TCD Turns the Sod for the Development of New Urban Wetland

Posted on: 02 February 2011

In an effort to restore and create wetlands in urban environments TCD Provost, Dr John Hegarty, turned the sod of the university’s first campus wetland today (February 2, 2011).  Designed to maximise habitat diversity, the pond, which will be situated in the College Biodiversity Centre behind Front Square, will be a useful research and teaching tool for students of the School of Natural Sciences. 

Wetlands make up some of the world’s most valuable environmental networks but are increasingly under pressure from human settlement, pollution and global climate change.  The new TCD pond will give students and scientists an opportunity to conduct research on the sustainable development of these important assets.  During 2010 students of the School of Natural Sciences conducted ecological surveys to determine the baseline of biodiversity activity in the garden against which future wildlife in the new wetland area can be measured.  The pond will be dug under archaeologist supervision before being prepared and planted by TCD ground staff in cooperation with College wetland scientists.  It will be officially unveiled during the College’s annual Green Week (February 21-25 next). 

The sod turning coincides with World Wetland Day which advocates the protection, development and restoration of wetlands around the world.  In 2010 a national wetland committee was formed made up of key stakeholders in government, academia and industry.  The committee, which is chaired by Karin Dubsky a researcher in the School of Engineering, was formed to develop the use of wetlands in Ireland, ensure their protection and develop a management plan to assist in the prevention of environmental deterioration.