Job vacancy Ecololgist in ireland

Biodiversity day at Lough Doire Bhaile
Originally uploaded by Mike Maunsell

Bord na Móna is Ireland's leading environmentally responsible integrated utility service provider encompassing electricity, heating, resource recovery, water, growing media, environmental solutions and related services. In defining our 'New Contract with Nature', Bord na Móna is committed to continued growth through superior customer service, outstanding quality and innovation delivered through the excellence and commitment of our people.
This role supports Bord na Mona Group. Bord na Mona Group is made up of a number of functions which support each of the operational divisions within Bord na Mona. The role of Group/Land Development, is to enable to the delivery of Bord na Mona strategy through value adding interventions and support to the business.

The Role: This new role is to establish a baseline of biodiversity across the Bord na Mona bogs. The study will contribute towards the development of a biodiversity policy and nature conservation. It will also form the baseline study to develop an integrated land use plan for the future development of cut away bogs.

Key duties include:
• Conducting research and analysis including collation of existing information and field work to compile the relevant information and understanding of cut away bogs and related habitats. Identification of cut away bogs and development of rehabilitation plans as appropriate.
• Identification of potentially important biodiversity areas from existing land use maps. Development of a map to indicate potential areas of biodiversity and their relationships with adjacent biodiversity and nature conservation sites.
• Build a strong knowledge base by developing a central database and reporting structure including the identification of information gaps and the areas requiring potential further study/research, generating new ideas and innovative ways of working
• Using strong project management capability, develop reports and actions describing the nature, extent and condition of existing biodiversity areas and recommendations for future management.
• Engage with internal and external stakeholders to compile data, consult with relevant government departments and statutory agencies and source funding as required from EU programmes on behalf of Bord na Mona as appropriate.

The Person:
The ideal candidate will possess the following skills and experience:
• MSc in (Biology)
• Minimum 2 years experience in a similar position
• Experience of ecological field survey (flora and fauna) particularly in reference to bogs.
• Ideally some knowledge of cutaway bogs and the interaction of ecological processes and hydrological regime is required.
• Ability to project manage workload, working to tight timeframes and proactively handle and follow through on challenges as they arise.
• Strong report writing skills and the ability to communicate key messages
• A working knowledge of GIS and mapping of habitats is preferred.

The selection process for this role will include candidate screening from application.
If you wish to be considered for this position please forward your Curriculum Vitae to The Manager, HR Administration Shared Services Centre, Bord na Móna, Leabeg, Tullamore, Co. Offaly or e-mail hrsscadmin@bnm.ie on or before 29thth May 2009.

Biodiversity Day I in Tipperary Ireland

Originally uploaded by Mike Maunsell

‘Take a Walk on the Wild Side’
Wildlife event to celebrate Biodiversity Day
Friday 22nd May 2009

Where: Lough Doire Bhile, Glengoole, Slieveardagh

2pm-3:30pm Plant Identification workshop for those with a specialist interest given by Mieke Muyllaert, local ecologist and Mike Maunsell, Centre for Biodiversity, Tipperary Institute. Learn how to identify the rich variety of plants in the area. Participants should come away from this workshop with the skills to help pass on knowledge about the plants of Lough Doire Bhile and how they relate to the local habitats and wildlife, especially butterflies. Numbers are limited. Please phone to book in advance.

3:30-4pm: Tea on the bog! Bring your own flask of tea. Biscuits will be provided.

4pm-5:30pm: Guided walks of the bog site highlighting the wildlife, the birds and the habitats of the site. Local guides will be on hand to give a tour of the site.

6pm – 8pm Family wildlife event: Explore the wild, wet and wonderful boglands of Ireland. Nuala Madigan from the Irish Peatland Conservation Council will lead an interactive walk and talk on Lough Doire Bhile bog. The evening will include the formation of a peatland through the hands on making of a 'Bog in a Bottle', traditional nature crafts made on the bog at the end of harvest each year, a look at some of Irelands invasive species on boglands and the identification of bogland plants and freshwater invertebrates caught during a pond dipping session on the evening.

All welcome to attend one or all of the events. All events are free of charge. Contact Slieveardagh Rural Development on 052 56165 for further information or to book a place.

Sunday 24th May 2009
Launch of Grange Looped Walks with Ella McSweeney of RTE’s ‘Shanks Mare’ and ‘Ear to the Ground’. A celebratory event with a presentation on biodiversity for the opening of the Grange Looped Walks in Grange village, Barna, Slieveardagh. Refreshments served. Contact Slieveardagh Rural Development on 052 56165 for further information.

THE 450 bicycle rental scheme for Dublin city

Clonmel Bike
Originally uploaded by Mike Maunsell

Today Irish Times reports that 450 bicycles will soon be available in Dublin City for commuters and tourists.
According to Olivia Kelly, 450 bicycles which are to be provided under long-awaited bicycle rental scheme for Dublin city will be available at 40 locations around the city from July 2009.
The installation of the 40 bicycle “stations”, where users will be able to pick up or drop off bicycles, began this week and is due to be completed by the end of June, paving the way for the scheme to begin in early July.
The bicycles are being provided through a deal between Dublin City Council and advertising multinational JC Decaux. Under the deal JC Decaux will provide and maintain the bicycles in exchange for a 15-year permission to use outdoor advertising space in Dublin estimated to be worth €1 million annually. Read more in todays Irish times.