Farming & Biodiversity
2015 Farming & Biodiversity Competition: Winners Announced!
The 2015 Competition addressed the topic, ‘Farming & Water Quality: Best-Practice’, and judging was difficult because of the range of very thoughtful and creative entries. However, we are now proud to announce the following winners (and teachers’ and schools’) each of whom receive a Samsung Galaxy Tablet. And a special congratulations to St. Peter’s College Wexford and Ag. Sci. Teacher Willie White who had 2 students in the honours! The 2015 Project was produced in association with IASTA & EPACatchments.
2015 Winners:
Matty Casey, Millstreet Community School (Teacher: Sarah Buckley)
Christopher Merton, Wesley College (Teacher: Iain Wallace)
Aoife Buckley, Coláiste Mhuire Buttevant (Teacher: Patrick Curtin)
Sean Grayson, St. Peters College (Teacher: Willie White)
Daniel Furlong, St. Peters College (Teacher: Willie White)
View the winning images & captions: 2015 ‘Farm&Bio’ Winning Images
2014 Competition: WE HAVE A WINNER!
FARMING & BIODIVERSITY WINNING VIDEO: “HABITAT: CREATION & CONSERVATION”
WINNER: CHOY-PING CLARKE-NG, WESLEY COLLEGE (TEACHER: IAIN WALLACE)
“This video combines simple & effective ideas with high production values…a splendid piece of viewing.” (- the Judges)
VIEW WINNING VIDEO BY CLICKING THIS LINK:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uWqo6pVOh5c&feature=youtu.be
FARMING & BIODIVERSITY COMPETITION
[The 2014 Competition is now concluded! Watch for details on the 2015 Competition to be announced in the new year.]
This is an annual national competition for secondary-level Agricultural Science students in Ireland that StreamScapes produces in association with the Irish Ag. Sci. Teachers’ Association (see www.iasta.ie), the Environmental Protection Agency (see www.epa.ie), and the National Parks & Wildlife Service (see http://www.npws.ie/). The 2014 Competition theme is “Habitat: Creation & Conservation”… students are invited to submit short (under 60 seconds!) VIDEOS of their efforts to create or conserve wildlife habitats on their farm or around their homes. Great Prizes!
What is ‘Biodiversity’? Why is it important?
‘Biodiversity’ (or ‘biological diversity’) refers to the full range of life forms, from bacteria and fungi to grasses, ferns, trees, insects, amphibians, birds, and mammals. Beyond that, it furthermore refers to all ecological processes upon which life depends, such as nutrient cycling, carbon and nitrogen fixation, pollination, and beneficial predation. For those of us who farm, the conservation of Biodiversity involves the maintenance and enhancement of the capacity of the land to sustain a variety of native species and functioning ecosystems which in turn ensure sustainable farms and rural communities.
View the 2013 Farming & Biodiversity Awards Ceremony:
- 2013 Awards Ceremony with Padraic Breathnach & Gordon D’Arcy