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Ireland is last in race to protect Europe's natural heritage

Press release 28th June 2001

According to a WWF report released today, Ireland is last in the race to
protect Europe,s natural heritage - which we will lose unless Minister de
Valera puts on a burst of speed.

The report "Race to protect Europe's Natural Heritage" examines the status
of the implementation of the Habitats Directive in the European member
states.

Progress on the implementation of the Directive is presented as a 30km race
in the report. The longer it takes to finish the race, the longer habitats
and species will remain vulnerable to the pressures generated by modern
society.

The report is based on the answers to a questionnaire that looked at legal
aspects of implementation, protecting habitats and species and putting plans
into practice. Of the 14 states examined, Ireland is in last place having
run just 8km out of 30km.

Denmark, at the front of the race is just over two-thirds of the way through
the race at 21km. Coming second last in the race is Greece with 12 km.

Shirley Clerkin from An Taisce stated in response to the reports, findings
"It is regrettable that once again Ireland is shown to be not playing its
part to protect habitats and species. The government has received warnings
and recommendations from the European commission, the Advocat General, the
European Court of Justice, the Irish non-governmental organisations and now
from the WWF. It is time they heeded the advice and entered into the spirit
of the Habitats Directive, which has its very core
sustainable development and quality of life".

The scoring of performance is not intended to provide a final verdict on
each states performance, but instead represents a snapshot of a dynamic
process. Each member states score represents its current position in a race
to implement the Directive. The Irish NGOs, which were involved with the
report urge the Government to pick up speed in protecting Irelands,
biodiversity.

The Irish NGO's call on Minster de Valera to:

- apply environmental assessment procedures on plans or projects that are
likely to affect the integrity of sites, and therefore the integrity of the
whole Natura 2000 network

- make the considerable improvements needed to meet the Natura 2000
challenge before it is too late

- call on Minister to speed up the process before the European Commission
introduce penalties on regional aid to Ireland regional aid programmes

- to develop and implement specific management plans for the Natura 2000
network

- place more emphasis on the species aspect of the Directive, by stepping
up monitoring and research and, critically, by introducing the necessary
protection measures for such species as salmon, porpoise and otter

- set a higher level of political will in relation to the Natura 2000
process

- invest more in communicating with and involving stakeholders and
dispelling misplaced fears about the implications of the Directive and
showing the public the value of this wildlife conservation tool

Karin Dubsky, Coastwatch Ireland stated "Coastwatch is invloved in several
court cases in relation to the Habitats Directive. Regrettably in each one
it appears that Duchas, is either inactive in protecting the habitat or
active in faciltating damage".

As Peter Foss of the Irish Peatland Conservation Council stated "If the
Irish Government fails to take the positive opportunity that still exists to
protect these habitats and their wildlife, later generations may not forgive
us for squandering this precious part of our shared heritage".
___________________________________________

Irish Peatland Conservation Council
119 Capel Street
Dublin 1
Ireland

Tel: +353-1-8722384
Fax: +353-1-8722397

e-mail: bogs@ipcc.ie
web: http://www.ipcc.ie

IPCC - Action for Bogs & Wildlife - Ag caomhnu na bportach