Biodiversity at a National Level

In 1996, Ireland ratified the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) to promote conservation and the sustainable use of biodiversity.

In accordance with the CBD, in April 2002 The National Biodiversity Plan was published, with measures to enhance biodiversity in all the relevant sectors, such as natural resources, agriculture, fisheries, forestry and economic development.

The National Biodiversity Plan compliments and works in tandem with the National Heritage Plan. The National Heritage Plan includes measures for the protection and enhancement of all aspects of Ireland’s heritage.

The overall objective of the National Biodiversity Plan are in line with those of the CBD:

• Conserving habitat diversity
• Conserving species diversity
• Conserving genetic diversity (wild and domesticated animals and plants)
• Contribute to the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity and advancing the CBD on a regional, national and international level

As part of the National Biodiversity Plan, a number of instruments were set up to help raise the importance of biodiversity within the Government, such as Species Action Plans. To date, these Action Plans have been published for Irish Lady's-tresses, Pollan, Hare and Corncrake.

To download a copy of the National Biodiversity Plan click here (3.31MB)

There are various pieces of legislation that are in place to protect our natural biodiversity:

• Wildlife Acts 1976 & 2000
• 1997 European Communities (Natural Habitats) Regulations (as amended 1998)
• 2000 Planning and Development Act

Areas Protected for Nature Conservation

Special Areas of Conservation
These are leading wildlife conservation areas around Ireland that are believed to be important on a European and National level. Many SACs in Ireland are in the countryside, however there are several sites that are in or near towns or city landscapes, such as Dublin Bay and Cork Harbour.

SACs are selected and designated under the EU Habitats Directive (92/43/EEC). This was transposed into Irish Law in the 1997 European Communities (Natural Habitats) Regulations.

Irish SACs include raised bogs, blanket bogs, lakes, rivers, woodlands, estuaries, heaths, and sand dunes. Included in this directive is a list of species that must be protected in Ireland, such as Otters, Freshwater Pearl Mussels, species of butterfly and bumblebees. For further information click here.

Special Protection Areas (SPAs)
The EC Directive on the Conservation of Wild Birds (79/409/EEC) requires Member States to safeguard the habitats of migratory birds and certain particularly threatened birds. For further information click here.

Natural Heritage Areas (NHAs)
This is the national designation for areas of high ecological value, made under the Wildlife (Amendment) Act, 2000. This Act recognises that such sites can be on private land, and can designate sites on both public and private land. Many of these NHAs have overlapping designations of SAC and/or SPA. For further information click here.

National Parks
The designation of National Parks is based on the recommendation of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN), which sets out that areas sharing certain characteristics should be termed National Parks. There are 6 National Parks in Ireland. The parks are managed by the State and most of the land area is also designated SAC. For more information on the characteristics of National Parks and Ireland’s National Parks please click here.

Nature Reserves
Nature Reserves are protected under Ministerial order as areas important to wildlife. There are over 70 Nature Reserves in Ireland encompassing a number of habitat types including sand dunes, woodlands, bogs, heathlands and many more. For more information click here.