Tonight (02.10.2019) I attended a public consultation for the Post 2020 Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) Negotiations. The two hours that I spent there reinforced a few things, and taught me some valuable new points to consider, which are particularly relevant while we all collectively move forward towards a more environmentally focussed, climate conscious nation.
A high percentage of tree cover across a landscape should surely be a positive thing, however when non-native species dominate an area the negative impacts to soil, water quality and biodiversity can be extensive.
Following last weeks intro to the two-part article, we will now elaborate on the extent and nature of diverse native woodland forestry. It is apparent that essential action is required to ensure the sustainable management of nature within woodland landscapes. Since any form of naturalness or wildness has ceased to exist in this World, human interference is required to invest in creating diverse woodland areas for the function of Eco-system services including climate regulation, pollination, species diversity, water and soil regeneration.
Primarily forests don’t act as lungs feeding the bulk of our atmosphere’s oxygen. Rather they host rich habitats for most of the biodiversity on our planet and in terms of climate change mitigation they pull carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and aid the cooling of the Earth. In light of trending reports on unsustainable forestry and threats to global tree cover we will publish a two-part article discussing the extent and nature of both monoculture forestry and diverse native woodland forestry. Benefits and impacts to both biodiversity and the environment from the two types of forestry will be analysed.
This blog post has been a long time coming… Two years to be truthful. Although my dad is a keen gardener I've only caught onto its lure in the last few years. It started with an overflowing garden balcony and then it evolved into hilltop allotment. Throw a few house moves and country changes into the mix and finally I'm settled into a wee garden space where I can grow my own produce and plants on my doorstep. Everything I've learnt about gardening came from my Dad, so I'd like to thank him for that.
As an environmental activist, I am a firm supporter of an incremental carbon tax in Ireland. In fact I’m all for higher taxes when it comes to products and fuels and that are damaging our environment and substances that cause havoc with the health of our society. However, is the Irish nation ready for another tax hit and have the Irish Government failed to lead us into a society which rewards sustainable lifestyle choices?
After four years of fashion design study and 10 years working in the garment industry my relationship with textiles has gone thorough swings and roundabouts. I was never a serial shopper (I did enough of that in my day jobs), but I was a mass producer; feeding a market with seasonal ranges of clothing; many … Continue reading Good, Fast and Cheap – Textiles, Consumerism and the Environment
This week saw the publication of a special report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (ICPP) entitled “Global Warming of 1.5°C”, the most significant warning about the impact of climate change in 20 years. The report highlights a number of climate change impacts that could be avoided by limiting global warming to 1.5°C compared … Continue reading How does Ireland Stack up in the Fight against Global Climate Change?
Denim jeans are made mostly of the seemingly pure and all natural plant based fibre that is cotton. This thirsty plant depends on fertile land, intensive irrigation, pesticide spraying and a sunny climate in order for crops to thrive.
seastainability.com 