The Irish Natura and Hill Farmers Association (INHFA) has questioned the findings of conservation status reports on areas listed in the Habitats Directive and called for an independent examination of these habitats.

The Article 17 Habitats Directive report for 2025 which was commissioned by the the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) found that 90% of habitats listed in the Habitats Directive are currently in “unfavourable” conservation status, while 51% show ongoing deterioration.

However, the INHFA asked how there was such a disparity between the Article 17 report findings and the ACRES scorecard results recorded over the last three years.

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The ACRES results show that average scores for commonages are between 6.0 and 6.5, and more than 95% of those assessed qualified for payments.

“These [Article 17] reports have often been questioned, with farmers feeling that they are not reflective of the reality on the ground,” said INHFA’s John Joe Fitzgerald.

“It is widely believed that the reports have over-exaggerated the fragile state of the habitats,” he maintained.

“This position it now seems is vindicated through ACRES scorecards that are indicating an average score of 6.0 and over. This definitely doesn’t point to a biodiversity crisis that the NPWS and many others would have us believe,” Fitzgerald claimed.

“We should also recognise that the scoring from ACRES is more comprehensive than that undertaken by the NPWS. INHFA is now looking for an independent analysis of these habitats to ascertain their true nature,” the INHFA representative said.

However, the NPWS defended the findings of the Article 17 reports.

“The relationship between the ACRES scorecards and the condition assessments undertaken as part of NPWS scientific monitoring that underpin the Article 17 reports requires detailed analysis,” an NPWS spokesperson said.

“However, a score of 5-6 is not necessarily equivalent to a favourable assessment,” the spokesperson maintained.

The spokesperson explained that the assessment of a habitat's conservation status for Article 17 reports is derived by evaluating four key parameters: range, area, structure and functions, and future prospects. This is done using a standardised EU evaluation matrix.

More than 90% of the habitat area must be in good condition to be deemed in a favourable status.

If between 10% and 25% of the habitat area is in "not good" condition the habitat is deemed to be unfavourable-inadequate.

Where more than 25% of the habitat area is in "not good" condition, the habitat is deemed to be unfavourable-bad.

Fergal Monaghan, who is programme director for ACRES in the Breifne, Leinster, Munster and South Connacht regions, described the ACRES results to-date as very encouraging.

“The average score of commonages has increased from 6.0 to 6.5 and the percentage of commonage land with a payable score has increased from 89% to 95%,” Monaghan said.

“This reflects real improvements being implemented by farmers, particularly in respect of removing self-sown conifers, fire prevention and dealing with waste,” he added.

These results are based on scores recorded across 98,439ha in Leinster, Munster (excluding the Burren, west Cork and the Kerry peninsulas), south Galway, Leitrim and adjacent areas in Sligo, Cavan and Roscommon.