Environment and Ireland's National Development Plan 2007-2013

During the lifetime of Ireland's National Development Plan 2007-2013 a number of environmental issues will come to the fore:

By 2010:
The EU National Emissions Ceiling Directive has set a limit for Ireland of 65 kilotonnes nitrogen oxide for 2010. In the absence of increased investment in and take up of public transport and renewable energy, the country's rapidly increasing traffic and fuel consumption will literally drive Ireland over the emissions ceiling. In the 14 years to 2004, Ireland's transport related fuel use and greenhouse gas emissions doubled, as did vehicle numbers.

By 2012:
The Kyoto Protocol requires Ireland to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 2012, but at the moment cars usage, heating and industry are driving up emissions. To meet its commitments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions Ireland needs to purchase 18 million carbon credits and increase the use of renewable energy.

By 2015:
The Water Framework Directive requires that Ireland protect, enhance and restore all bodies of surface water by 2015. River and estuary eutrophication remains a problem in Ireland. One of the primary causes is poor agricultural practice. This may improve under the recently introduced Nitrates Action Programme coupled with an increased uptake in the Rural Environmental Protection Scheme (Reps) by farmers. Even so, it is unclear whether Ireland will be able to meet the Directive's requirement.

By 2016:
The Landfill Directive requires Ireland to reduce the landfilling of biodegradable waste to 35 per cent of its 1995 level by 2016. Being a prolific waste generator and overly landfill dependent, Ireland may not meet this Directive either.

The National Development Plan (NDP) 2007 - 2013 has made provisions for improving, encouraging and investing in public transport, renewable energy and better waste management, along with the purchase of carbon credits. Whether this will be enough has yet to be seen. Check back here in 10 years...

This is a summarised version of an article by Fiona Gartland in The Irish Times, Home News pages, 31 Jan 2006.

• NDP Chapter 6 - Environmental Sustainability (PDF, 14 pages, 263KB)
  

Ireland and Agenda 21

The report Sustainable Development: A Strategy for Ireland (PDF, 267 pages, 1.8MB), published in 1997, provides for each of Ireland's local authorities to complete Local Agenda 21 Plans for their areas. Agenda 21 officers are engaged by each local authority to coordinate work on the plan.

Two examples of Local Agenda 21 plans include those by County Meath and Dublin City. In 2001 Dublin City Council further committed itself to Local Agenda 21 principles in the Publication 'Dublin's Choice: A Better Future' (PDF, 68 pages, 5MB).

• Check out the Support Page for the Local Agenda 21 Processes in Ireland
• Background to Local Agenda 21
• Learn about Ireland's progress on Local Agenda 21
• Get involved: Dublin City Council in association with the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government administers the Local Agenda 21 Environmental Partnership Fund (LA21 EPF). This offers funding for community based projects that promote the principles of Local Agenda 21 at a community level.

Ireland's progress on Agenda 21

• Read a Short SWOT Analysis of the State of Ireland in terms of Agenda 21
• The UN's 1997 review of Ireland's progress on Local Agenda 21.
• The Irish Response to Agenda 21 - Ireland's responses are slow and some changes are needed to successfully progress Local Agenda 21 (this article doesn't have a date so it could be quite old)
• Local Sustainable Development on the island of Ireland - a cross border review, 2004 (PDF, 144 pages)
  

Also on Only One Ireland:

• Background to Agenda 21
• Ireland and Agenda 21
  

Agenda 21 - bringing home the Earth Summits

One product of 1992's Rio Earth Summit (also know as the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development 1992) was an action plan for the 21st Century, called Agenda 21. Ireland was one of many countries to sign the charter. In doing so Ireland committed to the principles of sustainable development and increased local action on initiatives such as recycling and reducing energy use. While one of the major aims of Local Agenda 21 is to protect fragile ecosystems and environments, its broad remit ranges from fair wealth distribution and human rights to encouraging sustainable travel.

In each country, Local Agenda 21 is driven at both Government and local levels. According to Peter Doran, a member of Northern Ireland's Local Agenda 21 Advisory Group:

Local Agenda 21 is about bringing the United Nations 'Earth Summits' (Rio in 1992 and New York in 1997) home to our communities.

