ACTIVITY UPDATE

ACTIVITY UPDATE By Kieran Flood, IWT Coordinator

Green emerald

Heritage Week 2022

It's eight thirty on a summer’s evening. There is a slight wind blowing off Dublin Bay as the last light of the day slants through the trees. A large group of people are gathering on a corner of the road at the edge of St Anne's Park. All generations are present, from young children to grandparents. There is an air of expectation, and even impatience from some, as more people arrive at the meeting point in twos and threes waiting for the evening’s entertainment to begin. The event is booked out and there are certainly a few people who have tried their luck and come along anyway without a booking. Is this a concert or light show that has brought everyone here in anticipation? You’d be forgiven for thinking so but you’d be wrong. This is our 2022 Heritage Week Dublin branch bat walk.

I’ve been running nature engagement events for over a decade now and I’ve noticed an uplifting and hopeful trend of late and that is that most of the events are now completely booking out. The desire to learn about and spend time in nature has strengthened in the collective consciousness of the people of Ireland. Nature conservation faces many structural, resourcing, policy and legislative obstacles but one thing is for sure – the level of community enthusiasm is no obstacle. People across the country are waking up to the love of nature or, you could say, that a love of nature is waking up in the people. I’ve been privileged to deliver nature workshops to primary school students over the years and the innate human fascination with and love of nature is always evident in young people. However it often gets lost inside us as we grow and have to make our way in the world with all the stress and distractions of modern life. Here at the Irish Wildlife Trust we have noticed an awakening of interest in nature and with it an awakening of concerns for our wild places, plants and animals (and fungi too).

The Heritage Council's Heritage Week is a time when nationwide engagement with nature can flourish. Heritage Week is an opportunity to celebrate our country's heritage with hundreds of free events all across Ireland squeezed into one week in mid-August. The emphasis on natural heritage has grown over the years and this year, with support from the Heritage Capacity Fund, we have gladly contributed to this list of biodiversity-focused events. In fact, our Monaghan branch was awarded the National Heritage Week County Winner award for their “Creative Heritage Inspired by Nature and its Music” event which was held in conjunction with the Local Authorities Waters Programme in Doohamlet Community Centre. This event explored some of the ways the sound of nature has influenced Irish creative culture. Our Monaghan branch members captured the essence of heritage week combining music, folklore and nature sounds into an experience delving into our cultural connection with the natural world.

We started the week with the now regular IWT People for Bees event at the National Botanic Gardens in Glasnevin, County Dublin. It is an idyllic place to run such an event. We combined a short talk on the biology of wild Irish bees with a bee identification walk around the gardens where there was no lack of flowering plants on which to find these fascinating insect pollinators. As usual the organic vegetable garden proved the most beefriendly spot and we found plenty of bumblebees to identify and see up close. Bees were the topic of choice again for our other Monaghan branch event where we visited Rockcorry where a branch member hosted a bee ID event in their own garden. Their garden is a rewilding experiment in itself and the most rewarding part of the day was to learn about the wealth of local wildflowers that have emerged since nature was welcomed back in.

Back in St Anne's our group waited patiently with bat detectors in hand as the sun set over a tree-lined park avenue while IWT volunteer Sean Meehan gave a fascinating talk on Ireland’s bats. The evening was very bright and we were starting to worry that no "HERITAGE WEEK IS bats would show up before our own AN OPPORTUNITY bedtime when all of a sudden a pair TO CELEBRATE soprano pipistrelles danced into OUR COUNTRY'S view foraging along the edge of the treeline. As the iconic silhouettes dived and wheeled in front of the group the bat detectors came to life HERITAGE WITH HUNDREDS OF FREE EVENTS ALL with a cacophony of click pops and ACROSS IRELAND slaps as the echolocation calls SQUEEZED INTO played back to us in frequencies ONE WEEK IN suitable for human ears. As a veteran of bat walks I still get a rush MID-AUGUST" of excitement every time the first bat of the evening appears. Hearing the bat’s complex high frequency echolocation calls in real time rising and falling as it swoops by instantly draws one into another word. A world beyond our normal human experience. To see and hear these flying mammals gracefully pick tiny insects from the air in an ancient dance of cat and mouse (or bat and midge) never ceases to amaze. Particularly for those in the group who have never heard the call of a bat before. We finished the evening standing by the pond under an old stone folly watching dozens of bats dance over the surface of the dark water.

