Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 24 February 2021
321. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the steps he is taking in response to the findings in the work of the biodiversity forum monitoring the third national biodiversity action plan, National Biodiversity Action Plan 2017-2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9969/21]
View answerThe current National Biodiversity Action Plan (NBAP) runs from 2017 to 2021 and captures the objectives, targets and actions for biodiversity to be undertaken by a wide range of government, civil society and private sectors to achieve Ireland's Vision for Biodiversity.
That Plan contains 119 actions under a framework of seven strategic objectives. These encompass mainstreaming biodiversity into decision making across all sectors; strengthening the knowledge base for the conservation; increasing awareness and appreciation of biodiversity and ecosystem services; conserving and restoring biodiversity and ecosystem services in the wider countryside; the marine environment; expanding and improving management of protected areas and species; and strengthening international governance for biodiversity and ecosystem services.
The Plan is an all-of-Government document and progress is monitored through the inter-departmental Biodiversity Working Group (BWG) and also by an independent advisory group, the Biodiversity Forum. In 2019, the members of the BWG reported on progress with implementation of relevant actions. On the basis of their submissions, my Department prepared and published an Interim Review in 2020. In late 2020, my Department funded the Biodiversity Forum workshop to report on the progress of the Plan.
I welcome the report of the Biodiversity Forum and its findings. The report notes that although there has been an increase in public awareness and cross-sectoral engagement in biodiversity, the status of biodiversity in protected areas and beyond is in poor condition and continues to decline. Though not surprising, there are a wide range of reasons for this situation, including long term funding for nature conservation and the way we use our land. The report outlines the strategic approach that is needed to address this biodiversity crisis.
There are strong commitments in the Programme for Government for biodiversity, including a commitment to review the remit, status and funding of the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS), to ensure that it is playing an effective role in delivering its overall mandate and enforcement role in the protection of wildlife. The Programme for Government also commits to providing more funding for local authorities for biodiversity, both in terms of grant funding for actions contained in the NBAP and to ensure that all local authorities have a sufficient number of biodiversity and heritage officers.
While my team in the NPWS works to develop the successor Plan for 2022-2026, I will consider the report's findings carefully to ensure that the next NBAP is one that delivers real impact. Biodiversity is a whole-of-Government issue and the 2022-2026 Plan, developed in line with the EU Biodiversity Strategy 2030 and the outcomes of the UN Biodiversity Conference COP15, will reflect that, working with colleagues across Government to improve policy coordination.