One of his articles, What is Local Agenda 21?, lists 14 target achievements of the plan. Of these, the one that's closest to Only One Ireland's heart is that:

The diversity of nature is valued and protected.

• More about Ireland and Agenda 21
• Learn about Ireland's progress on Agenda 21

Ireland and sustainability - Agenda 21

In 1992 at the Rio Earth Summit (also know as the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development 1992), world leaders agreed on an action plan for the 21st Century, called Agenda 21. Agenda 21 works at Government and local levels in each nation. It aims to increase local action on initiatives such as recycling, reducing energy use and sustainable travel.

According to Peter Doran, a member of Northern Ireland's Local Agenda 21 Advisory Group:

Local Agenda 21 is about bringing the United Nations 'Earth Summits' (Rio in 1992 and New York in 1997) home to our communities.

He has written an article entitled What is Local Agenda 21? which includes a list of 14 target achievements of the initiative. Closest to Only One Ireland's heart is that:

The diversity of nature is valued and protected.

Find out more about Ireland's progress on Agenda 21.

• Support Page for the Local Agenda 21 Processes in Ireland
  

How is Ireland progressed Agenda 21 since 1992?
Read a Short Analysis of the State of Ireland in terms of Agenda 21, or an extended summary by the Environmental Protection Agency or the UN's review of Ireland's progress on Agenda 21. Read about The Irish Response to Agenda 21 and all-Ireland cross border Agenda 21 reviews and initiatives (PDF) .

Information on Agenda 21 is also provided by the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government

Who runs it?
In Ireland, Agenda 21 officers are engaged to coordinates work on the plan for each local authority for instance read about Meath's Local Agenda 21 and Dublin City's Local Agenda 21.

Dublin City also has an Environmental Partnership Fund

Timeline of environmental milestones for Ireland

Once upon a time - key environmental dates for Ireland

2006 - Nitrates Directive signed into law in Ireland
2006 - Ireland becomes the first country in Europe to propose 4 of its deepwater coral reef sites be designated as Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) for protection under the EU Habitats Directive.

2000 - following commencement of Wildlife (Amendment) Act, 2000 the following were ratified Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds (AEWA) (Bonn Convention) , International Tropical Timber Agreement

2000 - Wildlife (Amendment) Act, 2000

1997 - publication of 'Sustainable Development: A Strategy for Ireland', which provides for local authorities to complete Local Agenda 21 Plans for their areas
1997 - European Union (Natural Habitats) Regulations, S.I. 94/1997
1996 - signed Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds (AEWA) (Bonn Convention)
1996 - signed International Tropical Timber Agreement

1995 - endorsed the Pan-European Biological and Landscape Diversity Strategy
1995 - Heritage Act, 1995
1995 - ratified Agreement on the Conservation of Bats in Europe (Bonn Convention)
1993 - signed Agreement on the Conservation of Bats in Europe (Bonn Convention)

1986 - Glenveagh National Park opens
1985 - ratified International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling
1984 - ratified Convention on Wetlands of International Importance (Ramsar Convention)
1983 - ratified of Convention on the Conservation of migratory Species of Wild Animals. (Bonn Convention)
1982 - ratified of Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats (Berne Convention)

1979 - signing of Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats (Berne Convention)
1979 - signing of Convention on the Conservation of migratory Species of Wild Animals. (Bonn Convention)
1976 - Wildlife Act, 1976
1974 - signed Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES)
1971 - signed Convention on Wetlands of International Importance (Ramsar Convention)

1946 - signed International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling

Protected areas - SCIs, SACs, SPAs, SSSIs, Ramsar sites, Natura 2000

Designation of protected areas in Ireland:

• SCIs - Each EU Member state, including Ireland, is required under the Habitats Directive to prepare and propose a national list of sites to be evaluated for inclusion in a European network of Sites of Community Importance (SCIs).
• SACs - The SCIs are then designated by Member States as Special Areas of Conservation (SACs)
• SPAs - these are Special Protection Areas classified under the EC Birds Directive
• Natura 2000 - together, SACs and Spas form an ecological network of protected areas known as the Natura 2000 network.
• Ramsar sites - internationally important wetland areas as designated under the Ramsar Convention.
• SSSIs - Sites of Special Scientific Interest are a nationally important conservation designation that may be applied to SCIs, SACs, SPAs, Natura 2000 or any other site that gives them extra protection. SSSIs are a foundation for nature conservation legislation upon which many other legal conservation designations including Ramsar Sites, SPAs, SACs and nature reserves are based.

