Wildlife

The Legal Context

The Heritage Council was established as a statutory body under the Heritage Act, 1995. It proposes policies and priorities for the identification, protection, preservation and enhancement of the national heritage, including wildlife habitats, flora and fauna. Under the Act, a Standing Committee on Wildlife was established to advise the Council on wildlife matters.

Wildlife Laws and Regulations

A range of statutory provisions in Ireland concern our natural heritage, its protection, and the control of human activities that may impact upon it negatively. The main ones are:

• The Wildlife Act, 1976
• The Wildlife Amendment Act, 2000
• EU Regulations — These transpose the European Directives (e.g. Birds Directive, the Habitats Directive, the Environmental Impact Assessment Directive) into Irish law
• Flora (Protection) Order, 1999
• Planning and Development Act, 2000

Ireland also has a range of designated or protected areas.

Special Areas of Conservation (SACs)

Designated under the EU’s Habitats Directive and the European Union (Natural Habitats) Regulations, 1997 for habitats and species that warrant protection.

Special Protection Areas (SPAs)

Designated under the EU’s Birds Directive for the protection of rare and vulnerable bird species, migratory bird species and their important habitats.
(Note: SPAs and SACs are known collectively as Natura 2000 sites.)

Natural Heritage Areas (NHAs)

Designated under the Wildlife Act, 1976 and the Wildlife Amendment Act, 2000 for areas of habitat that are deemed important or which constitute an important habitat for a plant or animal species in need of protection.

Nature Reserves

These are protected under Ministerial Order.

National Parks

There are currently six State-owned National Parks in Ireland — the Burren in Co. Clare, Connemara National Park, Killarney National Park in Co. Kerry, Glenveagh National Park in Co. Donegal, Wicklow Mountains National Park, and Ballycroy National Park in Co. Mayo.

For more information on wildlife law, legislation and designations, and their enforcement, contact the National Parks and Wildlife Service of the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, 7 Ely Place, Dublin 2. Phone: (01) 888-2000. Fax: (01) 8883272.  

www.npws.ie

International Conventions and Agreements

Ireland has signed and ratified a number of international conventions that influence national policy and legislation concerning the protection and management of wildlife and wildlife habitats.

• Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES)
• Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)
• Ramsar Convention on Wetlands
• Convention on Migratory Species (CMS or Bonn Convention)
• Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats (Bern Convention)
• Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the North-East Atlantic

Further information on Ireland’s commitments and responsibilities under these international conventions can be found at the individual websites.

The Convention on Biological Diversity — more information

As part of its commitments under the Convention on Biological Diversity, Ireland is now developing its second National Biodiversity Plan. The Heritage Council has prepared a submission to the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government on the development of the Plan. In addition, the Heritage Council is working with the Department and many Local Authorities to support the development and implementation of Local Biodiversity Plans.