This Series Of Reflections Is A Wide Overview Of Nature Conservation Policy: Biodiversity And Conservation Assignment, NUI, Ireland

This series of reflections is a wide overview of nature conservation policy and practice, and indeed some of the philosophical issues that unpin what happens or not, and why. You’ll be directed to links in Ireland and UK primarily, but it is fine for you to bring in other examples from elsewhere.

This folder contains guided reading and listening/watching material. Work your way through the activities.

Farming for Nature – 1^st activities outlines in the blurb below

This module looks at the translation of research, into policy and practice. Farming as one of the main types of land management practices in Ireland is still the dominant driver of biodiversity success (or failure). We seek to learn from past mistakes and use that to inform future practice.

There are discussions around the world about ecosystems, declines in biodiversity, and importantly the role played by farmers and food producers in either safeguarding or threatening biodiversity. Often farming practice is seen as having to choose between either production or managing for ecosystems and nature. The farming for nature initiative came out of the need to showcase how farmers could practice farming, and also take care of nature.

Watch the films to find out some of the examples currently in Ireland. Select at least 2 from this year and 2 from last year. Ensure you include a mix of farming systems and farming practices and farming families. How do you think they are conserving nature? Do they mention species or habitats or conservation legislation? How does each example you select to contribute to halting the loss of Ireland’s biodiversity? Please do this first. There will be some more podcasts and audio pieces to watch and listen to, in conjunction with some academic papers as we work our way through the challenges of biodiversity conservation and the attitudes to how we achieve this.

NBDC’s take on top 10 conservation successes in Ireland

As the second activity, please take a look at the 10 case studies of conservation success featured by NBDC. Here we move a little away from farming (but we will be back to it!!). Read through each one and select at least one to comment on the following. To what extent does conservation legislation aid the success story featured here? What else in your view, is critical? What does this show about the success of legislation on the ground? What uplifts you about these stories?