Recommendation towards objectives

Action

Theme 1    Conservation and Sustainable use of biodiversity

Overall objective

To fully implement and adequately finance the Natura 2000 network in Ireland and make full use of EU funds provided for this

Actions

Implement systematic monitoring of and conservation measures for all Natura 2000 annexed species

Strengthen the integrity of protection efforts of designated conservation sites

Full enforcement of existing European and Irish nature conservation legislation

Address contradictions of political commitment to C2010 yet ongoing serious failures to implement Habitats and Birds Directives

Provide additional resources for ENGO protection efforts of protected habitats and species

Considerably improve financing of Nature conservation and implementation of Natura 2000

The conservation management plan for the SACs and SPAs need to be more detailed and have specific timeframes

Ensure new integrated financing option for Natura 2000 incorporated in all national operational programmes & fully utilised by relevant authorities

10% of Irish territory designated and subject to system of effective conservation, namely Natura 2000 sites,  and not including those NHAs which have not received legal protection unless they are given full legal protection

Article 6 of the Habitats Directive routinely and robustly implemented

more research needs to be focused on the marine habitats to identify suitable areas for SAC designation. Although many marine mammal species may use some existing SACs (e.g. Roaring Water Bay and Islands) this may not be enough for their protection – there may be other marine sites where they feed/rest etc that may also need to be protected

Formal identification of SACs and SPAs and their transmission to the EU should mean that the boundaries of the sites identified are permanent with a fixed term for review i.e. terminate appeals and boundary reviews to all designated sites

5 additional sites for Greenland Whitefronted Goose are required

Overall objective

To conserve and restore biodiversity and ecosystem services in the wider EU countryside

Detailed actions

Eliminate contradictions in Irish Law to Objectives 2 and 4 of the communication

Implement systematic monitoring of and conservation measures for all Red data book species

Set % targets for all red data species by 2010

Ensure full cross sectoral implementation of the EIA Directive

Establish new independent body to oversee and regulate EIA implementation in Ireland

Facilitate and assist the development of sectoral action plans for biodiversity

Stronger protection status for protected areas also urgently required as part of sectoral action plans, in particular fisheries, forests, regional policies and spatial planning, and energy and transport

Full consideration of Biodiversity and climate change considerations as part of SEA

Address gaps in implementation of the SEA Directive regarding public and civil society participation

Review 1949 Land reclamation Act

Halt the unregulated removal of hedgerows in Ireland

Review local authority waste licensing procedures

Review aquaculture licensing procedure in relation to Biodiversity

Transposition the Århus Convention in Irish law

Further actions and targets to implement eradication programmes & measures for IAS (invasive alien species)

Implement recommendations of the Quercus Report and allocate sufficient funding and resources for their implementation

Encourage the out right ban of some invasive garden aliens and pondweeds

Carry out study into the potential effectives of climate change on IAS

Prepare an awareness campaign for the general public on invasive species especially in hot spots for invasive species and support through providing funding for local awareness initiatives

Implement measures for the consideration of IAS in planning

actions required to address planning issues and biodiversity on a national scale

Incorporate measures to prevent abandonment of high-nature-value farmland

Forestry: Actions required to address location of new planting; habitats loss through inappropriate afforestation; replanting requirements; fertiliser use; reliance on exotic conifers as part of national forestry strategy; siltation, acidification, and eutrophication of waterways from forestry operations; public participation, and the drafting of an agreed Irish national standard for sustainable Forestry

Forestry: As the broadleaf afforestation targets are not being achieved, an examination of the barriers to broadleaf afforestation needs to be undertaken and appropriate mechanisms to remove these barriers instigated.  This work needs to be open, transparent, and inclusive.

As Coillte are the State Forestry Company, the largest landowner in Ireland, and own almost all forested land, they must be required to come in line with National Forest Policy, to achieve 30% b’leaf planting.  District strategic plans, being redrafted currently, to be brought in line also. A new target of 2010 must be set for Coillte. 

Greater investments must be made in the development of the hardwood timber sector in Ireland (at least to match the investment in softwood / pulpwood industry) and in to suitable sustainable b’leaf management systems, such as coppicing and continuous-cover forestry

Actions required to prevent negative implications for Biodiversity from energy and transport, construction, and extractive industries 

Tourism requires a new section in the next NBP

Establish a biodiversity audit for all legalisation, policies, practices and mechanisms that have relevance to the protection of protected areas and biodiversity

RE: The use of machine cutaway and cutover raised bogs:

-         Cutaway bog complexes should be designated as NHAs

-         The government should lead the way and allocate funding for the creation of a national strategy on the afteruse of cutaway bogs. This strategy should be developed by the key stakeholders including Bord na Móna, DoEHLG, IPCC, other relevant NGOs and local community representatives.

-         Any afforestation of cutaways should be developed in an environmentally sensitive manner and include amentiy areas open to the public

-         Wherever possible a section of remnant raised or blanket bog should be conserved within each cutaway bog complex

-         A network of cutaway bog sites should be promoted for awareness and education of the ecological and cultural importance of the cutaway bogs

Theme 2: Ireland and Global Biodiversity

Develop suite of actions to integrate biodiversity considerations in to Ireland’s significant allocation of development aid (to be drafted with appropriate expertise in this area)

Develop specific actions to halt the importation to Ireland of tens of thousands of m³ of illegally felled tropical timber each year

RE Greenland White Fronted Geese:

Irish Government to sign off on the agreement with the Icelandic government not to hunt the GWF Geese as of autumn 2006

Theme 3:  Biodiversity and climate change

Ensure that protected areas, including Natura 2000, are interconnected through ‘green corridors’ to accommodate species migrations

Identify  and prevent potential damage to biodiversity from likely major land use changes (e.g. from tillage to biomass production) and new energy technologies (such as wind farms)

Theme 4:     Education, training, and awareness

Have Biodiversity Clearing House Mechanism (CHM) up and running in 2007 to include themes of economy, agriculture,tourism, forestry, fisheries, water management, planning, law, and education.  Ireland should also join www.gbif.org, the international CHM on Biodiversity, as part of this action.

Reinforce of the role of informal education and indeed the role of ENGO’s in this.  Provide increased funding for NGO’s for their provision of Biodiversity education. In particular to facilitate biodiversity education in attitudes, values and behaviour as well as knowledge

Support and finance environmental & experiential education centres , which need to be recognised and given further funding, and resources to expand.   Recommending resourcing to the extent of offering something similar to the Belgian case where the students are required to spend a certain amount of days in environmental education centres

Biodiversity to be addressed as an interdisciplinary theme to run through subjects (e.g. history, science, biology, geography, English). This cross-disciplinary approach is particularly important in post primary education (where there is no overarching theme like SESE) so that the information is wide reaching and not compartmentalised.