Ireland's State of the Environment Report 2024

186 Chapter 7: Nature Key chapter messages 1. The Irish landscape is heavily modified by humans. Many of the few remaining natural and semi-natural habitats are in a poor or bad state. Research in Ireland highlights that 85% of our protected habitats and almost one-third of our protected species of flora and fauna are in unfavourable status, over half our native plant species are in decline and more than 50 bird species are of high conservation concern. The leading causes of these declines are changes in agricultural practices, including intensification; pollution; the increasing spread of invasive species; and our changing climate. 2. Our natural habitats and biodiversity have been squeezed to the margins of our landscape and policies, while food production and economic development have been prioritised. However, nature underpins our food production, food security and economic development. We risk our future if we continue to marginalise nature, and its protection, and fail to deliver adequate, achievable, impactful, evidence-based and coordinated action to protect and restore it. 3. Biodiversity loss affects everyone. It is essential that nature protection, enforcement, management and restoration are mainstreamed across government, social and economic sectors and are fully considered at all levels of national, regional and local decision-making. 4. Nature can recover if given the opportunity. For example, Ireland’s corncrake population has risen by more than 35% in recent years, reflecting the outcome of a multi-million euro conservation investment that began in 2019. Positive actions to halt declines and to restore the key elements of our natural world must be implemented.