Ciaran O’Keeffe, NPWS - Protecting Natural Habitats and Species

1. Protecting habitats and species
EPA State of te Environment Conference June 2012
1

2. Drivers and Pressures
identified in report on status of habitats and species 2008
Key pressures on Ireland’s habitats and
species were listed as
• Direct habitat damage
• overgrazing and undergrazing;
• water pollution
• unsustainable exploitation
• invasive alien species; and
• recreational pressure
2

3. Drivers and Pressures
identified in report on status of habitats and species 2008
Key pressures on Ireland’s habitats and
species were listed as
• Direct habitat damage
• overgrazing and undergrazing;
• water pollution
• unsustainable exploitation
• invasive alien species; and
N e xt
• recreational pressure e nd 2
re p o r
t d ue
01 3
3

4. Progress
Much significant progress
• Legislation; designation; national plans
and strategies
• Designation of Natura areas
• Knowledge improvement
• Protective measures
4

5. Progress:
Legislation and plans
– Birds and Habitats Regs (2011)
– EIA Agriculture Regs (2011)
• National Biodiversity Plan (2011-16)
• Sustainable Development Framework
• Landscape Strategy (consultation phase
complete)
5

6. National Biodiversity Plan
• 21 targets
• 102 actions
• Reflects the UN CBD
“Aichi” targets and
EU Biodiversity Strategy
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7. THE EU BIODIVERSITY STRATEGY
2050 Vision
2020 headline target
Halt biodiversity loss – restore ecosystem services – global contribution
6 Targets:
Restore Sustainable
ecosystems Sustainable Combat Contribute to
Implementation Agriculture
est. Green Fisheries Alien Invasive averting global
of nature &
Infrastructure Species biodiversity
legislation Forestry
loss
ANNEX OF ACTIONS
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8. Progress:
• Designation of Natura areas – largely complete
in terms of legal protection but still work to do on
– Last few marine SACs
– Marine SPAs for birds ???
– Final completion of formal site designation of
SACs
• Setting of detailed conservation objectives for
sites
8

9. Sufficiency of Natura 2000 network
Terrestrial part (species and habitat types)
100%
SR
90%
IN MAJ
80%
IN MOD
70% IN MIN
60% SUF
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
CY SK SI PL LT RO CZ IT PT AT BG LV MT DE EE FI ES FR GR SE BE HU UK LU IE NL DK
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10. Progress: knowledge e.g.
• National surveys of habitats - grasslands,
woodlands, limestone pavement, uplands (in
train) and species e.g. frog,
• National vegetation database (NBDC)
• Recommendations for biodiversity research
(NPBR)
• Biodiversity in coastal marine sites to aid
licensing of aquaculture/fisheries (MI/ NPWS/
DAFM)
• Red lists (all island)
10

11. 11

12. Progress:
Restoration measures for species
Natterjack toad:
100 new ponds
Partridge
Red kite
Red grouse
Roseate tern
12

13. 13

14. 2008
Species
2013 report likely to show some small
further improvement
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15. Some progress but lots more to do
• CAP, CFP and other policies are critical
• So too are the national schemes and
policies derived from the new EU policies
• Resource constraints are a serious issue
and likely to remain so
• Volunteers remain a crucial element in
data collection
15

16. Habitats
2008
Not much improvement likely in 2013 report; 16
although future prospects may be better

17. Direct habitat damage
• Target on the protected bogs:
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18. Turf cutting on raised bogs
• ban on cutting on 53 bogs in place
• complex and emotive issue
• substantial compensation options put in
place
• cutting in 2012 at 25% of recent years
• legal procedures being followed and
prosecutions will follow
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19. Overgrazing/undergrazing
• Overgrazing now a minor problem in terms
of vegetation cover, but natural vegetation
composition will take a longer time to
recover; undergrazing may be an issue
• However substantial land reclamation has
damaged habitats, driven by EU audit
rules on eligibility of lands for Single Farm
Payment
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20. Fw Pearl Mussel
Want this
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21. Fw Pearl Mussel
Not this
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22. Fw Pearl Mussel
•Silt
•Nutrients
•Droughts/floods
if hydrology of
river is
compromised
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23. Invasive species
• Good progress on
knowledge issues
• Good progress on some
eradication projects
• However capacity
respond to IAS remains
relatively low
• Still have to “commence”
section of new Birds and
Habitats Regulations 23

24. Key factors in protection/loss and of
habitats and species
• Agriculture, forestry and fisheries
• CAP, CFP and other policies are critical
• So too is public opinion, especially when
funds are in short supply
• Economic value – “natural capital”
• EU vigilance over Ireland’s implementation
of environmental protection directives
continues to be a key driver 24

25. “A Prioritised Action
• Framework”
Habitats Directive says member states shall
prepare a PAF for habitats and species in the
Directive
• Purpose is to assist in funding Natura but does
not create aditional funds
• Irish PAF will have to highlight bogs, woodlands,
species rich grasslands; and species including
pearl mussel, several fish species, corncrake
• Future Rural Dev. Plan will need to take this into
account 25

26. 26

27. Meesia triquetra
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