One of our group turned to me and told me she had the best night in ages and thanked us profusely for hosting the event, but the thanks really went to her for coming out on a weekday evening and engaging with nature and giving us hope that together we can save what so many of us now treasure - our natural heritage.

CAMPAIGN UPDATE By Pádraic Fogarty

Citizens’ Assembly on Biodiversity Loss

The Citizens’ Assembly (CA) on Biodiversity Loss was wrapping up its work as Irish Wildlife went to print. Since April of this year, 100 citizens have been deliberating on “the threats presented by biodiversity loss and the opportunities to reverse this loss”. They have been assisted in this task by Aoibhinn Ní Shúilleabháin who is chairing the process, as well as a panel of experts including academics and former civil servants. It has been a fascinating process to watch and one can only admire the time and engagement that have been forthcoming and for which the participants are not being paid.

As a crash course in biodiversity and the complex interplay with public policy, the videos (all of which are available to watch on YouTube) could form the basis of a diploma on the subject! The assembly has invited a range of speakers to give perspectives and answer questions including from public bodies, voluntary groups and specialist experts. The IWT was asked to speak as part of a delegation from the Irish Environmental Network, the umbrella group of environmental NGOs of which we are a part, along with An Tasice and Coastwatch. We had a few minutes to talk about our work which I used to emphasise the length of time we have been working in this area as well as how the technical solutions to many, if not all, of our environmental problems have already been worked out.

The participants have been quick to appreciate that policies to protect nature have not been successful largely because they conflict directly with other policies, particularly those in relation to our food system. Among their tasks therefore has been to identify “opportunities to develop greater policy coherence and strategic synergies between biodiversity policy and other policy priorities”.

In our submission to the CA, sent in early September, we boiled the problem down to two areas: holding the State to account for implementing current and

 NGOs at the CA

future commitments; and reconnecting people to nature. Much of our problem stems from the fact that breaking environmental law is largely seen as a victimless crime. It has been very hard for politicians to win support for implementing measures particularly where they result in difficult change or short-term pain. Nature has been persistently demoted so that most government departments see it as no more than a fringe concern, as if it was only about managing a few tourist sites. Conflict, much of it needless, pits the

needs of nature directly against those of individuals. Poor understanding, a disinterested media and some divisive politicians have made fighting for nature an uphill battle.

The good news is that we have already begun to break out of this cycle. The National Parks and Wildlife Service is getting back on its feet (see our Autumn edition), funding levels are increasing, media coverage is improving and there has been an astounding increase in the number and diversity of biodiversityfocussed projects across the country. Of course, we are still nowhere near where we need to be, but these changes can be viewed as part of an ethical shift that is underway. As awareness levels increase so we are seeing a parallel increase in demand for real action. Companies and State bodies are finding it harder to greenwash their images. More politicians are taking an interest (or at least claiming they are!). Slowly but surely, it is being seen as antisocial and unacceptable to destroy nature.

An interesting parallel to the CA saw a version of the event for young people which took place over two weekends in October and concluded by recommending that “we must treat the Earth like we do our family and friends, and give [it] the right to be treated with kindness and respect”. What this may be pointing to is

a declaration on the Rights of Nature, in other words changing our constitution to acknowledge that humans are not the only inhabitants of our country and those other, non-human inhabitants, have rights. Like similar referendums in the recent past, on same sex marriage or abortion, it would mark a radical move in acknowledging nature’s right to "NATURE HAS BEEN exist and evolve. Species or PERSISTENTLY DEMOTED SO ecosystems could sue in the courts THAT MOST GOVERNMENT for damages, just like companies DEPARTMENTS SEE IT AS NO MORE THAN A FRINGE CONCERN" and countries can today. Will the CA make a recommendation along these lines? We’ll find out soon enough. The government has no obligation to act on any of the recommendations in any case, but I am optimistic that whatever they come up with will help in moving us closer to a country where nature is respected.

