Hi IEN,

Welcome to the September edition of Connecting Nationwide, our monthly newsletter full of environmental news and events throughout Ireland.

This month's newsletter features upcoming events, announcements on local and national projects, upcoming funding to keep an eye out for and more.

We are delighted to announce an upcoming event from Hedgerows Ireland and the Irish Environmental Network, All About Hedgerows, coming soon on October 15th. Learn how to plan, plant, maintain and rejuvinate hedgerows at this free event! Register your interest below.

I'd also like to draw your attention to a volunteer opportunity for young people, the Youth Climate Advocate Programme from ECO-UNESCO. The deadline is today, Friday 8th September, so if you know someone who may be interested make sure they register their interest asap! See link below.

Hope you have a great weekend and get to take advantage of the good weather.

All the best,

Catherine.

New Project Launched in Kerry

VOICE is collaborating with Transition Kerry, on a community project based around the issue such of reducing food waste and growing local food in Tralee. This project will develop and pilot a toolkit for community level organisations to engage with food waste from farm to fork through consultative and action-based approaches.

Find more information here: http://www.transitionkerry.org/ 

Science Workshop for Kids

IWDG Residential Weekend

Whale Watching/Identification Courses

22 - 24 Sept, Cork

Venue: CECAS, Centre of Excellence for Climate Action & Sustainability

Where: Myross Wood House, Leap, Co. Cork, P81 Y192

Dates: September 22-24th 2023

Bookings on Eventbrite here

Cuppa for Climate

at Dublin's Culture Night

22 Sept, Dublin

Friends of the Earth is coming to Culture Night and invites you to join a ‘Cuppa for Climate" a coffee morning (or evening) with a climate action twist. It's a way to bring people together, to talk about climate action in a friendly and informal way, and to cultivate a space of community and solidarity.

This event in Dublin is for people who want to start a climate conversation but don't know where to start, for people who want to learn more about climate issues and what they can do in their own communities and for people to share and feel supported in their climate anxiety.

A climate conversation guide will be provided for people who wish to take part. There will be copies of the guide on the night, should anyone wish to host their own Cuppa for Climate in their communities following the Culture Night Cuppa for Climate experience. Refreshments will be provided for participants.

Sign up to one of our sessions today! https://culturenightdublin.ie/event/friends-of-the-earth-ireland-cuppa-for-climate-with-friends-of-the-earth-we-act/

Weekend in the Hills

A weekend of craft learning and community building

23rd / 24th September at Slieve Aughty Centre, Loughrea, Galway

Learn a new skill ! (or improve on an existing one) : choose from Mixed Metal and Silver Jewellery; Longbow Making; Glass Bead Making;  Herblore; Bushcraft Survival for adults; Woodcarving;  Willow Weaving; Sheepskin Tanning; Súgán Chair Making;  Bowl turning on a Foot Powered Lathe; Leather Work .  

A range of accommodation is available (en suite rooms / cabins / camping) and delicious organic food.  

Book now! www.celtnet.org

Wildlife Crime and Conservation Conference

30 Sept - 1 Oct, Glenview Hotel, Wicklow

Two day conferene on all aspects of Wildife Crime.

Day one: Wildlife Crime - Justice for Nature

Day two: conervation - How to Nurture Nature

See full line up of speakers and ticket prices here.

All About Hedgerows

SAVE THE DATE!

October 15th

Join us for IEN's upcoming Autumn event that is all about hedgerows in collaboration with Hedgerows Ireland!

Learn from experts, meet others in the field, take action for nature and biodiversity!

You will learn how to plan, plant and maintain a hedgerow, discover what makes up a hedgerow on the Hedge Walk, see a practical demonstration of hedge laying and more!

Book your tickets here

BirdWatch Ireland expresses disappointment at outcome of Open Seasons Order review

The removal of four duck species – Scaup, Pochard, Goldeneye and Pintail – due to severe declines in their populations shows some progress by the Minister to address the vulnerable status of these species.

However, BirdWatch Ireland is disappointed that two additional species that we recommended for removal – Shoveler and Golden Plover – remain on the list though the science clearly shows declines in those populations also.

Read more here

Ban Disposable Vapes Campaign

Voice of Irish Concern for the Environment; In our quest to rid Ireland of single use we are on a mission to get disposable vapes banned. Luckily minister Ossian Smyth is on board and we were delighted to see the public consultation open on this matter. However, we are keeping the pressure on. If you would like to support this campaign, please sign and share our petition... https://my.uplift.ie/petitions/ban-disposable-vapes-ireland-1.

Together we can get disposable vapes banned.

Textile waste: New Campaign Coming soon

Did you know that only 7% of textile waste in Ireland is reused? VOICE has a new campaign which will look at this issue. Before we do,  It's Second-Hand September and we are celebrating by helping people to find their sustainable style. Follow our socials @voiceireland or take a look at our website. 

We’ll be highlighting best practices upon donation and will show you the different options you have to ethically dispose of your clothes:  https://www.voiceireland.org/news/find-your-sustainable-style-this-september-with-voice

PPN Spotlight

Cavan

Environmental groups in Carlow PPN include Cavan Communities 4 Climate Action, Birdwatch Ireland, Kilnaleck Community Gardens, West Cavan Bog association, Killeshandra Tidy Towns and more!

Add your group today!

Join Cavan PPN

Limerick

Meet environmental groups such as Feale Biodiversity, The Maigue River Trust, Limerick Pedestrian Network, Limerick Bat Group, and more!

