RSPB conference stresses importance of biodiversity

The annual RSPB Northern Ireland and BirdWatch Ireland conference this weekend will stress the importance of biodiversity.

Speaker Dr Bob Brown, Chair of the Northern Ireland Biodiversity Group will tell participants that all the biodiversity action plans in the world will not halt species decline if awareness in both communities and government is not increased. These action plans are important commitments that governments have made to stem the dramatic loss to wildlife we have experienced over the last 150 years.

“There is no point having these laudable schemes that stand in glorious isolation if frankly, the public doesn’t care about the loss of wildlife and government officials are not adequately geared up to deliver their commitments,” said Dr Brown.

“People need to start making connections with the blue tits they feed in their garden with the extinction of corncrakes in the surrounding fields and the wider environment. Unless this is done, all the targets we set to halt biodiversity loss will be academic.”

The All Ireland Conference is held annually to enable conservationists and the public to get together and exchange views about the environment in an informal setting.

Dr Brown’s speech is part of a suite of talks which looks at the state of play of biodiversity the world over - from important habitats in Northern Ireland to wetlands in the Middle East and rainforests of Sumatra.

“Biodiversity itself receives so little press,” said Dr Brown. “What is essentially the wealth of wildlife that supports man and inhabits the planet is frequently dismissed as an optional extra on our lifestyles. Unless everyone has a good grasp of what really is at stake here, unless governments are bold and take the necessary steps to commit the resources to a public education campaign and to meeting their own responsibilities, the piecemeal chipping away at our wildlife will result in a slow deterioration of our own environment and way of life.”

After dinner on Saturday, the award-winning RSPB film 'Sea Eagle Odyssey' will be screened.

The Conference will be held at the Killyhevlin Hotel in Co. Fermanagh from 11 - 13 March.

The RSPB can be reached on 028 9049 1547 or visit www.rspb.org.uk/nireland/ for further information.

(SP)