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- Wild Atlantic Nature hosts RBPS study visit from Estonian LIFE project
Wild Atlantic Nature hosted a visit from a group of scientists, policy-makers and farmers from Estonia in June 2024, co-organised with LIFE IP ForEst&FarmLand. The visiting group were on a fact-finding mission to hear about the development of results-based agri-environmental payments schemes (RBPS) in Ireland, and potential application in Estonia. Following an introduction from Derek… Read more: Wild Atlantic Nature hosts RBPS study visit from Estonian LIFE project - Ministers congratulates LIFE IP Wild Atlantic Nature for winning major European Natura 2000 award
LIFE IP Wild Atlantic Nature, led by National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) and funded by the EU LIFE programme, has won the 2024 Natura 2000 Award in the category ‘Working together for nature’. The Natura 2000 Award highlights projects that demonstrate excellence in nature conservation and sustainable land use. Wild Atlantic Nature is the… Read more: Ministers congratulates LIFE IP Wild Atlantic Nature for winning major European Natura 2000 award - Natura Communities
Natura Communities, a new initiative from LIFE IP Wild Atlantic Nature and supported by National Parks and Wildlife Service, aims to connect local communities with Natura 2000 sites in their area. The vision is to build capacity in communities to enable the delivery of locally-led nature conservation and ecosystem restoration projects, where local communities have… Read more: Natura Communities - Peatlands Survey Update 2024
From 2023-2026, LIFE IP Wild Atlantic Nature are undertaking habitat surveys across a number of project sites. These surveys are required so that the peatland habitats can be identified and assessed and to allow for restoration plans to be developed with interested landowners. In total, there are 14 project sites that need to be surveyed… Read more: Peatlands Survey Update 2024 - Wild Atlantic Nature represented on EU CAP Network Focus Group
Gary Goggins of LIFE IP Wild Atlantic Nature was selected to join the EU CAP Network Focus Group related to enhancing biodiversity on farmland through high-diversity landscape features. The focus group, consisting of 20 experts from across Europe, was tasked with identifying challenges and opportunities for farmers, highlighting good practice, identifying research needs from practice… Read more: Wild Atlantic Nature represented on EU CAP Network Focus Group - Over 150 farmers have joined WaterLANDS project aiming to restore 600 ha of blanket bog
WaterLANDS is a Horizon 2020 EU funded project under the Green Deal with six restoration ‘Action Sites’ across Europe. The Irish Action Site, led by LIFE IP Wild Atlantic Nature, is located at the Cuilcagh-Anierin Uplands SAC in Co. Leitrim and Co. Cavan, where peatland restoration actions began last summer. Over 150 farmers have joined… Read more: Over 150 farmers have joined WaterLANDS project aiming to restore 600 ha of blanket bog - Minister McConalogue launches new primary school programme aimed at deepening local connections to peatland habitats
The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Charlie McConalogue T.D. launched a new primary school programme designed to educate children on the environmental and economic advantages of our blanket bogs. The programme, which was developed by the Heritage Council as part of LIFE IP Wild Atlantic Nature, is being rolled out to schools in… Read more: Minister McConalogue launches new primary school programme aimed at deepening local connections to peatland habitats - Blanket bog recovery efforts boosted through additional €15m funding enabled by Shared Island Fund
A significant new investment of €15 million in peatlands restoration will benefit cross-border collaboration, knowledge sharing and expertise building. Wild Atlantic Nature LIFE Integrated Project will receive €10 million from the Government’s Shared Island Fund and an additional €5 million in co-funding through the National Parks and Wildlife Service of the Department of Housing, Local… Read more: Blanket bog recovery efforts boosted through additional €15m funding enabled by Shared Island Fund - Wild Atlantic Nature among the finalists of the 2024 edition of the European Natura 2000 Award!
