Press Release: Celebrate World Wetlands Day with the Shannon Community Wetlands Project in Shannon Town

Sunday, 2^nd February 2020

World Wetlands Day occurs this coming Sunday, 2^nd February 2020. This year’s theme is ‘Wetland Biodiversity: Why it matters’. With this in mind the Shannon Community Wetlands Project will be hosting a very special event on Sunday, 2^nd February at 1pm in Shannon. The free family event will unpack why wetlands are important for all of us and for the biodiversity around us.

Wetland are of critical importance for improving water quality and for water management within a catchment, or subcatchment. They play a key role in flood mitigation and act as major carbon sinks. Most significantly, in an Irish context, wetlands are an increasingly rare habitat type and are vitally important for our native flora and fauna. In a global context, wetlands remove pollutants. Peatlands store 30% of land-based carbon. Wetlands help create the conditions for life. Wetlands absorb and store water, indeed 40% of all species live or breed in wetlands. Globally, over 1 billion people make a living from wetlands. Wetlands attract people for recreation. Wetlands provide an ideal environment for learning about biodiversity.

The Shannon Community Wetlands Project in Shannon Town is making the connection between wetlands as an importance refuge not just for wildlife for our own health and well-being. The wetland site, together with the new town park, offers the opportunity for a positive engagement with nature for local communities, with recreational trails and nature-based activities.

Join us at our newly created Community Wetlands in Shannon Town to learn about the importance of wetlands and help us plant some trees on site and remove non-native invasive plant species. The free family event, will take on Sunday, 2^nd February 2020 at 1.00 p.m. The meeting point is the Shannon Town Community Wetlands site, which is adjacent to the Town Park, between Gaelscoil Donncha Rua and Tír na nÓg playground. No booking required but please bring along your wellington boots and suitable clothing for the weather. The event will be led by Ruairí Ó Conchúir of the Local Authority and Waters Programme (LAWPRO) and will focus on wetland biodiversity, native tree planting and removing invasive plant species on site.

Issued By:

Olive Carey, Chairperson, Shannon Community Wetlands Project

olivecarey77@gmail.com

085 710 7581