Biodiversity and associated ecosystem services are fundamental to humanity but are threatened by human activity in a range of sectors. This project will quantify impacts of key sectoral activities in Ireland (in particular: cultivation of bioenergy crops, road landscaping and aquaculture) on genetic, species and landscape biodiversity and the ecosystem services they provide, including pollination, biological pest control, carbon sequestration and resistance to alien species invasion. In addition, we will test methods for mitigating impacts, carry out indepth strategic reviews in order to inform national policy decisions, and make recommendations for future strategic research and management.

The project’s overall objectives are to:

The project comprises 4 individual workpackages (WPs). Each WP has its own specific objectives that combine to address the overall objectives listed above. The cross-cutting themes are biodiversity, ecosystem functioning and services, and species invasions.

Read more ...