Press Release From Wexford County Council: Thursday September 17th, 2015
Today sees the launch of the All-Ireland Pollinator Plan, which identifies actions to help protect pollinators and the livelihoods of farmers who rely on their invaluable pollination service. Sixty-eight governmental and non-governmental organisations have agreed a shared plan of action to tackle pollinator decline and make Ireland a place where pollinators can survive and thrive.
The All-Ireland Pollinator Plan 2015-2020, published today, makes Ireland one of the first countries in Europe with a strategy to address pollinator decline and protect pollination services. The initiative has generated huge support and has culminated in agreement to deliver 81 actions to make Ireland more pollinator friendly.
Under the Wexford County Biodiversity Action Plan 2013-2018 Wexford County Council has already put into action projects such as the ‘Life Lives on the Edge’ biodiversity initiative along national roads in the county. This project has received special mention in the All-Ireland Pollinator Plan 2015-2020 . Wexford County Council has agreed to support the Plan with future cost-effective actions planned to help make County Wexford pollinator friendly which in hand will support the livelihoods of farmers who rely on their invaluable pollination service.
Crops such as apples, strawberries and oilseed rape all benefit from pollination from insects like bees which can improve the quality and quantity of fruit and seeds. Ireland may not be a big producer of fruit, but here locally in County Wexford, some pollinated crops such as strawberries, tomatoes and smaller quantities of apples and berry crops such as blackcurrant are nevertheless important.
In coming together to support this Plan and protect pollinators we protect the livelihood of farmers and growers who rely on their free pollinator service, and we protect the general health of our environment. If successful, this Plan will ensure that Ireland is a much better place for pollinators by 2020.
A Pollinator Plan media pack including photographs and brief notes on the Plan has been prepared by the National Biodiversity Data Centre and is available here:
http://www.biodiversityireland.ie/pollinator-plan