Waterford could soon be one of just three counties without a dedicated Biodiversity Officer.
Approval has been granted today for 11 new officers in other local authorities around the country.
It comes after last year's approval for the appointment of 10 new positions elsewhere, and is on top of the four already in place - three of whom are in Dublin.
The only county councils being left without a Biodiversity Officer after today's announcement are Waterford, Wexford, and Cavan.
The announcement follows a commitment in the Programme for Government to tackle the climate and biodiversity crisis, following the Dáil’s declaration of a Biodiversity Emergency in 2019, and the Citizens Assembly on Biodiversity Loss in 2022.
In addition to developing a Biodiversity Plan for their area, the new biodiversity officers will advise the local authority on biodiversity related issues and the authority’s obligations in relation to protecting biodiversity.
They will help local authorities to fully integrate biodiversity conservation into all of their policies, plans and actions, through training and provision of expert advice.
Commenting on the development, Minister of State for Heritage and Electoral Reform, Malcolm Noonan, TD, said:
“The appointment of another 11 biodiversity officers is further evidence of our commitment to addressing the biodiversity emergency and fulfilling our objectives as set out in the Programme for Government. These biodiversity experts are exactly the people we need at local authority level to engage local communities and to take practical action to conserve and restore wildlife species and habitats. I look forward to working with them shortly and to moving towards a full national rollout in the coming years.”
In response to a query from WLR, a spokesperson for Waterford City and County Council says their Heritage/Natural Heritage Officer is, in effect, the local authority's Biodiversity Officer.
They say, "The Heritage Officer, a role currently held by Bernadette Guest, is integral in Waterford City and County Council’s role in the conservation and enhancement of our environment, including the preservation of Waterford Estuary cultural and natural heritage, and coastal community climate adaptation.
"Through the Waterford City and County Development Plan 2022-2028, Waterford City and County Councils Heritage Officer will implement the consideration of the sensitivities identified in the SEA Environmental Report that accompanies the Plan such as the Natural Heritage Areas and proposed Natural Heritage Areas."
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