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Chapter 7: Land and Soil
Forward strategic planning for land use and new
infrastructure is needed to ensure that growth is
sustainable and does not add to the environmental
pressures that are already evident, such as the gradual
loss of wetlands over the past two decades or capacity
issues in delivering drinking water and treating urban
waste water.
Land drainage, reclamation for agricultural purposes and
peat extraction have all impacted peatlands, leaving only
10% of the original raised bog and 28% of the original
blanket bog peatlands resource suitable for conservation
(as natural peatlands). The damage caused to bogs is
also damaging for climate mitigation. These issues point
towards a pressing need to work on the implementation
of the National Peatlands Strategy, in order to leave the
best examples of the remaining unique and unspoilt
boglands as a legacy for future generations.
By integrating the NLS into land use planning,
sustainable landscape management practices can be
progressed. As with the wider environment, there
are a range of issues that affect landscape. Ensuring
the sustainable management of landscape remains a
key challenge, particularly in the context of evolving
social and economic needs as well as climate change
issues. The accomplishment of this overarching aim
will be possible only through the establishment of
consistent characterisation frameworks to assist local
authorities and national agencies in engaging in
infrastructure development. More initiatives to develop
greater awareness of landscape and that facilitate local
community participation are also a requisite for success
in this area. Assessing the state of the Irish landscape
to capture additional information is a key issue for
future practice; such measurements may include the
rate of Landscape Charter Assessment at a regional
level, and the take-up of these assessments in decision
making, policies and legislation, scenic designations,
local community landscape initiatives, accessibility and
awareness.
The flooding that parts of Ireland experienced in 2015
has highlighted the need for a wider debate and
an integrated approach to managing flood risks in
catchments. The national CFRAM programme that is
under way aims to assess the existing flood risk of inland
watercourses and coastlines in Ireland. The programme
is also considering the potential for significant increases
in flood risk due to climate change. The CFRAM
programme, co-ordinated by the OPW, will be the
principal solution for delivering on the main requirements
of the European Floods Directive and should lead to
better solutions to tackle flooding while minimising
impacts on the wider environment.
Land is subject to many, often competing, sectoral
demands. National policies, such as those for forestry,
agriculture, peatlands and the built environment, influence
land use change and resource management. Both single
rural housing and suburban spread can impact on soils
and landscape and need to be carefully managed.
Achieving the aims of Food Wise 2025 (DAFM, 2015b),
without damaging the environment, will be a significant
challenge. Many significant actions included in the Food
Wise implementation plan relate to sustainable food
production and management and protection of soil quality.
The implementation of all these sectoral plans and policies
should be carefully monitored to ensure a sustainable
approach to land use that does not negatively affect the
environment, the wider economy and communities.
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