The Wild Atlantic Nature project, coordinated by NPWS and funded by the EU LIFE programme, is a finalist for the 2024 Natura 2000 Award. The Natura 2000 Award highlights projects that demonstrate excellence in nature conservation and sustainable land use. The Wild Atlantic Nature results-based agri-environmental payment scheme (RBPS) is a pilot initiative, implemented in… Read more: Wild Atlantic Nature among the finalists of the 2024 edition of the European Natura 2000 Award! - Pilot community-led peatland restoration programme – Contract notice
LIFE IP Wild Atlantic Nature invite tenders for the coordination of a pilot community-led peatland restoration programme with a focus on rhododendron in Connemara and southwest Mayo. It builds on a successful preliminary project based in the Bundorragha catchment in Co. Mayo in 2022. Response deadline is 3pm, 31 March 2023. The contract notice can… Read more: Pilot community-led peatland restoration programme – Contract notice - Pilot land us and domestic energy coordinator – Contract notice
LIFE IP Wild Atlantic Nature invite tenders for the provision of a coordinator to develop and oversee a land use and domestic energy pilot project. The coordinator will link domestic heating and habitat restoration relating to turbary using existing funding opportunities such as SEAI retrofitting grants. They will have a particular focus on developing relationships… Read more: Pilot land us and domestic energy coordinator – Contract notice - Researcher and Artist opportunities in WaterLANDS project
LIFE IP Wild Atlantic Nature are recruiting for several positions as part of our work with WaterLANDS. We have advertised for a Research Officer position until November 2026 and for an Artist Residency for a period of one month annually over four years. More information via links below: Research Officer Artist residency - Wild Atlantic Nature win a RÉALTA excellence and innovation award
Wild Atlantic Nature were among the winners in the RÉALTA excellence and innovation awards for our Results-Based Payment Scheme (RBPS) pilot programme. The team are one of four projects who have been put forward to represent DHLGH in the national finals next March. - Wild Atlantic Nature at the National Ploughing Championships
Wild Atlantic Nature were at the National Ploughing Championships in the Sustainable Living tent. Gary Goggins took part in a panel discussion at the Government of Ireland marquee on Biodiversity in Farming. - Wild Atlantic Nature present at several national and international conferences
Dr Derek McLoughlin gave a presentation at the National Biodiversity Conference 2022 where he spoke about building partnerships for people and nature. Derek also gave a presentation at the Environment Ireland Conference 2022. Dr Gary Goggins held a session at the Ecosystem Services Partnership conference and gave a presentation on our work with the WaterLANDS… Read more: Wild Atlantic Nature present at several national and international conferences - Wild Atlantic Nature feature at EU Green Week
LIFE IP Wild Atlantic Nature was invited to speak at the Biodiversity – Nature restoration targets session at EU Green Week 2022. The session explored the multiple benefits we gain from healthy ecosystems and how they can be realised through restoration. Gary Goggins spoke about the importance of agri-environment policy for nature conservation. The session… Read more: Wild Atlantic Nature feature at EU Green Week - New research exploring the role of culture in energy policy and practice
Dr Gary Goggins, along with colleagues from LMU Munich and the University of Galway, published new research exploring the role of culture in energy use. The research, published in the journal Energy Policy, was informed by work on several projects, including LIFE IP Wild Atlantic Nature. Access is free at the following link: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enpol.2022.113055 - Official launch of LIFE IP Wild Atlantic Nature in Ballycroy, Co.Mayo
The official launch of LIFE IP Wild Atlantic Nature took place in Ballycroy Community Centre on 13 May 2022. The event was attended by more than 120 people representing a cross-section of society including government, businesses, civil society and academia. The project was launched by Minister of State for Heritage and Electoral Reform at the… Read more: Official launch of LIFE IP Wild Atlantic Nature in Ballycroy, Co.Mayo - Wild Atlantic Nature are seeking Expressions of Interest to join our agri-environment programme for 2022