Join one of these groups as an individual to get involved in your PPN, or add you group to the Network below.

Join Limerick PPN

Cork City

Cork City PPN includes groups such as Cork Cycling Campaign, Cork Nature Network, Douglas Tidy Towns, FoodCloud Cork, and more!

Add your group to the PPN and join them in being a voice for the environment in Cork City.

Join Cork City PPN

The Importance of Ponds for Wildlife 

An Taisce’s Legacy4LIFE Ponds for Biodiversity team are delighted to announce the publication of their first Ponds for Wildlife pamphlet/poster.

The pamphlet contains four A4 pages on the importance of ponds for wildlife and exploring the weird and wonderful plants and animals that call ponds their home.

But that’s not all! The pamphlet folds out into a marvelous A2 poster captivatingly illustrated by talented children’s book illustrator Brian Fitzgerald. It will be available to download and print freely from our webpage: www.antaisce.org/ponds.

We all have a stake in the future of Ireland’s peatlands

Peatland project looking for input to identify knowledge gaps in Irish peatland research

“Please share your knowledge and expertise to help us identify what is missing from research on the sustainable management of peatlands in Ireland and how we can better support the transition to sustainability for this iconic Irish landscape. We all have a stake in the future of Ireland’s peatlands.” - Dr. Florence Renou-Wilson

Sustainable peatland management provides multiple benefits for people and peatlands. Peat Hub Ireland is a 1-year project funded by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM), which aims to collate and summarise evidence for the sustainable management of Irish peatlands.

The Peat Hub Ireland project has created a survey and invites anyone with an interest in Ireland’s peatlands to complete it.

The survey aims to collect the insights and experiences of a wide range of people, including the public and private sectors, NGOs, and farming and community organisations across civil society.

Still Open for Input

Here are some of consultations featured in previous newsletters which are still open for consultation.

Government seeks views from local communities in Ireland’s South Coast to decide locations for future offshore wind developments

Closing date: Sept 26th @ 5.30pm

Read more and have your say here

Draft Regional Water Resources Plan - South East

Closing date: Oct 3rd

Find out more here

Youth Climate Advocate Programme 🌍🌞🌻 

The Youth Climate Advocate programme is a fantastic opportunity for 14-18 year olds, to become inspirational leaders and advocates in the areas of Climate Justice and Climate Action. Each participant will be provided with amazing opportunities to meet policymakers, practice new skills with practical actions and grow as a leader, in a safe and supportive environment. 

Interested? SIGN UP BY CLICKING HERE!  

• Closing date: 8th September 2023! Sign up now to avoid disappointment.

• Location: ECO-UNESCO Youth Space in Dublin 2 and online. 

• Cost: FREE

Meet others who share your passion 👪 

Learn climate advocacy skills 🤹🏼 

Take Climate Action 🌻 

There will be plenty of opportunities to unwind and celebrate 🕺💃 

Don’t miss your chance and sign-up now. SIGN UP BY CLICKING HERE! 

• You can find more information on the programme HERE  
• Watch the 'What is Climate Justice' in the words of young people video HERE. 
• Watch last year’s Earth Gala, the end of programme Celebration and Showcase event HERE. 

Please forward this to any young people or students who may be interested! 

Any questions? Contact Eimear YCJ.officer@ecounesco.ie co-coordinator Ian YCJ.coordinator@ecounesco.ie or co-coordinator Alex alex.konieczka@ecounesco.ie. 

Bat Conservation Ireland is looking for a suitable person with financial expertise to join the governing Council. This is a voluntary position and the appropriate person would be involved in reviewing annual budgets, quarterly accounts, project budgets (if required) and being part of the annual audit process, in an oversight capacity. Learn more here.

Biodiversity Fund - Coming Soon

This year’s Biodiversity Fund will be opening on Monday September 11^th and closing on Friday 13^th October.

As usual, there are two strands to this Fund:

1. Funding to work with an Ecologist to draw up a Community Biodiversity Action Plan (CBAP) for your targeted area.
2. Funding (up to €6,000) to implement recommendations contained in an existing CBAP.

To qualify for the second strand, you must have already sent your CBAP to us and the National Biodiversity Data Centre. Groups can only apply to one strand.

More information will be on the Community Foundation Ireland website from Monday 11^th.

Community Climate Action Programme - Coming Soon

The Government is due to approve funding for the Community Climate Action Programme in the near future. Once approved communities and not-for-profits can apply for funding to undertake climate actions to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions, build climate resilience and transition to a lower carbon society.

There are 3 categories of projects available for communities to apply for, small (€2-20,000), medium (€20-50,000) and large (€50-100,000). With 100% of funding available to enable communities to deliver their projects (T&C’s apply). As with all grants this is a competitive process, with only the best projects proposals given approval.

Communities are asked to develop action plans under the following themes:

• Buildings and Energy
• Sustainable Travel
• Food and food waste
• Resource efficiency and recycling
• Local climate action and environmental action

Communities that take an holistic approach are more likely to be successful, applicants should therefore consider how they can incorporate several of the above themes in their proposal.

We received this presentation from Dublin City's Community Climate Action Officer, Dean Eaton, which gives an overview of the scheme. He will be on hand to discuss potential projects and assist Dublin based community groups and not for profit organisations with their application.

We will share further information as we receive it, but you can also contact your Local Authority or your Community Climate Action Officer for further information that is specific to your county.

The Rediscovery Centre is currently hiring a Tour Guide & Visitor Engagement Officer.

More details on each position available here.