Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 15 September 2020
330. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his plans to apply designations in respect of the EU biodiversity strategy; his further plans to consult with landowners and communities prior to a designation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23889/20]
View answerThe EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030 was launched by the European Commission on 20 May 2020. It aims to ensure that Europe’s biodiversity will be on the path to recovery by 2030, and proposes ambitious EU actions and commitments to halt biodiversity loss in Europe and worldwide. It proposes that by 2030, the 27 Member States collectively legally protect at least 30% of the EU’s land and marine areas, and that 10% (or one-third of the protected areas) would be strictly protected (including strict protection relating to ancient woodland and significant areas of other carbon-rich ecosystems, such as peatlands, grasslands, wetlands and seagrass meadows).
The Strategy foresees that these proposed actions in nature protection, sustainable use and restoration will bring concrete economic benefits to local communities, creating sustainable jobs and growth, and will work in tandem with the Farm to Fork strategy and the new Common Agricultural Policy.
Further information is awaited from the European Commission around criteria and guidance for identification of additional protected areas, the definition of strict protection, and the question of burden sharing across the EU27 in reaching the 30% target.
Farmers and landowners are key stakeholders in this discussion and will be crucial to implementation of the Strategy. I am committed to listening carefully to concerns about designations and other biodiversity matters, and to engage further in consultation with stakeholders including the farming community and organisations. At this time, I am not in a position to make a definitive statement regarding designations as my Department is awaiting the further information from the European Commission, outlined above.
