EPA - Ireland's Environment, An Integrated Assessment - 2020

Ireland’s Environment – An Integrated Assessment 2020 Figure 6.1  Overall assessment results for the status of and trends in habitats protected under the EU Habitats Directive in Ireland (Source: NPWS Article 17 Data 2019) Favourable Inadequate Bad Stable Improving Declining Habitat trends Habitat status 46% 39% 2% 52.5% 45.5% 15% Species Trends Some species, such as the pine marten and otter, are increasing in numbers while others, such as the freshwater pearl mussel, are in decline. The NPWS (2019) reported that populations of 72 per cent of species protected under the EU Habitats Directive are stable or improving. Overall, 57 per cent of species assessed have a favourable conservation status (Figure 6.2). Species such as the pine marten and otter have shown an increasing trend, with the pine marten showing an increase in range. Some key species, however, are declining. One of the species of greatest concern is the pollution-sensitive freshwater pearl mussel; only a few rivers have populations that include young individuals, with populations without young individuals likely to die out (NPWS, 2019). Figure 6.2  Overall assessment results for the status of and trends in species protected under the EU Habitats Directive in Ireland (Source: NPWS Article 17 Data 2019) Favourable Inadequate Bad Unknown Stable Improving Declining Unknown Species trends Species status 15% 15% 55% 15% 13% 17% 57% 13% 132