National Biodiversity Emergency Declaration

Percentage of species in favourable, inadequate or bad condition.
Courtesy NPWS ©

Percentage of habitats in favourable, unfavourable-inadequate or unfavourable-bad condition .
Courtesy NPWS ©

In May 2019 the Dail voted upon and declared both a National Climate and Biodiversity Emergency, making Ireland the first country in the world, after the UK, to do so. This amendment importantly calls on the Citizens’ Assembly to examine how the State can improve its response to the issue of biodiversity loss.

According to the  Article 17 Report to the European Commission on the implementation of the EU Habitats Directive, 15% of species in Ireland have an “inadequate status” with another 15% identified as having a “bad status”. Species are now in decline by 15% compared to a 10% decline between 2007 - 2013, showing a negative trend from 6 years previous. 17% of species are however improving compared to 6% between 2007-2013. Approximately one third of the 98 wild bee species in Ireland are close to extinction while another 60% of birds, commonly occurring in Ireland, are now on the red or amber conservation lists.

85% percent of Ireland’s habitats assessed are now under an “Unfavourable Conservation status" compared to 91% in the period 2007 - 2013, showing an improving trend. 31% of habitats were in decline at this time according to Ireland’s Biodiversity Sectoral Climate Change Adaptation Plan. Today this has increased to 46% of habitats now recorded to be in decline according to The Status of EU Protected Habitats and Species in Ireland 2019 report. Only 2% of habitats are reported as currently improving (DCHG, 2019).

The recently published, 6th National Report to the Convention on Biological Diversity, identifies that such outcomes are the result of land use change alongside increasing levels of production from the agriculture sector. The National Biodiversity Data Centre reports that a decline in wetlands, soil erosion, agriculture and forestry industries and poor hedgerow management are among the reasons for such increasing levels of biodiversity loss. For further information please see the 6th National Report to the Convention on Biological Diversity.

Emergency Responses

Elephant Hawk Moth
Courtesy of DCHG © Photographer: Brian Nelson

Marsh Fritillary- Inadequate Status
Courtesy NPWS © Photographer: Brian Nelson

Adaptation Measures

Ireland’s Biodiversity Sectoral Climate Change Adaptation Plan identifies climate change as one of the main stressors impacting upon biodiversity loss in Ireland. The plan aims to protect biodiversity from the impacts of climate change and to conserve and manage ecosystems so that they deliver services that increase the adaptive capacity of people and biodiversity (DCHG, 2019)

The plans main objectives are to:

1. Protect and restore biodiversity to increase the resilience of natural and human systems to climate change.

2. Improve understanding of the impacts of climate change on biodiversity

3. Improve landscape connectivity to facilitate mobility in a changing climate.

4. Engage society to protect biodiversity to enhance resilience and,

5. Ensure sufficient financing is available to implement the Biodiversity Climate Change Adaptation Plan (DCHG, 2019).

Irelands third National Biodiversity Action Plan 2017-2021  developed by the National Parks and Wildlife Service’s comprises of 7 strategic objectives and 119 targeted actions.

The plans main objectives are to:

1. Mainstream biodiversity into decision-making across all sectors.
2. Strengthen the knowledge base for conservation, management and sustainable use of biodiversity.
3. Increase awareness and appreciation of biodiversity and ecosystems services.
4. Conserve and restore biodiversity and ecosystem services in the wider countryside.
5. Conserve and restore biodiversity and ecosystem services in the marine environment.
6. Expand and improve management of protected areas and species and,
7. Strengthen international governance for biodiversity and ecosystem services (DCHG, 2019).

The overall focus to improve the management of and expand upon current protected areas and species will contribute to the implementation of the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020 and the Aichi Biodiversity Targets.