Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 9 November 2023
119. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage what action is being taken by Government to combat the mass decline of insects and wildlife in Ireland; and how the Government plans to prevent their extinction. [34759/23]
View answerNature is under pressure worldwide and the global trends of biodiversity loss are reflected in the Irish landscapes and waterscapes. Scientific assessments of the state of nature in Ireland have found that a significant number of our most precious EU-protected habitats are in unfavourable status, with almost half (46%) demonstrating declines. Almost a third of our EU-protected species are in unfavourable status, and over half of native Irish plant species have deteriorated. Drivers contributing to biodiversity loss in Ireland include intensive agricultural and forestry practices, overfishing, invasive species, changes in land use (particularly for residential, agricultural and commercial development) and the over-exploitation of natural resources.
National action for biodiversity has increased in recent years, with a strong emphasis on working with landowners and local communities to collectively respond to the biodiversity emergency. A wide array of initiatives, projects and funding streams are delivering positive change for a range of habitats and species all across the country. Such initiatives include the new Agri-Climate Rural Environment Scheme (ACRES) delivered under the CAP Strategic Plan, the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) Farm Plan Scheme, the NPWS Local Biodiversity Action Fund and various LIFE projects. Particular emphasis has been placed on the restoration of peatlands, notably raised bogs and including post-production peatlands in the Peatlands Climate Action Scheme. Despite ongoing conservation and restoration efforts, however, Ireland’s biodiversity is in a state of crisis and urgent, impactful action is imperative to prevent the continued erosion of our natural heritage.
Ireland’s 4th National Biodiversity Action Plan (NBAP) will be published in the coming months and will set the national biodiversity agenda for the period 2024-2030. The Plan strives for a “whole of government, whole of society” approach to the governance and conservation of biodiversity. The aim is to ensure that every citizen, community, business, local authority, semi-state and state agency has an awareness of biodiversity and its importance, and of the implications of its loss, while also understanding how they can act to address the biodiversity emergency as part of a renewed national effort to “act for nature”.
The announcement in Budget 2024 of a new Infrastructure, Climate and Nature Fund is a significant development relevant to the implementation of the NBAP, along with new legislation to put the NBAP on a Statutory footing under the Wildlife Amendment Act 2023. In this context, the fourth National Biodiversity Action Plan will be published and launched early in 2024.
