Biodiversity Strategy and Policy Development

In 2005 An Taisce coordinated the development of a Joint ENGO Biodiversity Strategy.  The many environmental NGOs working on biodiversity issues are maintaining efforts towards the implementation of the action and targets in this strategy, operating as WEB - Working and Educating for Biodiversity.  Our efforts tie in with the Convention on Biological Diversity’s target of ‘Halting the loss of biodiversity by 2010’.  We would like to thank the Heritage Council for contributing funding to this project.

In 2006 An Taisce coordinated input of ENGOs to the next National Biodiversity Plan (NBP), 2007 – 2010.  This has focused and maximised the contribution of the ENGOs working on biodiversity policy to the NBP, through the communal research of framework policy, the allocation of themes to groups with various expertise, and the co-ordinated compilation of an up-to-date submission from Irish ENGOs working together as WEB - Working and Educating for Biodiversity

 Groups participated in the project are as follows: An Taisce, Coastwatch Ireland, Eco-Unesco, The Irish Peatland Conservation Council, The Irish Seed Saver Association, The Irish Whale & Dolphin Group, Irish Wildlife Trust, and Voice of Irish Concern for the Environment. 

Specific areas of the Irish National Biodiversity Plan (2002-2006) were also examined in order to assess successes and shortfalls of these with a view to improving their efficacy and successful realisation in the term of the next plan.  Again recommendations have been compiled toward this end. 

See the coordinated recommendations of WEB in summary tabular format here.  The work will be updated in advance of the commencement of the drafting of the next NBP, due to begin in 2007.

WEB are currently working on a wide ranging programme of events to raise awareness about Biodiversity among the general public and with specific sectoral interests. 

WEB are also currently seeking termination of both the informal and the formal appeals procedures for designated Special Areas of Conservation.