Biodiversity Officer’s Programme

What is a Biodiversity Officer and what do they do?

Local authority biodiversity officers are full-time members of council staff, who have been appointed in each county and city council as a result of a major Heritage Council programme starting in 2023. 

They assist their local authorities with their statutory requirements in terms of the protection and enhancement of nature and help to mainstream positive actions for biodiversity through the remit and everyday work of the councils. 

The Biodiversity Officer promotes best practice and gives guidance to all relevant sections within the council and helps promote the enhancement and enjoyment of nature through collaboration with communities, events and projects.

Informed by the Heritage Council Biodiversity Officer Programme

Meath’s Biodiversity Officer

On February 2nd 2023, it was announced that the Approval for a further 11 Biodiversity Officers to Local Authorities had been awarded funding by the Heritage Council and the County and City Management Association (CCMA). This brought a total of 25 Biodiversity Officers across all Local Authorities in Ireland. 

The announcement followed a commitment in the Programme for Government to tackle the climate and biodiversity crisis, following the Dáil’s declaration of a Biodiversity Emergency in 2019, and the Citizens Assembly on Biodiversity Loss in 2022.

In addition to developing a Biodiversity Plan for their area, the new biodiversity officers will advise the local authority on biodiversity related issues and the authority’s obligations in relation to protecting biodiversity. They will help local authorities to fully integrate biodiversity conservation into all of their policies, plans and actions, through training and provision of expert advice. Meath County Council was in the 3rd round of approvals from the original approval in 2022.