Horizons

A herigate and habitat roundup

One million biodiversities

The National Biodiversity Data Centre recently reached the significant target of one million records on its online mapping system. This includes data on flora and fauna in various parts of the country, much of which is available for public use.

The centre, at the Waterford Institute of Technology campus, has also just completed work required to feed such data into the Global Biodiveristy Information facility. Information leaflets on the mapping system, the National Invasive Species database and the National Vegetation database are available by e-mailing info@biodiversityireland.ie.

Smutty behaviour

Originally called Japweed, then Wireweed and now often referred to as smut, the Japanese seaweed ( Sargassum muticum) is an interesting example of how a species can spread throughout the world. It was first spotted outside Japan in the early 1940s in British Columbia; and it arrived in Britain in the 1970s and in Ireland in the 1990s. It is well established in Galway and Clare – particularly at Dog's Bay in Roundstone, Co Galway and at Carraigadda, Co Clare. Researcher Michael Guiry at NUI Galway has drawn attention to the fact that members of the EU can't take unilateral action to guard against such invasive species. See seaweed.ie/sargassum

sthompson@irishtimes.com

Heritage Council grants

Heritage and community groups, local authorities, academics and artists have almost two weeks to apply for the next round of Heritage Council grants. Michael Starrett, chief executive of the Heritage Council, says the office is particularly keen to hear about local and national projects that will engage new audiences and communities. Three new themes – heritage research, heritage management and heritage education – have been added this year. All applications must be submitted, online or on paper (fax or e-mail versions are unacceptable) to the Heritage Council offices in Kilkenny city by 5pm on Friday, November 20th. See www.heritagecouncil.ie for more details.

Ecoweb

www.1010.ie

Looking for a way to do something about climate change but don’t know where to start? Try this site. Launched recently by the Minister for the Environment, John Gormley, it encourages champions of workplaces, schools, hospitals, art galleries, football clubs, etc to take action to reduce their carbon footprint by 10 per cent by 2010.