Ireland's State of the Environment Report 2024

168 Chapter 7: Nature 3. Threats to nature and biodiversity How we live in and use our land has significant implications for human life, our economy and our society, and it also has consequences for nature and biodiversity. The most recent global assessment of biodiversity loss by the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) lists changes in land and sea use, direct exploitation of organisms, climate change, pollution and invasion of alien species as the main threats to biodiversity (IPBES, 2019). In Ireland, the main reasons for biodiversity loss are wide ranging but generally reflect those highlighted by IPBES (2019). More specifically, and according to the most recent National Biodiversity Action Plan – for the period 2023-2030 (NPWS, 2024) – overgrazing, undergrazing, land abandonment, water and air pollution, alien and problematic species, recreation, development (particularly residential, agricultural and commercial), land drainage, river barriers and the modification of coastal areas, and climate change are all key issues affecting nature in Ireland. However, the ways in which human activities affect nature and biodiversity loss are nuanced and often reflect the policies and strategies adopted by society and government. This results in both direct and indirect drivers of change and demand that magnify pressures on the environment, nature and associated biodiversity (Figure 7.10). Figure 7.10  Indirect and direct drivers and human pressures that cause biodiversity loss in Ireland An indirect driver operates by altering the level of or rate of change of one or more direct drivers. Important indirect drivers include changes in population, economic activity, and technology, as well as socio-political and cultural factors. Pressures from human activities have changed the state of the environment and ecosystem. Important pressures in Ireland include agriculture, commercial forestry, energy, industry, fisheries, peat mining and tourism. INDIRECT DRIVERS PRESSURES DIRECT DRIVERS A direct driver influences ecosystem processes and can therefore be identified and measured to differing degrees of accuracy. Important direct drivers include habitat change, climate change, invasive alien species, overexploitation, and pollution. Governance Demographic Consumption Economy Technology Fishery Agriculture Infrastructure Forestry Tourism Peat Mining Energy Pollution Overexploitation Climate change Invasive Species Habitat loss and degradation Source: Adapted from OPW, 2022 Land cover and land use The challenges of managing the modified landscape we have created over generations cannot be overstated. Land cover in Ireland is dominated by grasslands. More than half of our land is used for agriculture-related activities. For more information about land cover and use, see Chapter 5. This specialisation and intensification of land for agriculture has had a significant impact on biodiversity (Figure 7.11).