Celebrate the Green Wave!
How would you like to help the Plant for the Planet: Billion Tree Campaign?
Students all around the world are invited to get their schools involved in the Green Wave, “one school, one tree, one step at a time”.
It couldn’t be easier to get involved - simply plant a tree on 21st or 22nd of May 2010! You can even send in your photos and stories to the Green Wave organisers and they will upload them to their website at 20.10 on 22nd May 2010!
Trees provide shelter and food for animals, and they also help to clean recycle carbon dioxide from the air.
See how your school can get involved at http://greenwave.cbd.int/en/getting-started
International Year of Biodiversity
Follow the events of International Year of Biodiversity and add your own ideas on facebook http://www.facebook.com/iyb2010. You could also read the Convention on Biological Diversity newsletter for youth Gincanino.
Native Species Weekend
ENFO at the zoo for Native Species Weekend
Dublin Zoo hosted a Native Species Weekend on 29th and 30th May in celebration of all the native Irish flora and fauna. The ENFO team was there to join in the celebrations, and there were lots of other stands, exhibitions, advice on caring for plants and animals, face-painting, storytelling, and plenty to keep the Beavers, Scouts, and all the adults and children entertained! The zoo also celebrated first birthday of the twin Sumatran Tigers, Emas and Wanita.
ENFO ran a Native Species Competition at the zoo, and you can view the results at the following link.
Pride of Place for Schools in Co. Meath
If you go to school in Co. Meath, your school could enter the Pride of Place Schools Competition. The aim of this competition is to bring nature, wildlife and colour into your school grounds. The competition runs between February and the end of May 2010, and the winners will be announced at an award ceremony on June 10th.
There are five different categories:
1. Best Productive Garden
2. Best Biodiversity/Wildlife Garden
3. Best Use of Art in School Garden
4. Best Traditional Garden
5. Special Recognition Award
Of course, if your school isn't in Co. Meath, you could always create your own garden at school anyway. It's lots of fun and would really help to protect and encourage biodiversity at your school!
Connemara National Park named BioBlitz 2010 Champion
This year Biodiversity Ireland marked Biodiversity Day by organising a 24 hour BioBlitz.
BioBlitz is a scientific race to find as many species as possible within 24 hours. Scientists, students and the general public all took part in this exciting event to learn more about the variety of life that shares Ireland’s environment. This scientific race began at 5pm on Friday 21st May and finish at 5pm on Biodiversity Day, 22nd May.
BioBlitz took place at five locations around Ireland, all in direct competition to find the most species!
Glenveagh National Park, Co. Donegal
Connemara National Park, Co. Galway
Coole Park, Co. Galway
Wicklow Mountains National Park, Co. Wicklow
Newbridge Demesne, Fingal County Council
There was frantic recording activity in all locations as 5pm on Saturday approached. In the end, Connemara National Park recorded a total of 542 species to claim the title of BioBlitz 2010 Champion, just pipping the 534 species recorded at Coole Park.
The final tally from each of the parks is posted on the Biodiversity Ireland website, together of plenty of photos of this fun-filled event.
Play Biodiversity Bingo!
Celebrate International Year of Biodiversity with the National Biodiversity Data Centre and take part in their exciting new competition – Biodiversity Bingo! It’s a great way to learn about new species and build up your very own biodiversity records.
Biodiversity Bingo will be run each fortnight from 6th April to 13th September 2010. The Biodiversity Data Centre will choose six species from various taxonomic groups for each of the fortnightly Biodiversity Bingo games. The aim is to find as many of the six specified species as possible between the start and end date.
People who submit valid records will be entered into a draw for that Biodiversity Bingo game and the lucky winner will receive a Biodiversity Bingo 2010 key-ring as well as a €20 Amazon.co.uk voucher.
Full details of how to play Biodiversity Bingo and the competition rules are available on the National Biodiversity Data Centre website.
Wild Child Day – 21st August
In celebration of 2010 UN International Year of Biodiversity, the Heritage Council will host Wild Child Day on Saturday August 21st to mark the beginning of National Heritage Week. The idea behind Wild Child Day is get families and kids outside connecting with nature and investigating the biodiversity all around us. There are lots of activities to choose from all around Ireland on the day, from a butterfly walk in Santry to a Bio Blitz with Dale Treadwell in Westmeath. To find an event close to you, please see the full programme on the National Heritage Week website.