Offaly's habitats and species have 'shrunk considerably'

NATURE in Offaly is going backwards and deteriorating, a meeting was told recently, with the habitats and species in the county reduced by a significant margin compared to not so long ago.

The Offaly Biodiversity Officer Ricky Whelan told the January meeting of Offaly County Council that while we have a great diversity of habitats and species in the county, their “extent and number has shrunk considerably from that of the past.”

Ricky pointed out that our biodiversity globally and nationally is under threat from a range of issues. He showed the Councillors a Table which outlined the main threats facing various habitats and their associated species in Offaly. “There are many threats to our biodiversity in Offaly,” he remarked.

Pollution is one of the big threats. He said nutrient pollution of waterbodies, pesticide pollution of soils and waterbodies and light pollution are among the worrying forms of pollution in Offaly.

“Nitrogen and phosphorus are common pollutants in our rivers,” he remarked, “originating from chemical fertilisers and manure that are applied to fields to increase crop growth. Any unabsorbed nitrogen and phosphorus leaches into nearby rivers and groundwater, leading to eutrophication of aquatic ecosystems. Sewage overflows contribute to the nutrient loading on our rivers. The common use of pesticides and herbicides in farming has raised concerns about their potential adverse effects on pollinators and farmland birds.”

He said artificial light can have adverse effects on the behaviour of bats, moths and barn owls. Alien invasive speices such as Japanese Knotweed and Himalayan Balsam are another potential threat. “These alien invasive species,” said Ricky, “have been monitored and managed for years but require ongoing management to eradicate fully.”

He made his points when outlining the Offaly Biodiversity Action Plan 2025 to 2030.