Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 15 November 2018
12. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht her views on the request by an organisation (details supplied) for a global deal along the lines of the Paris Agreement on climate change for wildlife and natural resources following the report of the organisation on catastrophic falls in many wildlife populations across the world since 1970; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47220/18]
View answerI also met the film workers on a number of occasions and I support Deputy Boyd Barrett's comments.
The Minister will be aware that a few weeks ago the Zoological Society of London published the Living Planet Report 2018, which shows that the animal populations on the planet have reduced by approximately 60% since 1970. This is being talked about as the sixth mass extinction. The World Wildlife Fund is asking that we would begin to treat this matter in the same way as we do climate change by putting in place an agreement similar to the Paris Agreement in regard to animals and biodiversity.
My Department is aware of the recent Living Planet Report 2018, which is the latest to highlight global declines in biodiversity in very stark terms. I am concerned about any decline in species, as well as any loss of habitats around the world. Biodiversity loss is an enormous challenge that requires a concerted response from the global community.
The UN Convention on Biological Diversity, CBD, is the key international agreement underpinning international co-operation on biodiversity and, as noted in the Living Planet report, it is the appropriate body for such a global agreement. My Department will be represented at the Conference of the Parties which will take place in Egypt later this month. The main work of this conference is to achieve the groundwork for the post-2020 framework for tackling biodiversity loss and this has been the subject of lengthy discussions between the EU member states during this year.
In addition to the overarching framework of the CBD, there are a number of targeted agreements that Ireland and our colleagues across the EU actively participate in with a view to meeting the challenges presented by the loss of species and habitats around the world. These agreements include the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, CITES. The CITES agreement is instrumental in tackling, on a global level, the continued threat posed by illicit trade to vulnerable and endangered species, including rhinos, elephants, sharks and rosewood. It should be noted that protecting species also helps preserve the habitats they live in for future generations.
The 18th Conference of the Parties for CITES will take place next year in Sri Lanka. EU member states, including Ireland, are beginning preparations so that a strong and coherent pro-conservation position can be presented at the conference negotiations on behalf of the EU and its member states.
Additional information not given on the floor of the House
Efforts to achieve global consensus on tackling biodiversity loss are complementary to existing agreements on climate change. The impacts of climate change on biodiversity are significant and detailed consideration is given to this issue in the context of discussions at EU level and the CBD. Another important consideration is the effects of invasive alien species on native species and habitats. This issue is also being tackled on an international level, notably through the EU invasive alien species, IAS, regulation and frequent discussions, at scientific and policy levels between member states to best deal with the threats posed to biodiversity across the EU and also with a view to EU member states having their voices heard at a global level during the CBD Conference of the Parties and other international meetings.
The need for a coherent multilateral and multi-disciplinary approach to halting biodiversity loss is clear. I support the work of my Department in participating in efforts through a range of international agreements and conventions to make progress on this issue and I look forward to a productive and forward-looking outcome from the CBD Conference of the Parties later this month.
As the Minister will be aware this report follows a widespread study of 4,000 vertebrate species, including more than 18,000 populations of mammals, reptiles, amphibians, birds and fish. The director of the World Wildlife Fund, Mr. Mike Barrett, is of the view that we are facing a cliff in this regard and, thus, the comparison with the Paris climate change accord. This situation is as detrimental to the survival of the planet as climate change is because ecosystems rely on each other. The Minister mentioned the UN convention and the 2020 meeting. Given 60% of the earth's mammals have been wiped out since 1970 and our forest and river habitats are facing depletion, would she be interested in pushing for a comparable accord to the Paris climate change one in relation to this matter?
I can assure the Deputy that we take this matter seriously. Ireland's third national biodiversity action plan sets out actions to which a range of Government, civil and private sectors will undertake to achieve our vision for biodiversity. It is important that we do this. An allocation of €250,000 has been provided in 2018 to support, for example, local authority biodiversity projects and an additional €150,000 has been allocated to support tackling invasive alien species in their areas. There are many targeted actions that contribute towards our obligations under EU international directives and other relevant national policies, including the national peatlands strategy and the climate change adaptation framework. In February 2019, I will host a conference with Irish stakeholders on biodiversity, at which I will announce the first Biodiversity in the Community awards. We must address these issues at a local level before reaching out at a global level. I will also launch the 21/Seeds programme, which is an initiative of agreed actions by all stakeholders. We also have the The Living Bog programme which I spoke about earlier.
We tend to think of Asia, palm oil and deforestation, Latin America and the expansion of soya and the fears that many people have for the new Brazilian President in that regard. I commend the Government on the Dublin Bay biosphere. It has been reported that Howth Castle is to be sold. There is concern in my constituency that Howth peninsula, which has been a fantastic green lung for Howth, could be under threat as well. The Minister's Department can confer national park status on endangered wildlife areas. Will she consider taking such action in relation to Howth, to which there are approximately 1 million visitors annually? Everybody who comes to Dublin is told it is a wonderful place to visit and explore in terms of its green areas, wildlife and so on. National park status for Howth is, perhaps, the way we need to go in this regard closer to home.
My Department is always interested in receiving submissions from Members of the Oireachtas. Howth may well be an area that we could examine.
We already have six national parks covering 8,000 ha, 78 national reserves and 280 national monuments. There is a balance to be struck between conservation and extending that. I appreciate the Deputy's comments that the Department is doing everything it can to work with the new Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment, Deputy Bruton, on climate action, across Government and on biodiversity. There is also a draft sectoral climate change adaptation plan for biodiversity which has been drawn up by the scientific staff at the National Parks and Wildlife Service, NPWS. This was circulated by the NPWS recently. We also held a stakeholder workshop in October to discuss and refine elements of the plan. What the Deputy said is very important. We have to make sure we look after ecosystems and habitats for future generations. As Mary Robinson said, if we do not deal with it in this generation there will not be another one.