LIFE IP Wild Atlantic Nature are now seeking expressions of interest from farmers in the target areas to join our RBPS agri-environment programme for 2022. The programme is open to farmers in selected areas in Mayo, Sligo and Donegal. Farmer information meetings are being held in each target area. More details are available on our… Read more: Wild Atlantic Nature are seeking Expressions of Interest to join our agri-environment programme for 2022 - Rhododendron control project launched in southwest Mayo
Minister Malcolm Noonan TD and Minister Joe O’Brien TD launched a pilot Rhododendron eradication project in the Bundorragha river catchment in southwest Mayo. The non-native invasive species, Rhododendron (Rhododendron ponticum) presents an ongoing threat to the Irish natural environment and its eradication presents a significant national challenge. This project, conceived by local landowners with support from LIFE… Read more: Rhododendron control project launched in southwest Mayo - Wild Atlantic Nature welcome new RBPS project officer to the team
Wild Atlantic Nature has announced the addition of John Walsh to the project team in the role of RBPS Project Officer. John hails from Co. Sligo where he grew up in a farming family. He has a keen interest in ecology and peatlands and holds a degree in Environmental Science from IT Sligo. - Wild Atlantic Nature feature on Portuguese national TV
LIFE IP Wild Atlantic Nature recently featured in a Portuguese national television series on RPT exploring EU-funded projects across Europe. The series ‘From Stockholm to Lisbon’ visits a different country each episode to showcase interesting environment projects. The film crew paid a visit to one of our project areas in South Mayo where we chatted… Read more: Wild Atlantic Nature feature on Portuguese national TV - EU Commissioner visits Wild Atlantic Nature project site
EU Commissioner for the Environment, Oceans and Fisheries, Virginijus Sinkevičius paid a visit to Sliabh Liag SAC to learn about the work of LIFE IP Wild Atlantic Nature. The Commissioner discussed the LIFE project and our development of the Results-Based agri-environment Payments Scheme (RBPS) of Wild Atlantic Nature. The Commissioner was provided with a demonstration… Read more: EU Commissioner visits Wild Atlantic Nature project site - Wild Atlantic Nature partner on €23.5m WaterLANDS project
LIFE IP Wild Atlantic Nature is part of a new 5-year (2021-2026) EU Horizon 2020 funded project to restore and protect wetland sites across Europe. WaterLANDS will undertake hands-on restoration of specific wetland sites, including a Wild Atlantic Nature site at Cuilcagh-Anierin Uplands SAC, and create best practice models that can be applied elsewhere. The… Read more: Wild Atlantic Nature partner on €23.5m WaterLANDS project - Wild Atlantic Nature welcome new Project Ecologist to the team
Wild Atlantic Nature has announced the addition of John Derwin to the project team in the role of Project Ecologist. John has over 20 years’ experience in surveying and assessing peatlands, including EU LIFE Bog Restoration Projects. - Rhododendron control programme request for tender
LIFE IP Wild Atlantic Nature are seeking a suitable contractor to run a community led project to develop and demonstrate a rhododendron control programme in Co.Mayo. Closing date for applications on 11 October 2021. For more details see: Public RFT – This tender seeks a suitable contractor to run a community led project which aims… Read more: Rhododendron control programme request for tender - Wild Atlantic Nature staff attend Longford Demense Wood – Crann launch event
Wild Atlantic Nature RBPS Coordinator Vicki McArthur and Public Awareness Manager Gary Goggins attended the Longford Demense Wood post Covid launch of the Woodland’s Forest Ecology, Biodiversity & Wellbeing Activities with Crann Director Diarmuid McAree. The event was jointly hosted by Yvonne and Declan Foley of Longford Demense Wood (Beltra, Co. Sligo) and Crann –… Read more: Wild Atlantic Nature staff attend Longford Demense Wood – Crann launch event - Project partners DAFM and Teagasc visit Owenduff/Nephin Complex SAC for farm advisor training
The Wild Atlantic Nature team were joined by project partners the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) and Teagasc who took part in RBPS farm advisor training in the Owenduff/Nephin Complex SAC. Teagasc will be running Knowledge Exchange groups in the area in autumn 2021, while DAFM have played a key role in… Read more: Project partners DAFM and Teagasc visit Owenduff/Nephin Complex SAC for farm advisor training