Consultation

Donegal County Council, in partnership with The Heritage Council, is excited to announce the development of its first County Biodiversity Action Plan.  As part of this vital initiative, the Council seeks the invaluable input of residents, visitors, and stakeholders to help identify key issues facing biodiversity in the county and establish priorities for action.

Biodiversity—the variety of life on Earth—is crucial for sustaining ecosystems that provide essential services such as food, clean water, and recreational opportunities. County Donegal boasts an impressive array of habitats, from its breathtaking coastlines to its unique bogs, rivers, and native woodlands. However, recent studies indicate that a staggering 85% of EU-protected habitats are in an unfavourable status, highlighting an urgent need for collective action to address biodiversity loss.

The upcoming Donegal Biodiversity Action Plan aims to align with Ireland’s 4th National Biodiversity Action Plan (2023-2030) and address various threats to ecosystems at a local level.  Cllr Niamh Kennedy, Cathaoirleach of Donegal County Council explained, “We are calling on our community to come forward with their ideas and experiences. Together, we can create a plan that not only protects our natural heritage but also enhances our quality of life too.”

The Council invites public participation through attendance at one of the five drop-in biodiversity clinics across Donegal, where people can share their insights. Additionally, an online questionnaire has been created to gather further opinions and suggestions and anyone is invited to get in touch directly with the Biodiversity Officer to express their views.

Key Details for Participation:

In person - You can attend one of our five Drop-in Biodiversity Clinics across Donegal.

• Saturday 16th November from 11am - 2pm @ Buncrana Library
• Tuesday 19th November from 4 - 7pm @ Regional Cultural Centre, Letterkenny
• Wednesday 20th November from 4 - 7pm @ Leabharlann Phobail Ghaoth Dobhair
• Tuesday 26th November from 4 - 7pm @ The Base /Twin Towns Library, Stranorlar
• Saturday 7th December from 11am - 2pm @ Bundoran Library

Online Questionnaire: Share your thoughts by visiting our consultation portal at consult.donegal.ie  or email your submissions to biodiversity@donegalcoco.ie. All submissions must be received by 12pm on Monday 23rd December 2024.

Any queries associated with the consultation should be forwarded to biodiversity@donegalcoco.ie.

Thanks are extended to The Heritage Council, for funding to support the development of the first Donegal Biodiversity Action Plan, through the County Biodiversity Action Plan programme. The Local Authority Biodiversity Officer Programme is delivered in partnership with The Heritage Council.

Online Questionnaire: Share your thoughts by visiting our consultation portal below or email your submissions to biodiversity@donegalcoco.ie. All submissions must be received by 12pm on Monday 23rd December 2024.

https://consult.donegal.ie/

Donegal County Council has launched a children’s art competition called ‘Wild Donegal’.  The Council invites young people to draw or paint their favourite Donegal wildlife and explain how citizens can help to protect this valued part of Donegal’s biodiversity in the future.  The aim is to engage with more young people on the protection of our wonderful biodiversity in Donegal and showcase the array of important habitats and species found in Donegal as well as the creativity and talent amongst our young people.  There will be some wild prizes for winners and for the school winners represent too.  Kids have plenty of time to get creative, with the closing date for entries being Friday 10th January 2025.

This art competition is part of the public consultation on the development of the first Donegal Biodiversity Action Plan, that opened on Monday 4th November and runs until 23rd December 2024.  The Council is seeking the invaluable input of residents, visitors, and stakeholders to help identify key issues facing biodiversity in the county and establish priorities for action for the next five years.

Further details of the public consultation which is open until Monday 23rd December 2024 including dates and locations of drop-in biodiversity clinics, can be found on Council’s website at https://consult.donegal.ie/. 

This Art Competition and the development of the Donegal Biodiversity Action Plan has been supported with funding from Heritage Council, through the County Biodiversity Action Plan programme. The Local Authority Biodiversity Officer Programme is delivered in partnership with the Heritage Council.

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Tá comórtas ealaíne do pháistí darb ainm ‘Dún na nGall Fiáin' seolta ag Comhairle Contae Dhún na nGall. Tá an Chomhairle ag iarraidh ar dhaoine óga an fiadhúlra is fearr leo i nDún na nGall a tharraingt nó a phéinteáil agus a mhíniú cén dóigh ar féidir le saoránaigh cuidiú leis an chuid luachmhar sin de bhithéagsúlacht Dhún na nGall a chosaint amach anseo. Is é an aidhm atá leis an chomórtas níos mó daoine óga a spreagadh le bheith rannpháirteach maidir lenár mbithéagsúlacht iontach i nDún na nGall a chosaint agus an réimse gnáthóg agus speiceas tábhachtach atá le fáil i nDún na nGall a chur os comhair an phobail mar aon le cruthaitheacht agus tallann ár ndaoine óga. Beidh roinnt duaiseanna fiánta ann do bhuaiteoirí agus do scoileanna na mbuaiteoirí fosta. Tá neart ama ag páistí a bheith cruthaitheach; is é an spriocdháta d’iontrálacha ná Dé hAoine, 10 Eanáir 2025. 
Tá an comórtas ealaíne seo mar pháirt den chomhairliúchán phoiblí ar an chéad Phlean Gníomhaíochta Bithéagsúlachta a fhorbairt, próiseas a seoladh Dé Luain, an 4 Samhain agus a bheidh ar siúl go dtí an 23 Nollaig 2024. Tá tuairimí na gcónaitheoirí, na gcuairteoirí agus na bpáirtithe leasmhara á lorg ag an Chomhairle le cuidiú leis na  príomh-shaincheisteanna atá roimh an bhithéagsúlacht sa chontae a aithint agus tosaíochtaí gníomhaíochta a dheimhniú do na cúig bliana amach romhainn.

Tá sonraí uilig an chomórtais ealaíne le fáil ar shuíomh gréasáin na Comhairle www.donegalcoco.ie/heritage nó trí ríomhphost a sheoladh chuig biodiverstiy@donegalcoco.ie. 

Beidh an comhairliúchán poiblí ar oscailt go dtí Dé Luain, an 23 Nollaig 2024 agus is féidir breis sonraí a fháil fá dtaobh de, mar aon le dátaí agus suíomhanna na gclinicí bithéagsúlachta buail isteach, ar láithreán gréasáin na Comhairle ag https://consult.donegal.ie/. 
Thug an Chomhairle Oidhreachta tacaíocht mhaoinithe do Chomhairle Contae Dhún na nGall leis an Chomórtas Ealaíne seo a reáchtáil agus leis an Phlean Gníomhaíochta Bithéagsúlachta a fhorbairt, fríd an chlár Plean Gníomhaíochta Bithéagsúlachta Contae/Údaráis Áitiúil. Tá Clár na nOifigeach Bithéagsúlachta sna hÚdaráis Áitiúil á reáchtáil i gcomhar leis an Chomhairle Oidhreachta.

 

Kids Biodiversity Art Competition Rules (Irish And English)