BirdWatch Ireland welcomes nature and heritage funding increase
BirdWatch Ireland has welcomed the €172 million package for nature and heritage announced as part of Budget 2025 this week.
The independent conservation organisation noted that the overall funding allocation announced by Minister of State for Nature, Heritage and Electoral Reform, Malcolm Noonan marks an 11% increase on the previous year and represents a record budget for nature and heritage.
Budget 2025 includes a 25% increase in funding for the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) when compared with this year, to €78 million.
€29 million of the funding will be used for protection and restoration at national parks and nature reserves, while €6.5 million has been ringfenced for science, research and nature protection.
BirdWatch Ireland said that budget increases for nature have been "a welcome hallmark of this government after years of poor investment".
The group emphasised that the commitment to nature must be continued every year and by successive governments in order to turn the tide on biodiversity loss.
Linda Lennon, chief executive of BirdWatch Ireland, said she was pleased by the overall increase in funding for nature in Budget 2025.
“However, it is vital that this trajectory is repeated each year going forward.
"A sustained commitment to nature, underpinned by a robust budget and science-led decision-making, is essential if we are to have any real chance of halting species declines and habitat loss.
"Moreover, this ongoing commitment is vital if Ireland wishes to meet its legal obligations under national and EU law," she said.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published its eighth State of the Environment Report in Ireland since 1996 this week.
"In stark terms, it outlined yet again the dire situation many wild birds face. It reminded us that for our protected and internationally important habitats, only 15% are in good condition," Oonagh Duggan, head of advocacy at BirdWatch Ireland, said.
"Ireland is one of the worst-ranked countries in the EU for poor habitat quality. Our Dáil Éireann-declared biodiversity emergency is not an exaggeration.
"The restoration actions that are being taken must be scaled up for years to come so we can rebuild ecosystems to help people and wildlife be more resilient to the effects of climate breakdown," she added.
The 2020-2026 Birds of Conservation in Ireland (BoCCI) assessment showed that 26% of Irish bird species are now on the "red list", indicating the highest level of concern for their populations.
BirdWatch Ireland said that species such as the hen harrier are on the brink of extinction, with only 85-106 breeding pairs believed to remain in the country, while just one known pair of Ring Ouzel remains in Ireland.
The group noted that restoring habitats and reversing species declines "cannot be achieved in a matter of months, or even one government term".
Following the passing of the EU Nature Restoration Law earlier this year, Ireland and other member states are now required to draft national restoration plans to meet overall targets.
