A commitment to biodiversity

It is important that the entire development plan, and all action within be subject to a full apporpriate assement and Natura Impact Statement. The city should ensure adequate ecologists and biodiversity experts are employed to implement conservation on a systemic level.

We also ask that the city publishes a dedicated biodiversity management plan, including commitments to consevation ofexisting habitates, including protection of urban woodland habitats.

That the city subscribes to the all Ireland pollinator plan in all ares that it manages including public realm, streets, roads, and council properties, including and not limited to the eliminatio of the use of herbicides except in the management of invasive species.

 That the city recognises that hedgerows, scrub and woodland habitats once removed cannot be replaced by simply planting trees,and that these are if high nature false in themselves having established through ecological succession over time.

That the acquired farm at the Lee Fields/straight road become designated as a nature conservation and natural floodplain area. Natural flood defense such as management of floodplains and river, and conversion of argricultural land into permanent vegetation, instead of hard engineering approaches which can be damaging to biodiversity, as seen in the degradation of river ecological health in Bandon.

That the flood relief scheme, despite exemption from EIA through the arterial drainage act be subject to a full ecological impact assessment.

That wetland and riparian habitats be given priority and retained everywhere possible, because of their extremely high value as habitats for biodiversity and ecosystem services.