A travelling biodiversity exhibition was unveiled by Environment Minister John Gormley at Customs House this morning.
The exhibition has been put together by national environmental groups to help raise awareness and understanding of nature threats and protection issues in Ireland.
Mr Gormley said Ireland has an ongoing problem with habitat and species protection and that he would be making an announcement shortly about Ireland's biodiversity following a recent survey.
The Minister said he met NGOs this morning to discuss how the Government could support them in relation to funding, the role of ecological and environmental NGOs, and including these NGOs in a social partnership with Government.
He said there were plans to continue meeting the groups, perhaps on a quarterly basis.
The travelling exhibition will feature at events including Electric Picnic and the National Ploughing Championships, with the environmental groups also hoping to address smaller venues and events where aspects of biodiversity can be explained.
A spokeswoman for the NGOs said they hoped to discuss biodiversity, consider management plans and demonstrate best practice through the exhibition.
"With the exhibition come expertise, experience and ideas, as all national environmental groups working on nature protection include scientists as volunteers or permanent staff," the spokeswoman said.