Christopher O'Sullivan
Question:152. Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an overview of the new National Biodiversity Action Plan. [6905/24]
View answerThursday, 15 February 2024
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The 4th National Biodiversity Action Plan (NBAP) 2023-2030 was launched in January and sets out Ireland’s vision for biodiversity, that by 2050 “biodiversity in Ireland is valued, conserved, restored and sustainably used, maintaining ecosystem services, sustaining a healthy planet and delivering benefits essential for all people”. 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 4th NBAP builds upon the achievements of the previous Plan. It will continue to implement actions within the framework of five strategic objectives, comprising 194 actions and addressing new and emerging issues:
Objective 1: Adopt a Whole of Government, Whole of Society Approach to Biodiversity
Actions under this objective include capacity and resource reviews across Government; determining responsibilities for the expanding biodiversity agenda; providing support for communities, citizen scientists and business; and mechanisms for the governance and review of the Plan.
Objective 2: Meet Urgent Conservation and Restoration Needs
Supporting actions will build on existing conservation measures, with increased efforts to tackle Invasive Alien Species and to expand the protected area network to include the Marine Protected Areas.
Objective 3: Secure Nature’s Contribution to People
Actions under this objective highlight the relationship between nature and people in Ireland, recognising the tangible and intangible values of biodiversity, promoting nature’s importance to our culture and heritage and valuing how biodiversity supports our society and our economy.
Objective 4: Enhance the Evidence Base for Action on Biodiversity
This objective focuses on biodiversity research needs, as well as the development and strengthening of long-term monitoring programmes that will underpin and strengthen future decision-making. Actions also focus on collaboration to advance ecosystem accounting that will contribute towards natural capital accounts.
Objective 5: Strengthen Ireland’s Contribution to International Biodiversity Initiatives
Collaboration with other countries and across the island of Ireland will play a key role in the realisation of this Objective. Ireland will strengthen its contribution to international biodiversity initiatives and international governance processes, such as the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity.
The objectives of the Plan are underpinned by 194 actions linking to SMART targets and supported by indicators.