Biodiversity

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Litter and Waste
The theme is a great starting point for encouraging a sense of personal pride and responsibility in tackling two visible issues in schools and communities.

Biodiversity
Biodiversity looks at steps which can be taken in schools to increase awareness of the importance of native plants, animals and habitats, and to increase species-richness in a locality.

Travel
The ultimate aim of the theme is to increase the number of students walking, cycling, scooting, using public transport or carpooling on the way to school.

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Safe Routes to School
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Let's Fix Fashion
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Biodiversity

Biodiversity looks at steps which can be taken in schools to increase awareness of the importance of native plants, animals and habitats, and to increase species-richness in a locality.

Sustainable Development Goals

During 2024/25 students planted 3,794 trees, created 40 ponds and added 129 wildflower areas!

Find out more about this theme, upcoming events and competitions, and theme resource clicking on the button below.

Find Out More about Biodiversity 2025-26

What is Biodiversity?

The meaning of ‘Biodiversity’ is easier to understand when we break the word down; “bio” refers to life and ‘living things’ and “Diversity” means just that: range or variety. The word refers to the huge variety and variation of life that is all around us. The more diversity of living things we have, the better! The environment is stronger, healthier and more resilient when there are lots of different types of plants and animals living in it.

Facts & Figures

We rely on living things to provide some of the most important needs in our daily lives; from the wooden beams that keep our homes standing, to the cotton fibres in our clothes, and from the oxygen that we breath to the food on our plates.
Biodiversity is being affected in a whole host of ways by human activities. The biggest impacts include changes to local habitats, through: habitat loss, e.g. removal of hedgerows; habitat fragmentation e.g. roads built through a woodland; or habitat destruction e.g. draining of a wetland.
Other environmental impacts that negatively affect biodiversity include: Litter and Pollution, Over-exploitation, Pesticide-use, Invasive Species and Climate Change.

What You Can Do

The overall aim of the Biodiversity theme is for schools to increase awareness of the importance of biodiversity and for students and staff to come up with ways to help biodiversity. This can be achieved in many ways depending on your grounds and communities. Planting native trees is a great way to address the Climate Crisis and Biodiversity Emergency in one fell swoop! Allowing spaces to go wild is a brilliant way of increasing Biodiversity, let the grass and the hedgerows grow and see the impact that can make. Create new habitats like small ponds and log piles and use Biodiversity Friendly practices like avoiding pesticides. Whatever is suitable for your school- we have lots of resources to help you on your way!

Turn Off the Lights when no-one is in the room. Put stickers on light switches to remind everyone to turn off the lights at the end of class.
Use energy efficient light bulbs (compact fluorescent light bulbs). These bulbs use ¼ of electricity as normal light bulbs and last up to 12 times longer!
Turn Off Appliances when not in use. Remember, leaving appliances on stand-by uses energy so remember to switch them off.
Put stickers on photocopiers, computers and other appliances in school to remind everyone to turn them off.
Turn Down the Heat! Turning the thermostat down by 1°C can reduce your heating bills by 10%.
Check all windows and doors to see where draughts are coming in. If you identify draughts get your parents or teachers to seal them up or get the students to make a draught excluder using old clothes!
Turn Off the Taps! A dripping hot water tap wastes energy and in one week wastes enough hot water to fill half a bath, so fix leaking taps and make sure they’re fully turned off!

Useful Links

[The Biodiversity theme]…encompasses all the important issues of the planet in one. It is relevant and so interesting; children are innately fascinated by the world around them. It boosted me, as coordinator to really promote our local marsh and coastline.[The Biodiversity theme]…encompasses all the important issues of the planet in one. It is relevant and so interesting; children are innately fascinated by the world around them. It boosted me, as coordinator to really promote our local marsh and coastline.

Ms. Cawley, St. Mary’s BNS, Booterstown

Introduction to Biodiversity

This video gives an introduction to the Biodiversity theme of the Green-Schools Programme.

Resources

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Theme: Biodiversity

Theme: Biodiversity

Theme: Biodiversity

Theme: Biodiversity

Case Studies

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Biodiversity

Biodiversity

Biodiversity

Biodiversity

News

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#AndSheCycles March Cycling Events with Cycling Ireland

March 19, 2026

Green-Schools’ #AndSheCycles programme recently teamed up with Cycling Ireland to put on a series of cycle training events for our #AndSheCycles ambassadors. #AndSheCycles encourages girls to cycle in their everyday …

Marine Week 2026

March 18, 2026

Welcome to Marine Week 2026! Marine Week is coming back, for its 6th year! This exciting event will take place from 20th – 24th April, with thousands of students from …

Seasonal Nature Resources

Explore our Seasonal Nature Resources: Natures Calendar and Spotter Sheets here.

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The Biodiversity theme is supported by the National Parks and Wildlife Services (NPWS) within the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. The NPWS aims to protect Ireland’s habitats by implementing national, European and international policy. Having healthy and functioning ecosystems is vital for protecting public health, preserving our environment and supporting Ireland’s economy.

The NPWS looks after the conservation of much of Ireland’s habitats and species. Ireland has six National Parks: Glenveagh, Co. Donegal, Ballycroy, Co. Mayo, Connemara, Co. Galway, the Burren, Co. Clare, the Wicklow Mts. and Killarney, Co. Kerry. Visit the NPWS website to learn about the various protected sites in Ireland and why they are so important.

Biodiversity

During 2024/25 students planted 3,794 trees, created 40 ponds and added 129 wildflower areas!

What is Biodiversity?

Facts & Figures

What You Can Do

Useful Links

Introduction to Biodiversity

Resources

Case Studies

News

#AndSheCycles March Cycling Events with Cycling Ireland

Marine Week 2026

Seasonal Nature Resources

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