A conference has been announced in Limerick which will explore the challenges and opportunities for local authorities to address the biodiversity emergency.

'How Local Authorities Can Address the Biodiversity Emergency' is being held on Wednesday 21 and Thursday 22 September 2022 at the Limerick Strand Hotel.

This national conference will showcase initiatives where local authorities are addressing the biodiversity emergency while providing an opportunity for the audience to identify and prioritise key actions and feed into national policy on Biodiversity and Climate action.

Embracing every relevant sector - Local Authorities, National Biodiversity Data Centre, National Parks and Wildlife Service and the wider public sector, non-governmental organisations, private business, CAROs, special interest groups, Tidy Towns and other community groups  - the conference aims to identify and prioritise key actions that will feed into the national biodiversity action plan, along with supporting climate actions that will assist Ireland to achieve its 2030 targets.

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Mayor of the City and County of Limerick Cllr Francis Foley said: "This is a timely conference and I am delighted that Limerick City and County Council is collaborating with the National Biodiversity Data Centre as it is essential that Ireland moves towards decarbonisation against a backdrop of maintaining and enhancing our national, regional and local biodiversity."

Dr Liam Lysaght, Director of National Biodiversity Data Centre added: "Local Authorities can become a hugely important catalyst for change in addressing Ireland’s Biodiversity Emergency through the adoption of new and innovative approaches to biodiversity management. This conference will be the first of its kind where local authorities and key partners come together to explore the key issues and identify the best actions that can help to address biodiversity loss. The National Biodiversity Data Centre is very pleased that Limerick City and County Council has taken the lead in identifying how local authorities can best deliver for biodiversity."

The Conference sessions will feature guest speakers who will address biodiversity in relation to infrastructure, community, climate action and management. Each session will be followed with round-table discussions and the outcomes will feed into the National Biodiversity Plan.