Secretary of State for Nature, Heritage and Biodiversity, Christopher O’Sullivan, today (29 April) unveiled a major new report that could shape Ireland’s nature recovery plan.
The Independent Advisory Committee’s report – delivered after 15 months of work – sets out 94 recommendations to guide how Ireland meets its obligations under the EU Nature Restoration Act.
It is understood that implementing the EU Nature Restoration Regulation in Ireland could cost between €450 million and €700 million per year.
Restoring nature
The report also makes seven general recommendations aimed at ensuring the successful implementation of the next plan, including three “priority” recommendations:
- Financing nature restoration;
- Prioritizing work on public lands;
- Support farmers, fishermen and foresters.
In addition, the report provides an analysis of Articles 4 to 13 of the EU Nature Restoration Act, which sets legally binding targets for the restoration of a wide range of ecosystems and species in EU Member States.
The recommendations were based on the expertise of a multidisciplinary group of independent experts who formed the 13-person committee.
The committee was chaired by Dr Aoibhín Ní Chilábhaín and included members from a wide range of sectors, such as agriculture, fishing, forestry, local government, scientific and legal agencies and non-governmental organisations.
The IAC’s work also includes feedback from public and stakeholder engagement processes heard from more than 1,000 people across the country through democratic-style deliberative leaders’ forums and participatory local community conversations.
This was in addition to regular engagement with technical groups comprising experts from government departments and agencies on land, sea, urban and financial topics.
Minister O’Sullivan said: “I would like to thank and congratulate Dr Ní Schellbehain and all the members of the Independent Advisory Committee for their exceptional work in bringing these recommendations together.
“Ireland can be very proud of the approach we are taking in developing our nature restoration plan.
“We work from the bottom up, listening to communities, engaging with key sectors, and collaborating across perspectives and positions to find common ground for the future of nature in this country.”
He added: “It is a great credit to the President and members that this common ground was not only found, but was well articulated. This is not an easy task.”
“We often hear about the divide between rural and urban Ireland, between environmentalists and farmers, and between scientists and practitioners. I believe that when we look back in the years to come, this report will be seen as a major milestone in bridging those divides.”
The Minister said he was committed to ensuring that the recommendations of the International Advisory Committee were implemented through Ireland’s National Nature Restoration Plan and that the people of Ireland “can see and feel the benefits of a restored and thriving nature for themselves”.
Extraordinary meeting
According to the Chairman of the Independent Advisory Committee. Dr. Les Sullivanthe work of the Committee represents “an extraordinary coming together of diverse stakeholders” and represents a historic process of collaboration.
“It has been an honor to be part of this process and I would like to thank every member of the committee for their commitment and engagement over the past 15 months in arriving at these recommendations.
“Nature is not only an essential infrastructural asset and inherently valuable, but it is deeply connected to our language and national heritage,” she added.
Dr Ní Soilabhain believes the Nature Restoration Act “represents a huge opportunity for farmers, foresters, fishers, local authorities, communities and individuals”.
Complex task
Meanwhile, Director General of the National Parks and Wildlife Service, Niall O Doncho, said the organization was proud to be leading the “whole-of-government approach to formulating the Irish Nature Restoration Plan”.
“Developing the plan is a complex undertaking, involving many government departments and agencies, as well as a wide range of stakeholders.
“This approach provides us with a once-in-a-generation opportunity for all stakeholders – policymakers and citizens alike – to chart a course for the future of nature restoration in Ireland,” he added.
The next stage of the process is that Minister O’Sullivan will consider the recommendations of the International Advisory Committee as part of the ongoing preparation of the draft Nature Restoration Plan, which is still under development.
Ireland is required to submit its draft national rescue plan to the European Commission by 1 September 2026, from which point a 12-month dialogue will begin with the Commission on the requirements of the regulation and the proposed response for Ireland to achieve the recovery targets to 2030, 2040 and 2050.
A four-week round of public consultations on the draft plan are scheduled to begin at the end of May.
The final national reform plan will be submitted to the committee in September 2027 after approval by the Council of Ministers.
