Policy & Advocacy
What is policy and advocacy?
‘Policy’ very generally means the national, regional and global legislation, priorities, programs and institutional arrangements that impact on birds and biodiversity.
BirdWatch Ireland’s position on a particular policy issue may have been (or need to be) explicitly agreed, or may be implicit in the objectives of BirdWatch Ireland’s strategy.
Our advocacy work seeks to influence policy and its implementation so as to help achieve our strategic objectives. This may involve advocating a particular position, our information, or approaches and methodologies.
Through policy and advocacy work, we act to influence others who have the ability and power to protect and enhance the living world. We are working to ensure that policy priorities such as the protection of important species, sites and landscapes, and protection of the marine environment are on the government’s agenda.
Birds and their habitats are an important measure of sustainable development and have a significant role in dealing with issues such as water quality, flooding, climate change and quality of life. Our publication Why Birds Count - Policy and Advocacy Priorities for BirdWatch Ireland is available in the Priorities and Current Issues section of this part of the website.
News
Will Nagoya result in a better deal for biodiversity?
CoP 2010: It's October and BirdLife International are in Nagoya, Japan on our behalf.
Ireland's performance is worst in Europe for wildlife protection!
The BirdLife international publication ‘2010 Turning or Breaking Point for Europe’s Wildlife?’ was launched during Biodiversity Week in May 2010. A detailed questionnaire informed each of 28 BirdLife partners' input to the report that assessed whether the basics were in place in each Member State to protect biodiversity.
Scores were consolidated under broad headings for each Member State and labeled red, orange or green. The scores indicate that Ireland is ranked 28 out of 28 Members States with inadequacies such as;
- An incomplete Natura 2000 and NHA network of sites, with a lack of finalised site Management Plans
- Unknown status(condition) of designated site network and lack of protection measures outside of designated areas
- No current National Biodiversity Plan
- Inadequate legislation and capacity to implement it
- Lack of integration of biodiversity into other sectors
- Lack of finance, political will and low level of public awareness
We are actively lobbying to address many of the findings of this analysis – action is urgently required now to ensure 2010 is a turning point rather than breaking point for Ireland’s most important habitats and species
A full copy of the report click here. And for a look at the detailed scores click here.
Save Our Seabirds Campaign
Visit our Campaigns 2010 page and sign up to the petition to get better protection for seabirds and the marine environment. Irelands seabirds face mutiple threats and challenges. We need:
- marine protected areas
- new legislation that promotes sustainable fisheries
- better management of our coasts for wildlife and for people
BirdWatch Ireland has joined OCEAN 2012 - visit our Campaigns 2010 page for more details
Action Planning for Irish Birds
Check out the Action Planning for Irish Birds section where you can find a presentation on BirdWatch Irelands new strategy to protect Irelands birds in the wider countryside and more.
Delivering Approriate Assessment in Ireland
- Meeting the challenges of Article 6 of the Habitats Directive -
Thursday 10th December 2009, Dublin
This was a joint event run by BirdWatch Ireland, EPA, NPWS, IEEM and IEMA on the formal assessment process that affords protection to the interests of Special Protection Areas and Special Areas of Conservation. The event was designed to raise awareness of what is required and improve the quality of assessments and decision-making proceses. Watch this space for copies of documents and presentations relating to this event (click on names for presentations).
Conference Programme
List of delegates
Speaker and chair biographies
During the opening address Minister for Environment, Heritage and Local Government John Gormley launched the Department's new Guidance for Planning Authorities on Appropriate Assessment of Plans and Projects in Ireland.
The first session was Chaired by Alan Lauder, Head of Conservation at BirdWatch Ireland and included presentations from Peter Carvill of NPWS, Mícheál Ó Bríain of European Commission DG Environment, Tadhg O'Mahony of the EPA, and Oran Doyle Barrister at Trinity College Dublin.
The second session, chaired by Anja Murray of An Taisce included presentations by Antonia Gaughran of RPS Ireland, Sarah Anthony of Natural England, Lesley Lewis of NPWS and BirdWatch Ireland, Tina Klemencic and Simona Kaligaric of the Institute of the Republic of Slovenis for Nature Conservation, and Danial Pullan of the RSPB.
The final session of the day was chaired by Conor Ó Raghallaigh of NPWS and included presentations by Gerry Clabby, Fingal County Council, Claire Ferry from RSPB Northern Ireland, Linda Patton of NPWS and Siobhán Egan of BirdWatch Ireland.
Additional material relation to these presentations is provided here:
- List of resources available & reading material (to be added)
- Note 1 associated with Oran Doyle's presentation
- Note 2 associated with Oran Doyle's presentation
This event was funded by the EPA,NPWS, the RSPB and BirdLife International
Could you be a Local Environmental Representative on an SPC?
We are looking for people who are interested in representing environmental interests at a local level on Strategic Policy Committees within Local Authorities. Contact Siobhán Egan for further details or visit the website of the Environmental Pillar of Social Partnership. July 2009.