Biodiversity related legislation - International level

International legislation and agreements relating to wildlife conservation and biodiversity that apply to Ireland:

International Conventions and Agreements:
Five international conventions focus on biodiversity issues. These are linked below and are nicely summarised on the Joint Website of the Biodiversity Related Conventions.

• Convention on Biological Diversity
• World Heritage Convention
• Bonn Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (signed 1979, ratified 1983). The Bonn Convention encompasses the agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds (AEWA) (signed 1996, ratified following commencement of Wildlife (Amendment) Act, 2000) and the agreement on the Conservation of Bats in Europe (signed 1993, ratified 1995).
• Ramsar Convention on Wetlands of International Importance (signed 1971, ratified 1984).
• CITES - Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (signed 1974, ratified following commencement of Wildlife Amendment Act, 2000).

Other Conventions and Agreements are also of interest including the International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling signed 1946, ratified 1985 and the International Tropical Timber Agreement signed 1996, ratified following commencement of Wildlife (Amendment) Act, 2000

Biodiversity related legislation - European level

European legislation and agreements relating to wildlife conservation and biodiversity that apply to Ireland:

European Legislation

• Habitats Directive (92/43/EEC)
• Birds Directive (79/409/EEC)
• CITES Regulation 338/97
• Nitrates Directive (91/676/EEC)
• Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats (Berne Convention) signed 1979, ratified 1982
• Pan-European Biological and Landscape Diversity Strategy, endorsed 1995

Biodiversity related legislation - Irish level

Irish legislation and agreements relating to wildlife conservation and biodiversity:

Irish Legislation

• The Wildlife Act 1976
• The Wildlife (Amendment) Act 2000
• European Communities (Natural Habitats) Regulations 1997
• European Communities (Natural Habitats) (Amendment) Regulations 1998
• Planning and Development Act 2000
• Forestry Act 1946
• Good Agricultural Practice for Protection of Waters Regulation 2006

The threat to native wildlife species

'Notice Nature', a public awareness campaign launched January 2007, aims to highlight the threat to around 150 species of native Irish wildlife, some of which face extinction unless remedial action is undertaken. Some of the species are national symbols, including the salmon, corncrake and mountain hare.

Preventing loss of biodiversity is an issue of Global, European and National importance. Through local meetings and providing advice on how to protect and care for biodiversity, the campaign links the presence of wildlife with our quality of life. It is targeting both the general public and any sector that poses a serious threat to Irish biodiversity, such as the construction industry and farming.

According to Elizabeth Arnett, project manager for the Notice Nature campaign, Ireland's natural heritage is often taken for granted, compared with its artistic and literary heritage:

"Not protecting Ireland's natural heritage of plants, birds, animals and their habitats is akin to taking a painting from the National Gallery of Art every month and burning it."

The campaign in being run by the National Parks and Wildlife Service of the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government.

How many species, and how many are threatened?

According to an Irish Times article on the threat to Ireland's wildlife, published 16 January 2007, Ireland's wildlife is thought to comprise:

• 31 species of mammal (OnlyOneIreland reckons there's 34 mammal species)
• 27 species of fish
• 12,000 species of flowering plants and trees
• 3,500 species of fungi
• 12,000 species of insects.

It is estimated that up to 200 of these species are threatened with extinction or have undergone serious decline in recent years.

• A total of 18 native bird species are on the red list of animals that have shown a 50 per cent decline in breeding numbers in the last 25 years. These include the corncrake, barn owl, black-necked grebe, hen harrier and grey partridge. Further still, around 20 bird species in Ireland are of conservation concern.
• A further 77 species of native Irish birds have undergone a decline of between 25 per cent and 50 per cent throughout Europe.
• Mammals on the endangered species list include the red squirrel, otter, mountain hare and all 10 bat species found in Ireland.
• The natterjack toad, native only to a small part of Co Kerry, is also on Ireland's endangered list.

Ireland, along with the rest of the EU, is commited under international biodiversity agreements to halt the loss of its biodiversity by 2010. The Notice Nature campaign, launched in January 2007, contributes to Ireland's commitment.

