Ireland's State of the Environment Report 2024

160 Chapter 7: Nature When the variety of habitats, species, genetic resources or communities is reduced we lose nature and biodiversity. It is estimated that up to 1 million animal and plant species are now threatened with extinction, more than ever before in human history (IPBES, 2019). Globally, the loss of nature and biodiversity is higher than at any point in recent history and is continuing at an unprecedented rate, so much so that it could be considered that we are in the midst of a sixth global mass extinction event (IPBES, 2019; Finn et al. , 2023). Human activities are the primary driver behind biodiversity loss (IPBES, 2019). Bar-On et al. (2018) estimate that humanity has resulted in the loss of 83% of wild animals since civilisation began. Ireland has significant international and legal obligations to protect nature and biodiversity. 1 The European Union (EU) Habitats and Birds Directives have resulted in the creation of a network of sites for habitat and species protection, the Natura 2000 network. The network consists of Special Protection Areas (SPAs) protected under the Birds Directive and Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) protected under the Habitats Directive. Ireland also has a network of Natural Heritage Areas (NHAs), which are given protection under the Wildlife (Amendment) Act (2000). These are areas considered important for the habitats present or which hold species of plants and animals whose habitat needs protection. To date, 148 peatlands have been designated as NHAs and there are a further 630 proposed NHAs, which are afforded limited protection before formal designation 2 . Ireland has Marine Protected Areas in our marine and coastal areas, which are discussed further in Chapter 8. Despite this, we have seen significant declines in nature and biodiversity and their related social, political and economic consequences (NPWS, 2024), so much so that a biodiversity emergency was declared by Dáil Éireann in 2019 (Topic Box 7.2). Topic Box 7.2  National biodiversity emergency and the Citizens’ Assembly on Biodiversity Loss When Dáil Éireann declared a national biodiversity emergency in May 2019, Ireland was one of the first countries in the world to do so. In response, a national Citizens’ Assembly on Biodiversity Loss and a Children and Young People’s Assembly on Biodiversity Loss were established. 1 www.npws.ie/legislation/irish-law (accessed 1 April 2024). 2 www.npws.ie/protected-sites/nha (accessed 18 April 2024). 3 cyp-biodiversity.ie/ (accessed 1 April 2024). National Citizens’ Assembly on Biodiversity Loss The Citizens’ Assembly on Biodiversity Loss was convened to examine how the State could improve its response to biodiversity loss and to bring forward proposals in that regard. The assembly comprised 100 members: 99 randomly selected members of the public and an independent chairperson appointed by the Taoiseach. Following deliberation, 159 recommendations were agreed and published in April 2023 (Citizens’ Assembly, 2023). These included a call on the Oireachtas to accept the full range of recommendations and implement them without delay to curb the crisis and allow the conservation and restoration of biodiversity for the people of Ireland both present and future. The assembly also indicated overall disappointment with the State’s failure to address biodiversity loss, particularly with the lack of implementation and enforcement of national biodiversity legislation (Citizens’ Assembly, 2023). Sector-specific recommendations focused on agriculture, freshwaters, marine and coastal environments, peatlands, forestry, woodlands, hedgerows, protected sites, protected species, invasive species, and urban and built environments. The assembly acknowledged the role of farmers as custodians of the land who possess a rich knowledge and understanding of the environment. It recommended that the agricultural industry be supported in conserving and restoring biodiversity. Children and Young People’s Assembly on Biodiversity Loss Ireland’s first Children and Young People’s Assembly on Biodiversity Loss called for biodiversity to be at the centre of decision-making and for children and young people to be included in responding to biodiversity loss. 3