Artists and Creatives Contribute Stunning Images Displaying Richness of Wetlands to Encourage More Community Collaboration Around Preservation and Protection
From Seamus Heaney to Bram Stoker, Manchán Magan to Colm Toibín, Ireland’s stunning Wetlands have provided rich inspiration for aeons.
Now, a brand-new Guide produced by the ‘Community Wetlands Forum’ (CWF) is aiming to provide similar inspiration to local communities across Ireland, in a bid to enthuse people about our native Wetlands and work towards their protection, preservation and promotion.
Launching the guide, Minister of State for Nature, Heritage and Biodiversity, Christopher O’Sullivan TD, said:
“I am delighted to launch ‘A Guide for Wetland Communities Engaging in Creative Projects’. We know that wetlands are some of the most valuable ecosystems for biodiversity. For those who appreciate the wonders of nature, this guide will create connections and collaboration with communities and artists, helping to bring the beauty, fragility and significance of wetlands to life. I’d like to congratulate the Community Wetlands Forum and all involved in the creation of this important resource.”
‘Community Wetlands Forum’ was established to promote our wetlands and peatlands, some 13,000 of which are dotted throughout Ireland, through community collaboration and integration, and through the provision of a platform for local people to get involved in the many conservation projects in their areas.
The compilation of the ‘Guide for Wetland Communities Engaging in Creative Projects’ is a seen as a major step forward in bringing communities together in shared purpose that has important ecological, societal and cultural benefits.
The work of nineteen artists and creatives, all whose work centres on Ireland’s rich necklace of wetlands, features in the Guide, the first of its kind.
Some of Ireland’s most important wildlife are to be found in our Wetlands including the iconic Curlew, Lapwing, Grey Heron, Kingfisher, Brent Geese, Wigeon, Teal and Merlin.
Mary Mulvey, Volunteer Chair ‘Community Wetland Forum’ says.
” We hope that this publication will be a resource for all who promote the wise use of Wetlands on the island of Ireland, and that Communities will draw upon Creative processes to engage with, and educate, a wider audience. The role communities play in the protection of wetlands is often overlooked and we champion quality engagement and respect in all aspects of decision-making regarding our Wetlands. Communities, Artists and Creatives, who understand and respect each other can celebrate the richness of our wetlands and the work of those who protect and conserve them in ways that are respectful of local identities.”
“Peatlands are emotionally and politically charged terrains—sites of climate transition, contested histories, livelihoods, restoration and loss. They are fragile ecosystems as well as living places and work in these environments must consider environmental impact, biodiversity and the cultural significance of the land. Creative projects can help make sense of these complexities, but without care they can also risk oversimplifying or misrepresenting them.
“This Guide supports communities—particularly those connected to peatland and wetland landscapes— to collaborate with artists and other creative practitioners, to develop work that is thoughtful, nuanced, and grounded in local realities”.
“It offers guiding principles, practical checklists and examples to help communities explore creative approaches to conservation, and to shape projects that are inclusive, reciprocal, and which reflect the richness of local identity and the importance of ecological care”.
“‘Those of us who have a deep grá for our wetlands know just how restorative a day walking in this unique natural habitat is. We need each other and we need communities to understand that we need them. Our rich and bountiful wetlands have been here for millennia and with the help of our local wetlands communities they will be here for many more”.
“Our bogs and wetlands belong to us all. Art in all its forms belongs to us all and we are proud and excited to be a force for more collaboration and connection”.
Anne Davoren, Director of Uillinn: West Cork Arts Centre, and who edited the Guide says.
“This publication feels both timely and important and marks an invitation to collective action — to bring communities and artists together in meaningful partnership. Ar scáth a cheile a mhaireann na daoine (It is in the shadow of others that we live) rings so true here. Everyone is inter linked in one way or another and our long connection to our wetlands gives us a real sense of place which is truly grounding.
Wetland communities are living within landscapes that are culturally rich, ecologically vital and deeply shaped by climate change. When creative practice is rooted in local knowledge and ecological care, it can deepen understanding, amplify diverse voices and help communities imagine and shape a shared future for our environment.”
To review the guide please access the following link:
CWF_ A_Guide_for_Wetland_Communities_Engaging_in_Creative_Projects