• Read more about Ireland's mammals
• Read more about Ireland's birds
• Read more about Ireland's fish
• Read about the Notice Nature campaign

The world's largest carbonate mounds

Ireland's carbonate mounds, formed when new coral grows on top of dead coral over millions of years, are though to the largest in the world. They are found off the West coast of Ireland and are associated to Ireland's extensive deep water coral reefs.

Many of Ireland's carbonate mounds are now 10s of metres high and cover an area of 100s of sq metres. The tallest carbonate mound surveyed to date is 350m tall. These large slowly forming and spreading structures have accumulated over 3.5 million years of sporadic growth.

The most extensive deepwater coral reefs in Europe

The most extensive deepwater coral reefs in Europe

First photographed by un-manned submarines in the mid-1990s, Ireland's deepwater coral reefs are among the most extensive in Europe, second only to those in Norway.

They are found some 100 to 250 miles off Ireland's West coast at depths of between 600 and 1000m. These peripheral Irish waters provide optimal growing conditions for coldwater-loving corals. Highly productive surface waters yield plenty of nourishing detritus to the coral below, fast flowing currents are rich in nutrients, the temperature and salinity ranges are perfect and there are sufficient hard surfaces to which the corals can firmly attach themselves.

They took thousands of years to develop, growing up to 2mm a year to form fragile carbonate mounds (thought to be the largest in the world) that are now 10s of metres high and covering an area of 100s of sq metres.

The reefs provide a bustling habitat for animals such as sponges, fish, worms, crabs, shrimps and other crustaceans. Being so remote and at such high pressure depth the reefs are fairly inaccessible. There are plans to place permanent observatories on the reefs to aid scientific research.

In mid-2006 Ireland became the first country in Europe to propose formally to the European Commission that four of its coral reef sites be designated as Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) under the provisions of the 1992 Habitats Directive. This will make it illegal to perform any activities (such as those involved in fishing, scientific research or acoustic surveying) that may cause them damage.

• Ireland First Country In EU To Designate Coral Reefs (Press Release, May 2006)
• Coral Reefs in Irish Waters (article)

Unique urban Irish goat, with the longest horns in the world

Bilberry Rock, a quarry-like commonage in Waterford City, is home to a what the British Feral Goat Research Group thinks may be a rare and uniquely Irish goat breed. However, with a population of only 28, eight of which are female, their survival is at risk. Slightly larger than domestic goats, they have long, fine, wavy coats, and elegant horns, possibly the longest of any goat.

Now cared for by local families, they may originally have been introduced by the Huguenots, who would have used their fine cashmere wool for weaving. The Irish Wildlife Trust and UCD are carrying out DNA analysis on the goats to help identify their exact origins. Meanwhile, the Bilberry Goat Herd Protection Trust is trying to protect their low-density-housing zoned habitat from development.

Goats are considered part of Ireland’s wild fauna but lack any protection under the Wildlife Act. Their official conservation is limited to some national parks.

• Check out Waterford's Bilberry Goat Blog
• Waterford’s Bilberry Goat herd - photo and article
• Listen to a radio programme on the Bilberry Goat Herd (see Programme 10, 11 August 2006)
• Contact the Bilberry Goat Herd Protection Trust at bilberrygoats@eircom.net

Reintroducing white-tailed Sea Eagles to Kerry

One hundred years after becoming extinct in Ireland, the White-tailed Sea Eagle is set to soar again. Over a five year period starting in summer 2007, 15 chicks a year (sourced from Norway under licence) will be reintroduced to the wilds of Killarney National Park in Co. Kerry. Monitoring will take place after release. After five years it is hoped that the birds will begin to breed and spread out across the rich peninsulas, coast, windswept islands and deep bays of Kerry and West Cork.

The project takes its lead from other successful projects in Ireland and Scotland. Apart from the cultural and tourism benefits of having eagles back in Kerry, this project will help Ireland meet its commitment to maintain and enhance native wildlife under the Rio de Janeiro Convention on Biodiversity.

The project is being overseen by a specialist group coordinated by the National Parks and Wildlife Service, the Golden Eagle Trust and others.

• Read the press release on the reintroduction of sea eagles to Ireland
• Read about the successful Golden Eagle reintroduction project