Ireland’s natural habitats deteriorating due to funding shortfall

The council’s latest annual biodiversity review reveals a concerning situation: 90% of Ireland’s EU-protected habitat types and 42% of protected species are currently in an unfavorable conservation condition. Over half of these protected habitats are continuing to decline.

The deterioration of vital ecosystems like wetlands, peatlands, grasslands, and coastal areas is exacerbating Ireland’s susceptibility to flooding, droughts, wildfires, coastal erosion, and other extreme weather events. The council expressed disappointment that Budget 2027 omitted specific funding for the implementation of Ireland’s National Restoration Plan and failed to allocate resources from the Government’s Infrastructure, Climate and Nature Fund.

The council estimates a substantial annual biodiversity investment gap of approximately €700 million. Professor Yvonne Buckley, a member of the advisory council, emphasized the disconnect between government commitments and the necessary financial resources. “Nine in 10 of Ireland’s EU-protected habitat types are in unfavorable condition. We know how serious the problem is, yet we still haven’t committed the long-term funding needed to turn things around.”

While acknowledging a substantial increase in funding for the National Parks and Wildlife Service – now reaching €112 million in Budget 2027, a fivefold increase from 2019 – the council stressed the urgent need for additional long-term investment to tackle the biodiversity crisis. The draft National Restoration Plan suggests that restoring damaged ecosystems could yield €32.9 billion in economic and social benefits between 2024 and 2050, compared to restoration costs of €5.8 billion over the same period. These benefits include reduced flood risks, improved water quality, and enhanced carbon storage.

The council advocates for recognizing Ireland’s natural environment as a critical infrastructure component, alongside essential services like housing, transport, and energy. Healthy wetlands and floodplains naturally absorb excess rainfall, while coastal dunes and saltmarshes provide protection against erosion and rising sea levels. The degradation of these habitats weakens these natural defenses during a period of increasing climate-related risks.

Professor Buckley welcomed the government’s commitment of €715 million to flood-risk management between 2026 and 2030 but urged for similar ambition in restoring natural habitats. “Nature is critical infrastructure that helps us to achieve our climate mitigation and adaptation targets with many co-benefits. It is not an optional extra.”

The council recommends establishing a targeted funding program by early 2028 to support farmers and landowners in restoring natural water-retention systems. Stronger legal protections for Ireland’s estimated 689,000 kilometers of hedgerows, which are largely in unfavorable condition, are also needed. Additionally, local authorities should expand urban green spaces and tree cover to mitigate flooding and extreme heat. Public bodies are encouraged to prioritize biodiversity restoration on state-owned lands. Finally, the council highlighted a shortage of ecologists and biodiversity specialists, urging the government to address this issue and prioritize nature restoration alongside other critical infrastructure.