A partnership project with Library Services nationwide to make available Ecological Recording Equipment to the public.
A partnership project with Library Services nationwide to make available Ecological Recording Equipment to the public.
This partnership project was trialled with Library Services nationwide to make available Ecological Recording Equipment to the public. The pilot phase is now complete and is currently under review.
The Heritage Council witnessed an increase in the number of communities seeking to become more action-focused when faced with the crises of biodiversity loss and climate change – and we were keen to support and nurture this energy.
The Heritage Council partnered with several County Library Services to support community groups such as Tidy-Town Groups, River Trusts and/or Field Clubs to get more involved and to help them learn more about the biodiversity in their area. Libraries are an ideal science hub for communities and are an essential part of growing our scientific data collection and understanding.
This resulted in creating Environmental Science Kits for Ecological Recording (ESKER) boxes, which contain a range of equipment from insect collection nets to magnifying glasses to swatches for helping with proper species’ identification. Boxes were trialled beginning in 2023, and remain present for use, in County Libraries in Carlow, Clare, Cork, Donegal, Galway, Kerry, Kildare, Kilkenny, Laois, Leitrim, Louth, Meath, Monaghan, Offaly, Tipperary, Sligo, Wexford and Wicklow.
Users of the kits can channel information on biodiversity obtained to the National Biodiversity Data Centre (NBDC), where it can be added to records gathered over many years and will provide a strong basis for future decision-making.
Anyone wishing to borrow a Library Environmental Science Kit for Ecological Recording (ESKER) box should be an existing adult member of the library service and should ensure that all equipment is cared for as best as possible.
The trial phase of this project is currently under review by The Heritage Council and next steps will be decided in 2025. For further information on the loaning of ESKER boxes in participating counties, please contact your local Library Service or your local authority Biodiversity Officer in participating counties.
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