The Sustainable Water Network and the Environmental Pillar are urging members of the public to make a submission to the public consultation on Ireland’s first nature restoration plan.
Irish people have a once in a lifetime opportunity to make a difference for nature. The public are being asked for their views on Ireland’s Nature Restoration Plan, which is a generational opportunity to restore nature at scale.
Ireland is facing a nature and biodiversity crisis – 90% of Ireland’s protected habitats are in ‘unfavourable’ conservation status, with around half showing deteriorating trends.
The Sustainable Water Network and the Environmental Pillar are urging members of the public to make a submission to the public consultation on the plan. To support and inspire the public’s input, we have identified nine key priorities for Ireland’s Nature Restoration Plan.
We urgently need to change direction and we now have an opportunity. The Government is currently developing Ireland’s first National Nature Restoration Plan, which will implement the obligations of the Nature Restoration Law, shaping how we restore our landscapes, waters, and wildlife for decades to come. We need a strong, ambitious plan that fully delivers on Ireland’s legal obligations under the EU Nature Restoration Regulation.
And the public can influence the plan by sharing their views at:
nationalrestorationplan@npws.gov.ie
This is your opportunity to have a say! Your feedback will help shape the next version of the plan. You can make a difference for nature. The closing date for submissions is 1st July 2026.
Our nine key priorities for Ireland’s Nature Restoration Plan are:
- An Ambitious Nature Restoration Plan
Deliver an ambitious Nature Restoration Plan for Ireland that fully meets the legal obligations of the Nature Restoration Regulation, underpinned by a transparent implementation framework clearly setting out why, where, how, and by when restoration measures will be delivered. - Political Leadership and Whole-of-Government Approach
Ireland will not meet its nature restoration obligations without stronger, coordinated governance. The Taoiseach should lead a whole-of-government approach, supported by Cabinet oversight, to ensure accountability across all levels of government, aligned funding, and the elimination of public spending that undermines nature. - Sustainable and Long-Term Financing
Establish dedicated, long-term national funding to deliver the Nature Restoration Plan to 2050 and beyond, while ensuring that EU funding streams post-2027 are fully aligned with restoration objectives and do not undermine nature protection or restoration. - Unlocking the Potential of Public Lands
Realise the full potential of public lands, in particular by reforming the mandates of Coillte and Bord na Móna to include a statutory duty to prioritise large-scale nature restoration. Embed legally aligned restoration targets, strengthen governance, and introduce cross-departmental oversight to ensure delivery of nature and climate obligations. - Empowering Civil Society
Recognise civil society as a key partner in a shared national effort by establishing dedicated funding for grassroots action, increasing support for environmental NGOs, expanding citizen science, and enabling citizen led management and co-management approaches with state bodies. - Empowering Our Custodians
Empower farmers, fishers, and foresters to lead from the front on nature restoration by incentivising voluntary action through existing and new funding streams. Ensure funding is stable, long-term, and designed to deliver both environmental outcomes and resilient rural and coastal livelihoods as public goods. - No Backsliding on Environmental Protections
Fully implement existing national and EU environmental legislation, recognising the Nature Restoration Regulation as part of a broader legal framework safeguarding ecosystems, climate, air, and water. Reject any weakening of these protections under the guise of regulatory simplification. - An Ecologically Coherent Network of Marine Protected Areas
Establish a well-managed, ecologically coherent network of Marine Protected Areas to restore Ireland’s coastal and offshore ecosystems. This network should be based on the best available science, cover the full range of habitats and species protected under the law, and be supported by clear conservation objectives, site-specific management measures, monitoring, and enforcement. Coastal communities should be empowered to lead on the establishment and custodianship of MPAs. - Prioritise the habitats or threatened species
Prioritise the restoration of habitats that support species requiring urgent intervention due to their threatened, declining, or rare conservation status, using IUCN and Irish Red List assessments alongside species distribution, ecological requirements, and connectivity considerations to maximise biodiversity recovery.