The Government needs to establish a long-term agri-environmental scheme to run in tandem with similar schemes that operate within the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) cycle, the Climate Change Advisory Council (CCAC) has said.
The CCAC’s annual review of biodiversity report, launched on Wednesday 15 October, said that permanent funding is needed for an agri-environmental scheme, beyond the current model that emulates the CAP cycle.
“The Government should ensure continuity of the current agri-environment schemes and timely payments, while also establishing a longer-term programme that incentivises and rewards farmers for delivering ambitious, results-based measures that reduce emissions, build resilience and enhance biodiversity and ecosystem services,” it said.
Planning
The report also stated that “specific regulations” need to be added to the planning permission system to prevent further biodiversity loss.
Nature-based solutions also need to be embedded in the design and delivery of all future infrastructure developments, the CCAC report added.
The body called on the Government to issue national guidance and enact specific regulations to better integrate biodiversity into the planning system.
It said his should include the use of nature-inclusive infrastructure design, the creation of biodiversity corridors and the restoration of nature-friendly habitats in all new developments.
Commenting on the report, CCAC member professor Yvonne Buckley said the Government’s failure to tackle biodiversity loss is having a “detrimental” impact on Ireland’s ability to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and its resilience to extreme weather events.
“A key priority must be to incorporate nature-based solutions and biodiversity enhancement measures into new developments.
“This is good for our climate, good for biodiversity and good for people. By ensuring that our infrastructure provides green and blue spaces, we can increase wellbeing and make our communities better places to live.
“The council welcomes the establishment of an independent advisory committee and related working groups for the development of the national nature restoration plan.
“This must be reinforced by committed investment to enhance and protect biodiversity that is supported by a significant increase in biodiversity-related human resources capacity across all of Government,” she added.
Peatlands
The CCAC stated that Ireland’s peatlands are at considerable risk, with only 25% in a healthy condition.
They require ambitious targets to be set for 2030, 2040 and 2050 and restoration measures to help capture significant volumes of carbon, support flood mitigation and enhance water quality.
Limited resourcing for biodiversity across departments and agencies remains a concern
Within the report, the council also highlighted the growing risk to biodiversity and ecosystems from the increased impacts of climate change.
It said Ireland is falling far short of its international conservation commitments, with only 14.4% of land and just under 10% of marine areas under formal protection - far below the 30% target set for 2030 under the global biodiversity framework.
More ambitious biodiversity conservation and restoration measures are needed in and outside protected areas, it said.
Limited resourcing for biodiversity across departments and agencies remains a concern for the council, with an estimated annual investment gap of €700m.
The CCAC added that this is compounded by the Government’s inaction to prioritise a dedicated allocation for biodiversity conservation and restoration measures within the infrastructure, climate and nature fund.
Invasive species
The council also highlighted the growing threat to native biodiversity from invasive species, with the recent identification of Asian hornets in Cork and Dublin as a sign of accelerating ecological risk.
To address this, it has recommended that the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) delivers the “long-overdue” national invasive species management plan before the end of the year, with targeted actions to monitor and manage species of concern.
“Climate change is making Ireland more hospitable to invasive species due to milder winters and warmer summers,” said Buckley.
“These risks, identified as substantial by 2050 and critical by 2100 in the national climate change risk assessment, highlight the urgent need to strengthen our surveillance, control and management systems.
“Biodiversity is not just protecting nature, it’s about supporting climate resilience and making our communities more pleasant places to live. If the Government is serious about climate action, then it must invest in supporting biodiversity,” she added.
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