Biodiversity Officer

Welcome to our new staff spotlight section which highlights the many services delivered by Cork City Council on a daily basis. 

In this edition of our staff spotlight, you'll get to know Rosemarie McDonald, who is one of our Biodiversity Officers.

Tell us about your job?

I am one of two Biodiversity Officers based in Cork City Council, in the Parks & Recreation Department within the Local Area Development & Operations Directorate. My main role is to implement actions within the current Heritage & Biodiversity Action Plan and help develop the next Biodiversity Action Plan with Usna Keating – Biodiversity Officer in Strategic Planning & Heritage. I have a wide-ranging role, from working with our outdoor parks staff on biodiversity-related projects, working with community groups and working across directorates on biodiversity related projects. A key aspect of my role is raising awareness about biodiversity through organising events in Biodiversity Week & Heritage Week and throughout the year. I am very lucky to work within a very dynamic and supportive department who are interested in biodiversity and have work colleagues across directorates who are passionate about biodiversity.

How did you end up working as a Biodiversity Officer for Cork City Council?

I have a background in Zoology & Ecology, and I've had the privilege of working in two National Parks in Mayo & Wicklow, Dublin Zoo, fisheries boards North & South of the border and in private ecological consultancy as well. I had changed career paths recently and was working as an Assistant Staff Officer within the Parks & Recreation Department before applying for the Biodiversity Officer role back in 2022 and started as the Biodiversity Officer in early 2023.

What does a typical day involve?

Variety is the spice of life; there is no such thing as typical day. I can be writing tenders for a variety of projects such as invasive plant species surveys & treatment, meadow management, dealing with contractors, meeting community groups about projects they will be implementing in relation to biodiversity. I also work closely with our outdoor Parks staff within our Parks, Open Spaces & Cemeteries in relation to biodiversity projects. I could be visiting primary and secondary schools to give talks about biodiversity in Cork City.

What is your favourite part of your job?

I have many favourite parts of my job such as working with community groups and seeing their biodiversity projects come together, working with school groups and seeing their enthusiasm for nature come alive through talks in schools or through family friendly workshops. I am enjoying seeing one of my own projects evolve over the years, the grasslands management project of around 100 acres of long flowering meadows in Cork City, all the credit needs to go to our outdoor Parks staff have been instrumental in making sure all wildflower meadows are managed for both nature and as an amenity for members of the public.  

What can make your job challenging at times?

I wouldn’t describe my job as challenging; rather, one of the biggest challenges is the lack of awareness of just how important biodiversity is to human life. Biodiversity forms the foundation of healthy ecosystems, which provides essential services such as clean air, clean water, food, and fertile soils. It also supports our economy, cultural heritage, recreational opportunities, and both our physical and mental wellbeing. The work itself is very interesting, and because biodiversity is such a broad and evolving field, I am constantly learning something new. As the saying goes, every day is a school day.

What advice would you give your younger self?

What’s meant to be won’t pass you