FORESTRY WORRIES

IWT members will be aware that forestry is among our main priorities. This is because forestry is one of the main drivers of biodiversity loss in Ireland while at the same time it presents us with probably the greatest area of opportunity. Since early 2021, the IWT has been involved with ‘Project Woodland’ which was established by Minister for Land Use and Biodiversity Pippa Hackett to address not only current problems in the industry but also the future direction for trees and forests. A lot of work has gone into this including a range of public consultations involving engagements with Irish Rural Link, a mini Citizens’ Assembly on forests referred to as a ‘deliberative dialogue’, a public attitudes survey, a youth forum, 28 interviews with the main players and an online survey which received 3,148 responses. Some very clear messages came out of this work. Firstly, although forestry currently has a bad reputation, there is a broad desire for more forests in Ireland. However, this comes with an important caveat: people are fed up with the plantations of ‘dead zone’ monocultures, typically non-native conifers that blight the landscape. Respondents overwhelmingly stated that the priority now must be forests for nature and climate. There is no issue with production forests however people want greater diversity of species while the Irish Rural Link study clearly highlighted the damage clear-felling does to local landscapes. Their findings asked that an alternative way of harvesting trees be found.

In November, Minister Hackett announced that our next forestry programme will be 100% funded by the public to the tune of €1.3 billion over the 2022-2027 period. There will be a significant increase in the premiums paid

CAMPAIGN UPDATE By Pádraic Fogarty

CONSULTATION PROCESS

Since late 2021and throughout 2022, comprehensive engagement and public consultation have taken place to gather views and opinions from society and stakeholders on the Forest Strategy. The public consultation process (outlined below) was designed to target as many people as possible across Ireland who engage with and/or are impacted by forests and forestry in Ireland.

Nov/Ded '21 Nov/Dec '21 Jan '22 Mar/Apr '22 May '22 Jan-Jun '22

PUBLIC ATTITUDES SURVEY Face to face interviews with 1,000 adults COMMUNITIES IRISH RURAL LINK Over 6000 questionnaires circultated to IRL members and seven focus groups held YOUTH FORUM Dialogue on forestry in Ireland with members of Foróige (12-18 years old) ONLINE SURVEY Questonnaire and open submissions also accepted. 3,148 responses

CITIZENS DELIBERATIVE DIALOGUE Two days event with 99 citizens to deliberate on a vision and ambition for Irelands Forest Stragtegy

BILATERAL CONSULTANT WITH KEY STAKEHOLDERS Twenty eight bilateral engagement held with key stakeholders to date

to landowners for a orestation, a longer time period over which premiums will be paid and new programmes including one for rewilding/emergent forests. But the €1.3 billion question is: will this public money be used to advance public goods, to restore natural forest ecosystems and to transition away from the monoculture/clear-fell model that has proven to be so unpopular?

Incredibly, the answer seems to be ‘no’. Despite all the ne words about creating habitat for biodiversity and increasing climate resilience, government o cials appear to be locked in a mindset that sees trees and forests as only units of commercial production. is can be seen in a table, buried deep in the 165 page ‘Ireland’s Forestry Strategy Implementation Plan’. It is based upon

 Targets proposed by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (CCF = continuous cover forestry)

Forest Type

FT1 Native forests

FT2 Forests for water

FT3 Forests on Public Lands

FT4 Amenity forests & Neighbourwoods

FT5 Emergent Woodland / Rewilding

FT6 Broadleaf, mainly oak

FT7 Broadleaf, ma inly birch, alder

FT8 Agroforestry

FT9 Seed Orchards

FT10 CCF

FT11 Mixed high forests: Scots Pine, Douglas Fir

FT12 Mixed high forests with mainly spruce, 20% broadleaves

Annual Target (ha)

