Celebrating the 20th Anniversary of the EC LIFE Programme in 2012

The LIFE programme celebrates its 20th anniversary on the 21st May 2012. To mark this important milestone, MulkearLIFE will be hosting a series of events throughout the year, which will coincide with similar events taking place right across Europe. The events are designed to raise awareness of the EU LIFE programme and the importance of the work being undertaken by LIFE projects throughout Europe. The 20th Anniversary of the EC LIFE Programme on 21st May is also the same date as the 20th anniversary of the Habitats Directive and of the Natura 2000 network. Full details of the celebrations are available here: EC LIFE at 20 website

May 2012 marks the 20th anniversary of EC LIFE programme (Image: Ruairí Ó Conchuir)

In Ireland, MulkearLIFE has been working to implement its plans to ‘Restore the Lower Shannon Special Area of Conservation for Sea Lamprey, Atlantic Salmon and Otter’. Together with coordinating partner, Inland Fisheries Ireland, and project partners, Limerick County Council, the Office of Public Works and the National Parks and Wildlife Service, MulkearLIFE has made very considerable progress over the past two years.

Events planned by MulkearLIFE include:

From Jan 16 2012 to 1 May 2012: Amateur Photo Competition 2012
The Amateur Photo Competition is open to all and there are some fantastic prizes on offer for both young and old. The theme of the photo competition is ‘Exploring the Biodiversity of the Lower Shannon’. But what is Biodiversity? In simply terms, it means the variety of life on earth. Thus in terms of images that capture the theme of ‘exploring biodiversity’ there is no end to what type of image can be submitted. It could be an image of water, trees, plants, fish, invertebrates, fungi, mammals, birds, lichen, domestic animals, basically any living organism. Therefore, images may cover any aspect of biodiversity including people enjoying biodiversity. The images can be macro or landscape, black and white or colour.

Images can cover any element of biodiversity (Image: Ruairí Ó Conchuir)

The competition opens on the 16th January 2012 and closes on the 1st May 2012. It is open to Amateur Photographers Only. Entry is free and anyone can submit up to three images but they must be related to the theme ‘Exploring the Biodiversity of the Lower Shannon’. Full details of How To Enter, all Prizes on offer and the terms and conditions are now available on this website.

21 May 2012: A Mural of LIFE
As part of the celebration of 20 Years of the EC LIFE Programme, the official launch of MulkearLIFE’s mural at Annacotty on the Mulkear River and the unveiling of related habitat work on site will take place. This event will take place in Annacotty village at 12 midday. Full details will be available on this website nearer to the date.

A Mural of LIFE – Official Launch will take place in May 2012 (Image: Ruairí Ó Conchuir)

26 May 2012: LIFE On A River ‘The Magical Mulkear: A Field Trip Of Discovery’
MulkearLIFE will host a field trip entitled ‘The Magical Mulkear: A Field Trip Of Discovery’. This event, for which pre-booking is required, promises to be a very enjoyable day out and will involve a bus excursion to visit a range of exciting sites throughout the catchment. The field trip will focus on the rich biodiversity of the Mulkear catchment and walking to access sites is involved. The work of MulkearLIFE / Inland Fisheries Ireland and its main project partners, the OPW and Limerick County Council, to restore habitats in the Mulkear catchment will be reviewed. This event will leave from Annacotty village, Mill Bar Cark Park at 09.30hrs on Saturday 26th May 2012. Full details will be available on this website nearer to the date.

‘The Magical Mulkear: A Field Trip Of Discovery’ (Image: Ruairí Ó Conchuir)

Other events will be announced during the course of the year, so therefore please keep in touch with MulkearLIFE.