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Ireland’s Environment – An Assessment 2016
52
Current Status and Trends
Habitat Trends
Raised bogs and species-rich grasslands are under
threat in Ireland.
Owing to Ireland’s geographical isolation and recent
geological history, it has a lower diversity of non-marine
flora and fauna than is found on continental Europe.
Nevertheless, our aquatic systems and wetlands support
internationally significant populations of birds, fish and
invertebrates. Ireland is also relatively rich in bryophytes,
algae, lichens and non-marine molluscs.
Member States are required to monitor habitats and species
that are considered threatened across Europe and are listed
in the Habitats Directive (92/43/EEC). The conservation
status of habitats and species is assessed at a national
level, not just in Special Areas of Conservation
2
(SACs).
The most recent report of the National Parks and Wildlife
Service (NPWS, 2013) provides an overview of the status of
Ireland’s 58 natural habitats and 61 native species.
The current status and trends of Ireland’s habitats are
presented in Figure 4.2 (NPWS, 2013). Baseline surveys are
still required to supplement our knowledge of habitats,
particularly lakes and fens. The habitats of most pressing
concern are those that have reduced range and/or area,
notably raised bogs and species-rich grasslands.
2 SACs are prime wildlife conservation areas, considered to be important
on a European as well as a national level.
Figure 4.2
Overall Assessment Results for the Status and Trends in Habitats Protected Under the EU Habitats
Directive in Ireland 2007-2013 (Source: NPWS)
Favourable
9%
Inadequate
50%
Bad
41%
Status
Trends
Improving
16%
Stable
48%
Declining
31%
Unknown
5%
Figure 4.1
Linkages Between Biodiversity Policies from a National and Global Scale (Source: NPWS)
UN Convention on
Biological Diversity
Strategic Plan 2011-2020
20 Aichi Targets
21 Targets
102 Actions
6 Targets
20 Actions
National
Scale
Regional
Global
EU Biodiversity
Strategy
to 2020
Ireland’s National
Biodiversity Plan
2011-2016