The 4th National Biodiversity Action Plan for Ireland (NBAP) has been launched - the plan sets the national biodiversity agenda for the period 2023-2030 and aims to deliver the transformative changes required to the ways in which we value and protect nature.
Minister for Nature, Heritage and Electoral Reform Malcolm Noonan T.D. launched Actions for Nature, the 4th National Biodiversity Action Plan in Dublin's National Botanic Garden's in Glasnevin on Thursday, January 25th, 2024. The Minister of State said:
"When we act, nature can and does respond, often relatively quickly. In Ireland, it’s time to up our game and that’s what this National Biodiversity Action Plan is all about. We’re taking an all-of-Government, all-of-society approach to biodiversity action and underpinning it with unprecedented levels of resourcing, both financial and human, to deliver on science-led targets that are measurable and impactful."
The 4th NBAP has been developed with the support, advice and input of the interdepartmental Biodiversity Working Group and the independent Biodiversity Forum. Ireland’s 2nd National Biodiversity Conference was held in 2022 at Dublin Castle to gather insights and recommendations for the development of the NBAP. The event welcomed
over 400 delegates and over 90 speakers across the two days with a further 245 attendees joining online. Insights and recommendations were recorded for the fourth NBAP. A public consultation process was later held to provide further opportunities to engage with the Plan.
The aim is to ensure that every citizen, community, business, local authority, semi-state and state agency has an awareness of biodiversity and its importance, and of the implications of its loss, while also understanding how they can act to address the biodiversity emergency as part of a renewed national effort to “act for nature”. It will be funded through the 3.15bn Climate, Nature and Infrastructure fund secured in Budget 2024.
This National Biodiversity Action Plan 2023-2030 builds upon the achievements of the previous Plan. It will continue to implement actions within the framework of five strategic objectives, while addressing new and emerging issues:
Objective 1 - Adopt a Whole of Government, Whole of Society Approach to Biodiversity
Objective 2 - Meet Urgent Conservation and Restoration Needs
Objective 3 - Secure Nature’s Contribution to People
Objective 4 - Enhance the Evidence Base for Action on Biodiversity
Objective 5 - Strengthen Ireland’s Contribution to International Biodiversity Initiatives
In his foreword to the plan, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said: "This is our fourth National Biodiversity Action Plan. It continues some of the good work done to date, as well as incorporating some new actions. Our efforts to tame Invasive Alien Species for example, will be accelerated, as will our research capacity so we have a solid base from which to make decisions. Restoring and rehabilitating our peatlands, our new approach to forestry, creating a network of Marine Protected Areas, ensuring the protection of our Natura 2000 sites and reviewing the way we use our land will help us to better position Ireland and its people to confront the twin crises of climate change and biodiversity loss."
Read more and access the National Biodiversity Action Plan 2023-2030 HERE.