- Our water, our future: empowering communities to improve and protect
- The 2024 Communities Caring for Water Conference is being hosted by the Local Authority Waters Programme (LAWPRO) and The Rivers Trust
Thursday, 31st of October 2024: Malcolm Noonan TD, the Minister for Nature, Heritage and Electoral Reform today gave his support to the “Communities Caring for Water Conference: Our water, our future: empowering communities to improve and protect.”
The event, hosted by LAWPRO and The Rivers Trust will take place on Saturday the 9th of November in the Radisson Blu Hotel in Athlone, Co. Westmeath from 10am to 4pm. There will be a series of talks by community groups, experts and water quality advocates over the course of the day covering the following themes:
- Climate Change and working with Nature
- Hydromorphology Pressures and Solutions
- Capacity Building in Community Groups
- The Importance of Public Participation
Speaking in advance of the event, Minister Noonan said: “Our recently launched Water Action Plan acknowledges the crucial role of community in efforts to improve water quality. By engaging and empowering them to get involved we will all be able to work together to protect our vital water resources. This conference will not only bring together remarkable groups who are working to make a difference but it will provide a place for important discussions on water, climate, biodiversity policy and action.”
Anthony Coleman, Director of Services at LAWPRO said: ‘We are delighted to be able to host the Communities Caring for Water Conference this year. The themes of the conference are climate change, hydromorphology, capacity building and public participation. Over the day there will be talks from various community groups, experts and water quality advocates. Communities will play an essential role in the delivery of the Water Action Plan, and we wish to extend an invite to any member of a community group interested in attending.”
Members of community groups who wish to attend the conference can register through the following link: https://consult.watersandcommunities.ie/en/content/register-communities-caring-water-conference-9th-november-2024
The Rivers Trust Ireland Development Manager, Dr Constanze O’Toole, said: “We welcome the opportunity to co-host this event with LAWPRO again this year. Collaboration is key to protecting our rivers and freshwater environments, and it’s vital that we embrace shared responsibility for their care. By working together, we can make real progress in safeguarding our natural water resources for future generations.
“At The Rivers Trust, we deeply value local rivers and the communities that care for them. Through meaningful engagement and learning opportunities, we can empower individuals to take ownership of their local waterways and become champions of long-term improvement and conservation efforts. The Communities Caring for Water Conference is a welcome opportunity to foster a deeper connection between people and their rivers while equipping them with the knowledge and practical tools necessary to create lasting positive change.”
ENDS
Agenda
Opening and Welcome
Chair: Luke Drea, LAWPRO
10:00 – 10:10 Ministerial Opening, Malcom Noonan, T.D. Minister of State for Nature, Heritage, and Electoral Reform
10.10 – 10.20 Welcome, Mags Keegan, LAWPRO & Constanza O’Toole, The Rivers Trust
Session 1: Climate Change and working with Nature
Chair: Constanza O’Toole – The Rivers Trust
10.20 – 10.30 Joining the dots, engaging the farming community, Climate Action Louisburgh Locality (CALL) – Dr Elizabeth Salter
10.30 – 10.40 Community Development: Community Projects and Collaboration, Ballinahown Community Group – Helen Conneely
10.40 – 10.55 The Dromone River Catchment Mapping Project, Friends of Dromone and Stanooden GWS – Ross McDonald
10.55 – 11.00 A case study of community-led partnership for climate adaptation using nature-based solutions in Maharees, County Kerry, Maheeres Coast Conservation Group – Huw Roberts
11.00 – 11.05 Micro-actions for a small Bog – Drummin Bog Restoration – Jules Michael
11.05 – 11.20 Panel Discussion
11.20 – 11.40 Coffee and Networking
Everyone given colour sticker and encouraged to chat with others with same colour sticker
Session 2: Hydro morphology Pressures and Solutions
Chair: Fran Igoe – LAWPRO
11.40– 11.55 ‘National Barriers Mitigation Programme – An introduction”, Inland Fisheries Ireland –– Hazel King
11.55 – 12.05 ‘Removing a barrier to fish migration through the installation of a rock ramp at the Ballinglen Bridge, Aughrim, Co. Wicklow, East Wicklow Rivers Trust – Faith Wilson
12.05 – 12.15 Breaking Barriers, Oriel River Catchment and Coastal Association (ORCCA) – Liam Woods,
12.15 – 12.30 Blue Dots: Our best quality water, LAWPRO, Paul O’Callaghan
12.30 – 12.40 Natural Flood Management in Inishowen: Three Years On, Inishowen Rivers Trust – Carlene Lyttle (Constanza)
12.40 – 13.00 Panel Discussion
13.00 – 14.00 Lunch
Session 3: Capacity Building in Community Groups
Chair: Barry Deane – LAWPRO
14:00 -14:10 LAWPRO Funding Programmes – Sheevaun Thompson
14.10 – 14.15 The role of experiential and peer learning in capacity building, Cabragh Wetlands – Ciaran Lynch
14:15 – 14:20 Success and Challenges of capacity building for voluntary community groups, Boyne Rivers Trust – Muireann Kirrane
14:20 – 14:25 Scaling collective actions for Ocean Literacy across Ireland, Irish Ocean Literacy Network – Maria Vittoria Marra
14.25– 14.35 Panel Discussion
14.35 – 14.40 Short break
Session 4: the Importance of Public Participation
Chair: Gretta McCarron – An Fóram Uisce
14.40 – 14.55 Community Catchment Forum – Jimmy McVeigh and Philip Isard
14.55 – 15.05 Concept of the ICATCH Hub Network – The Rivers Trust – Carol Quish
15.05 – 15.10 Community Water Stewardship in the Nore Catchment, Nore River Catchment Trust – Maura Brennan
15.10 – 15.15 Himalayan Balsam: A Community Campaign to Control Himalayan Balsam 2024, Ballymore Eustace Environmental Group – Maria O’Neill
15.15 – 15.20 Our Lakes, Our Legacy, Corrib Catchment Partnership – Jennifer Cunningham
15.20 – 15.45 Panel Discussion
15.45 – 16.00 Wrap Up – Anthony Coleman LAWPRO
End.
For media information:
Sadhbh O’Neill
Communications & Engagement Lead
Local Authority Waters Programme (LAWPRO)
T: 085 850 0409
About Local Authority Waters Programme (LAWPRO) https://lawaters.ie/
Local Authority Waters Programme (LAWPRO) works on behalf of Ireland’s 31 local authorities to protect and restore good water quality in our rivers, lakes, estuaries, ground and coastal water through catchment science and local community engagement. LAWPRO was established to fulfil requirements under the European Union Water Framework Directive and is funded by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. LAWPRO coordinates the efforts of local authorities and other public bodies in the implementation of the River Basin Management Plan.