1,150 150 150 50 50 250 250 100 5 800 400

4,645 the calculation that in order to meet climate targets we need to be establishing 8,000 hectares of forests every year. e table contains targets (which were not part of our Project Woodland discussion group) for over half (4,646ha) to be monoculture plantations of Sitka spruce while only 14% (1,150ha) are to be native woodlands. A mere 50ha target (0.6% of the total) is earmarked for rewilding or natural regeneration of forests, relegating this element of the scheme to no more than a token gesture. In essence, despite all the claims that we’ll be seeing ‘radical’ change, the civil servants have decided that what we’ll get is business as usual. Astonishingly, this plan is out for yet another round of ‘public consultation’ but what is the point? e approach as it stands is to throw money at the problem in order to win farmers around, but does nothing to rebuild trust or social acceptance for a sector that has let down so many people. No doubt the forest industry will be very happy with this approach which will funnel more money in their direction while asking for nothing in return.

NPWS REVIEW By Paddy Woodworth

 Aftermath of Gorse Fire, Ireland

Has the NPWS

really been reformed?

Ciara Carbury’s breath-taking assertion that the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) has a “proud history” (‘Review, Reflect, Renew. Transforming nature conservation governance’ Irish Wildlife Autumn ’22) contrasts starkly with the forensic review of the NPWS by Jane Stout and Micheál Ó Cinnéide published by her own Department last February.

“Ireland’s record of accomplishment in nature protection has been dismal,” they state at the outset, citing the most recent evidence from the NPWS itself: 85% of our protected habitats are in unfavourable condition, with 46% getting worse. Nearly half our protected species are in trouble.

Of course, the NPWS does not bear exclusive responsibility for the chronic and accelerating degradation of our ecosystems. Governments, local authorities and private individuals have been pursuing unsustainable urban ‘development’ and agricultural intensification for decades, with broad public support, or at least passivity. Nevertheless, the most recent and sharpest declines have taken place on the NPWS’ watch, and its mandate is to preserve and protect our natural heritage. Very tough tasks, for sure, especially given its risible resources, and its abject status in the administration.

But it is a dangerous fallacy to imagine that throwing more money and staff at the NPWS will solve the problem, without tackling its dysfunctional management structures head on. The Stout/Ó Cinnéide review demonstrates compellingly that rootand-branch reform is vital. This dysfunctionality, in my view, is best illustrated by the scandal of allowing rhododendron to re-infest some of our best oakwoods in Killarney National Park, after they had been meticulously cleared by the volunteer group Groundwork. What happened runs directly contrary to the park’s own (quickly abandoned) 2005-09 management plan, and the NPWS’ own rhododendron manual. If the NPWS cannot protect the ecological jewels on its own turf, how can it guide and, where necessary, enforce, good environmental management on other public and private landowners?

Carberry is right that there are, indeed, “truly dedicated and

“IRELAND’S RECORD OF ACCOMPLISHMENT IN NATURE PROTECTION HAS BEEN DISMAL”

expert people” in the service. But you will find the fiercest, and most heart-broken, critics of the organisation among the best NPWS staff.

And nothing has made them more frustrated and despairing than the internal treatment of the Stout/Ó Cinnéide review, which had raised such high hopes of real change. The authors had understood that their independent conclusions would be published shortly after they delivered them to Minister Malcolm Noonan in June 2021.

Instead, they had to respond to three rafts of hostile comments from senior figures in the service, and its parent department. And NPWS staff also told me that most critical voices were excluded from small internal focus groups supposedly offering grassroots feedback to the review. To their great credit, Stout and Ó Cinnéide retained all their core messages in the revised version, delivered last November.

Bizarrely, the review was then itself reviewed, before publication last February, by a former senior civil servant. No doubt to the chagrin of those resisting change, his ‘action plan’ endorsed almost all of it. With one key exception: he dropped their recommendation that a “new…full-time, dedicated director”, ideally with biodiversity expertise, be appointed to lead a reformed service.

Instead, we find that Noonan’s new look NPWS is still led by the same Assistant Secretary who has presided over its less than stellar performance in recent years. And it bodes ill that a commitment to establish a Wildlife Crime Unit, recorded in the review, has already been diluted beyond recognition.

I dearly hope I’m wrong, but Carberry’s article, so relentlessly upbeat, so replete with vacuous management-speak, reminds me repeatedly of a line from The Leopard: “Everything must change for everything to remain the same”.