farmers? Ragwort row reaches Leinster House

Buff-tip moth

Wild Matters: Farmer-led initiative helping reveal the magic of moths

The Farmer Moth Monitoring Project is opening our eyes to the world of moths, helping us to appreciate and value these secret inhabitants of our ecosystems

Fri, 14 Aug, 2026

Conservation programme underway for endangered Kerry freshwater pearl mussels

Conservation programme underway for endangered Kerry freshwater pearl mussels

Classified as one of the worlds most endangered species, 20 Kerry Freshwater pearl mussels were transported to Mayo via helicopter as part of a captive breeding programme.

Thu, 13 Aug, 2026

Limerick mayor calls for removal of bird deterrents from city streets

Limerick mayor calls for removal of bird deterrents from city streets

Mayor John Moran says he wants a better understanding of the impact of reflectors trialled to deter starlings from trees

Wed, 12 Aug, 2026

Fish boat vessel fishing in a rough sea

Uneasy sea-bedfellows: Oceans of conflict around fishing and conservation

A major impediment to fishermen effectively becoming guardians of the seas and leading on restoration efforts is the complex manner in which the sea is managed

Sat, 25 Jul, 2026

Buzzing for biodiversity: How bees changed farming for a West Cork dairy farmer

Buzzing for biodiversity: How bees changed farming for a West Cork dairy farmer

West Cork farmer John Hurley discusses how his passion for biodiversity and establishing nine beehives on his farm has influenced the way he views and works the land around him

Wed, 22 Jul, 2026

Bright metallic blue fly on straw

On the fly: Insects play key role in environmental and human life

The next time you hear someone grumbling about insects causing a nuisance ask them to think again. We rely on insects for many things that go unseen

Wed, 22 Jul, 2026

Irish pollinator plan aims to create nature pockets every 200 metres

Irish pollinator plan aims to create nature pockets every 200 metres

The ambitious five-year plan hopes to create biodiversity spaces to shelter and feed pollinators every 200m across Ireland

Tue, 21 Jul, 2026

ATLANTIC SALMON, leaping, Scotland, UK.

S Jack Power: Irish salmon are in big trouble

Atlantic salmon populations are in collapse all around their range. Jack Power wonders why we are so indifferent to their imminent extinction

Tue, 21 Jul, 2026

Feeling the heat: Challenge to provide cooler spaces in urban settings

Feeling the heat: Challenge to provide cooler spaces in urban settings

Experts suggest we need nature-based solutions to mitigate against the Urban Heat Island effect in cities whereby hard surfaces such as tarred roads, footpaths and buildings trap more heat than rural areas and natural landscapes

Thu, 02 Jul, 2026

Rippling Waters Over Submerged Stones

Pádraic Fogarty: Taking a very long time to ‘bring everyone with us’

Government seems to be taking a very long time as it ‘brings everyone along’ in addressing the challenges of climate change, pollution, and biodiversity loss

Tue, 23 Jun, 2026

Public invited to track three Irish cuckoos on migration to Africa

Public invited to track three Irish cuckoos on migration to Africa

Satellite-tagged birds from Wicklow, Clare and Kerry are helping researchers better understand species decline

Fri, 19 Jun, 2026

Decline in Ireland's highest quality water bodies 'a serious warning sign', EPA says

Decline in Ireland's highest quality water bodies 'a serious warning sign', EPA says

The EPA report said a large proportion of river sites (43%) have elevated nitrogen levels, many in the south and east of the country

Wed, 17 Jun, 2026

Machair wild flower meadow, The Outer Hebrides Western Isles

Wild Matters: The symbiotic nature of midsummer meadows

Species rich grasslands are now one of the most threatened habits in Ireland and if once common orchids, bees, butterflies, wildflowers and farmland birds are to be part of our future, we must act now for effective restoration

Tue, 16 Jun, 2026

AI has transformed weather prediction — don't let the negativity win

AI has transformed weather prediction — don't let the negativity win

AI has plenty of risks that we must guard against, but data-driven AI is a tool we should embrace to protect our infrastructure, our climate, and our society, writes Andrew Parnell

Tue, 16 Jun, 2026

Brush Fire

Heritage minister to raise fines for setting forest fires

Coilte and the National Parks and Wildlife Service this year expanded the use of drone technology to support faster fire detection and emergency response as the season got under way

Mon, 08 Jun, 2026

large swarm of dangerous striped stinging insects wasps fly against the background of a green summer garden

Busy as a bee: Summer swarming season in full swing

Political swarm clouds are gathering over honeybee colonies in Ireland just now. The swarming season has arrived and palace revolutions will erupt over the next two months as hives become crowded

Sat, 06 Jun, 2026

'50 times the size of Croke Park': Illegal fire destroys habitats in Wicklow Mountains

'50 times the size of Croke Park': Illegal fire destroys habitats in Wicklow Mountains

A wildfire has destroyed 66ha of Wicklow Mountains National Park with devastating repercussions on wildlife in the area with nests and habitats destroyed in the blaze

Thu, 04 Jun, 2026

Human nature: Rewilding as a means to avoid a future of decline

Human nature: Rewilding as a means to avoid a future of decline

Rewilding is often portrayed as being no different to land abandonment. But the case of Italy’s Abruzzo region shows this to be far from reality

Sat, 23 May, 2026

Fairytale Forest, Killarney National Park, Ireland

Jennifer Horgan: The Irishman saving the Amazon and why we need our native trees

Martin von Hildebrand is following in the footsteps of his hero Roger Casement. His work shows the importance of protecting our native woodlands

Fri, 22 May, 2026

More than 200 local nature projects set to receive €3m

More than 200 local nature projects set to receive €3m

As part of National Biodiversity Week, biodiversity minister Christopher O’Sullivan announced 209 nature projects will receive funding from the 2026 Local Biodiversity Action Fund

Thu, 21 May, 2026

Summer: young adults watering plants on a rooftop community garden

Couple goals: Can economic growth finally go green?

Researchers have found that many urban economies are continuing to grow while fossil-fuel pollution declines, meaning some cities are beginning to 'consciously uncouple' economic growth from fossil-fuel dependence

Sat, 16 May, 2026

Initiative boosts corncrake comeback with €4.35m of funding

Initiative boosts corncrake comeback with €4.35m of funding

250 farmers and landowners across Donegal, Mayo and Galway are now managing land for nature, implementing measures which protect this bird and improve its habitat

Fri, 15 May, 2026

Flower garden

Wild Matters: The coexistence of gardens and nature

Resisting our cultural tendency to ‘tidy’ everything up in our gardens gives untold opportunities for wild creatures

Thu, 14 May, 2026

Corncrake, Crex crexx

Malcolm Noonan: We must reconnect with nature to restore it for future generations

We have all the statutory targets; rewetting, woodland, marine, free flowing rivers, but then there’s the really tricky bit; winning hearts and minds, writes Malcolm Noonan

Tue, 12 May, 2026

Opening hours: Why some plants open by day and close at night

Opening hours: Why some plants open by day and close at night

Plants are constantly sensing, responding, and adapting to the world around them. They track time, detect light, react to temperature, and coordinate with insects in ways that are surprisingly sophisticated

Sat, 09 May, 2026