Hi folks, I just thought I would add a little bit more content to my profile in the hope that it might shed some light on why I have signed up. 

I work for the Local Authority Waters Programme as a Community Water Officer. The region I operate in spans the counties Cavan, Monaghan and Louth and whilst base is in Co. Monaghan, my interest lies in all three counties. 

My primary role and interest is in community engagement / community development in matters relating to our natural environment, but especially our water environment i.e. rivers, streams, lakes, and the coast. The aim is to engage more people and more communities with our watery and wet places and to help them appreciate the value of these vitally important natural assets. They are not only sources of inspiration and places which benefit our health and wellbeing, but they are also really important for our local environment, be it drinking water provision, water purification, flood alleviation, carbon storage and the provision of habitat for our declining biodiversity. Rivers, streams and lakes offer real opportunity for our local economies, especially through tourism, recreation and sport, but must be respected and protected also.

We need sea change in awareness and attitudes towards nature, our environment, our biodiversity and our rivers, lakes and streams, living entities in themselves. We need to take away the barriers and obstacles to communities for engaging with these natural spaces and we need to empower people to look after and restore these natural assets. 

If there is a conversation to be had around this subject area, count me in :-)