Minister Hackett welcomes new National Biodiversity Action Plan

Minister Pippa Hackett has welcomed the new National Biodiversity Action Plan (NBAP) which was launched by Minister Malcolm Noonan today (Thursday) in Glasnevin, Dublin.

Minister Hackett said:

"The vast majority of land in Ireland is farmland, so it is essential that we work with farmers and support them in their efforts to improve biodiversity. Alongside the NBAP, my Department will continue to work with farmers on a host of initiatives to support biodiversity - above and below ground. We will continue to support organic farming, multi-species swards, forestry, ACRES and more which will help unlock the system change needed to deliver for nature, wildlife and our land.”

Speaking at the launch, Minister Noonan said:

“Nature is in trouble, but I believe that it can recover. In my time as Minister, I have visited projects and initiatives the length and breadth of the country; walked fields, hillsides, bogs, rivers, urban parks, community gardens, coastlines and hedgerows. I have met the most extraordinary people bringing passion, expertise and dedication to bear on the protection and restoration of habitats and wildlife. What they need more than anything is to be empowered to keep going, and do more.

I was determined that this National Biodiversity Action Plan would be an ‘impact plan’ and, combined with the people power I’ve encountered on my travels, the new statutory footing for the NBAP and the €3.15bn Climate and Nature Fund, I believe that it will be. That sense of the possible is what I want people to take from this. We have the passion, we have the knowledge, we have the resources, and now, we have the plan. We can and will turn the tide on nature loss and make change happen, in the skies, under the water, and on the ground, where it matters.”

The NBAP aims to meet urgent conservation and restoration objectives across Ireland’s terrestrial, marine and freshwater ecosystems and secure nature’s contributions to people, while enhancing the evidence base for action and strengthening Ireland’s efforts on international initiatives.

This is Ireland’s fourth National Biodiversity Action Plan and the first to be published on a Statutory basis, under the Wildlife Amendment Act 2023. The legislation also requires selected public service bodies to integrate biodiversity into their plans, policies and programmes, and report to the Minister on progress.

Director General with the National Parks and Wildlife Service, Niall Ó Donnchú, said:

“In drawing up this together, we listened carefully to a wide range of views and perspectives from government departments, public sector bodies, civil society, and the general public. This was essential to gaining a shared understanding of the extent of biodiversity loss, and to developing a national response to addressing it. Following a phase of renewal, the National Parks and Wildlife Service is ready to lead on the ambition of the Plan. We look forward to continuing to work with our partners, and to be accountable and transparent in doing so. This is our shared plan, and its success depends on all of us taking action for nature. If we give nature a chance it will give us a second chance. Let’s not waste that!”

Assistant Director, Science Advice and Research, National Parks and Wildlife Service, Dr Deirdre Lynn, who led the development of the plan said:

“This Plan will provide us with the focus we need to step up action to conserve and restore biodiversity and contribute to our national, regional and global targets. Millions of years of evolution are at stake.”

The development of the National Biodiversity Action Plan has been led by the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS ) at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage in collaboration with key stakeholders across government and wider society.