Councils & Biodiversity: The All-Ireland Pollinator Plan Conference 2019
Local Authority/Council staff, Councillors, Planners, Engineer, Landscape Architects, Sustainability, Parks and Gardens staff, are invited to this conference on land management to support pollinating insects.
Our pollinating insects have suffered huge declines in recent decades, with one-third of our 99 Bee species at risk of extinction. The All-Ireland Pollinator Plan is a shared plan of action that aims to reverse those declines by increasing pollinator-friendly habitats across the island.
Training will be provided on the All-Ireland Pollinator Plan as well as an interesting line-up of guest speakers, who can offer advice on managing public lands for biodiversity; what to plant for pollinators; how to alter current mowing regimes; and road verge maintenance. This will be an opportunity for knowledge exchange and to learn from the experiences of other pollinator project managers.
Schedule
8.30-9.20 Registration Tea/Coffee
9.30 Opening Address from Lord Mayor of Cork City Cllr Mick Finn
10.00 The All-Ireland Pollinator Plan – Juanita Browne, All-Ireland Pollinator Plan Project Officer
10.20 Actions Councils can take to help pollinators – Dr Una FitzPatrick, National Biodiversity Data Centre
11:00 Tea/Coffee Break
Session 2:
11.30 Managing roadside verges for pollinators - Rachel Bain, Don't Mow Let it Grow, NI
12.00 Creating wildflower meadows for pollinators - Rory Finnegan, Castletown House, OPW
12.30 Public Reactions & Changing Landscapes - Anne Murray, Dun Laoghaire Rathdown Council
13.00 Q&A
13.30-14.40 Lunch
Session 3:
14.40 Address by the Mayor of the County of Cork, Cllr. Patrick Gerard Murphy
15.00 How do pesticides affect pollinators? - Prof Jane Stout, TCD
15.30 Alternatives to Pesticides - Nick Mole, Pesticide Action Network, UK
16.00 Councils - what to plant for pollinators? – Cathal O'Meara, Landscape Architect
16.30 Q&A
16.50 Conclusion
Sponsorship for this conference has been kindly provided by Cork City Council and Cork County Council