CWF at the Nature Restoration Plan Leaders’ Forum

Last week, I represented the Community Wetlands Forum (CWF) at the first Leaders’ Forum on Nature Restoration, which marked the beginning of an extensive consultation process to inform the development of a national Nature Restoration Plan. The requirement for Ireland to prepare a Nature Restoration Plan by September 2026 is a requirement of the EU Nature Restoration Law, which is the first piece of EU legislation on biodiversity in 30 years requiring Ireland to meet restoration targets for 2030, 2040, and 2050. Unfortunately, the previous legislation, the Birds Directive and Habitats Directive, have achieved only limited success as over 85% of Ireland’s habitats are regarded as “in bad ecological condition”.

Over ninety representatives attended the event, reflecting a wide range of interests, from marine environments to farming and pollinator populations. Following the enactment of the Nature Restoration Law across the EU in July 2024, the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) was appointed to coordinate the development of the Plan and engage with a wide range of stakeholders. An Independent Advisory Group, chaired by Dr Aoibhinn Ní Shúilleabháin, was appointed at the end of 2024 to engage all parties and advise the Minister on the content of the Plan.

Addressing the Leaders’ Forum, Minister of State for Nature, Heritage and Biodiversity Christopher O’Sullivan said:

“We are facing urgent challenges, from biodiversity loss to climate change, and nature restoration has never been more critical.”

This event is the first step in an extensive consultation process to co-create a National Nature Restoration Plan that is ambitious, achievable and inclusive, delivering benefits for nature, our communities and our quality of life. To succeed, we need an all of society response, including environmental, scientific, academic, farming, forestry, and fisheries stakeholders across both public and private sectors.

The discussions at the forum focused on setting out the core principles to guide the plan, a shared vision statement, obstacles and risks to development and key enablers for success. The farmers’ associations made it clear that new designations of land would be unwelcome, and the NPWS emphasized that all measures for rewetting land would be on a voluntary basis. There is likely to be a strong focus on nature restoration on public-owned land, with Coillte owning 7% of Irish land and Bord na Móna owning 1%. I spoke up to say that local community groups such as Community Wetland Forum members should be at the centre of nature restoration of public land given the importance of local support to achieving the plan’s objectives.

In addition to the Leaders’ Forum, a Community Conversation Programme will take place later in the year. The NPWS said that this initiative will be a locally led, participatory engagement process designed to inform and hear the views of local groups and individuals across the country, so watch out for local events.

The Leaders’ Forum has started on an optimistic note and organizations such as the Community Wetlands Forum can bring together farmers and environmentalists in local areas to manage nature restoration on public lands. We need to present a collective voice as community groups managing important nature areas that we are up for this challenge!

Written by Eddie Smyth