The Biodiversity Officer sits within the Heritage Office and is responsible for the development and implementation of the Biodiversity Action Plan 2035-2030.
The position of Biodiversity Officer and the implementation of the Biodiversity Action Plan are jointly funded by the Heritage Council and Monaghan County Council. Biodiversity Officers are the public face of biodiversity at the local level. They are tasked with supporting the implementation of the National Biodiversity Action Plan (PDF) and the delivery of national biodiversity targets, commissioning biodiversity surveys and working with the community on projects to improve the status of biodiversity in the local authority area.
Biodiversity events are held on a regular basis, including a range of activities during Biodiversity Week in May https://biodiversityweek.ie and Heritage Week, which is held in August www.heritageweek.ie
Monaghan’s Biodiversity Working Group (BWG)
The establishment of a Biodiversity Working Group is a pivotal step in the development and implementation of a Local Authority Biodiversity Action Plan (LABAP). The primary role of this working group is to provide guidance and expertise throughout the planning, implementation, monitoring and review phases of the LABAP. Responsibilities may include reviewing existing biodiversity data, identifying key conservation priorities, recommending strategies and actions, and monitoring the progress of the LABAP’s implementation. The working group also serves as a liaison between the Local Authority and various stakeholders, ensuring that the plan is both comprehensive and community backed.
The Monaghan Biodiversity Working Group sits under the Monaghan Heritage Forum and was formed in July 2024 and decided on a working list of key strategic objectives and actions to be included in the Monaghan LABAP.
Michaela Kirrane | Inland Fisheries Ireland |
Bernie O’Hanrahan | Monaghan Wetland Forum |
Emer Brennan | Monaghan Tidy Towns Network |
Aileen Owens | LAWPRO |
David Stirrat | Coillte |
Jane McConnon | Teagasc |
Niall McMeel | Env Chairperson – IFA |
Floss Adams | Irish Wildlife Trust |
Joe Shannon | Birdwatch Ireland |
John McKeon | Native Tree/Hedgerow Expert |
Alan McCabe | River Blackwater Trust |
Patrick McKenna | Farming for Nature |
Brian McDonald | Biodiversity Recorder |
Sinead McCoy | An Taisce |
Maurice Eakin | NPWS |
Donal Beagan | Breeding Waders EIP |
Gareth Conlon | PPN |
Ronan Geoghegan | ICMSA |
Jamie Nolan | Climate Action – Mon Co Co |
Kara Ward | Heritage Officer – Mon Co Co |
Michael Carroll | Horticulturist – Mon Co Co |
Kieran Duffy | Engineer Env – Mon Co Co |
Maeve McKearney | Senior Planner – Mon Co Co |
Amanda Murray | Env Awareness Officer – Mon Co Co |
Kevin West | Senior Engineer – Roads Mon Co Co |