Ireland's State of the Environment Report 2024

137 Chapter 5: Land While phase 1 of the Land Use Review gathered evidence, phase 2 is assessing land use policies and measures. As outlined above, land use is driving pressures on the environment, but adopting a more integrated approach with multiple benefits, similar to approaches being taken by other countries, could provide a way forward. The challenge for phase 2 of the review is to identify the measures that are needed to ensure that Ireland’s natural capital remains able to sustain social and economic land use needs. The engagement of all stakeholders is key (Dwyer and Wentworth, 2020), and the NLUP approaches of other countries show potential pathways for incentivising the protection of natural capital. 6. Conclusions Ireland’s land cover data tell us that the main land cover is grassland. Since 1990 there have been long- term trends of increasing areas of artificial surfaces, of wetland loss and of growing areas of forestry. Ireland’s land cover changes have been driven by different factors, including national policy and economic activity. The new National Land Cover Map provides higher resolution information about domestic land cover than Ireland has ever previously accessed. Phase 1 of the Land Use Review made 19 recommendations about how Ireland’s land evidence can be further extended and improved to support land use decisions. The aim of the ongoing Land Use Review is to identify appropriate policies, measures and actions in the context of the government’s wider economic, social and climate objectives. Environmental evidence shows that land is a net source of GHG emissions, and land use is driving pressures on water quality and biodiversity. There are many demands on Ireland’s land. Along with a growing population, there are a range of national policies and strategies that have targets that depend on land. Ireland’s land is mostly privately owned, so the active engagement and participation of all land stakeholders is vital to ensure that policies and targets are successfully implemented. While land-related policies and targets are often set at the national level, their implementation depends on the local scale: different locations are suited to different land use options. While it is challenging to consider local implementation when forming national policy, Ireland’s relatively small geographical size makes this more feasible. The new National Land Cover Map, and advances in land mapping data and technology, present opportunities to support local-level decision-making. Considering Ireland’s geographical extent and the range of demands on its land, a multiple benefits approach – properly applied – offers a path to meet environmental, social and economic demands. Land use decisions can be complex, but maintaining a rolling review of land use based on the best available data would support land use decision-making.