BirdWatch Ireland is in the process of drafting our submission, and we encourage all our BirdWatch Ireland members, allies and supporters to do the same.
The wildlife legislation includes:
- Wildlife Act 1976
- Wildlife (Amendment) Act 2000
- European Communities (Birds and Natural Habitats) Regulations 2011
- related regulations.
More than pieces of paper, these Acts underpin all our policy and advocacy at BirdWatch Ireland, as well as our conservation and monitoring work. They cover areas that are central to our mission as an organisation, such as the protection of birds and the protection of certain lands, sites and habitats.
The review is a lengthy and multi-year project. This is the first of many consultation phases aimed at examining the effectiveness of the legislation in protecting wildlife. The project will run for some years, and it is anticipated that two new Wildlife Bills and several new Statutory Instruments will be published arising from this work.
The NPWS say that the purpose of updating the legislation is to ensure that it works better for wildlife, for biodiversity and for the public.
As one of Ireland’s leading environmental NGOs, BirdWatch Ireland’s submission aims to represent the needs of birds and biodiversity and capture the views of our members.
However, try as we might, our submission cannot capture all your voices.
This consultation is an opportunity to make your voice heard on these matters.
Do you think the wildlife legislation prevents biodiversity loss? Does the legislation do a good job at regulating activities that adversely affect wildlife and biodiversity? Does the legislation make sense for those who operate and interact with it?
Submit your thoughts on the wildlife legislation here:
gov – Public consultation on review and update of Wildlife Legislation (www.gov.ie)
The deadline for submissions is the 13th September 2024.
