About us

Welcome to the web site of the Irish Wildlife Trust.

The IWT is a conservation charity committed to raising awareness of Ireland’s rich natural heritage and protecting it for future generations.

We rely on your support to continue our work so your membership really matters! We need every member not only to support our campaigns, education programmes, research and managing our reserves, but every additional membership is an extra voice for nature conservation in Ireland – and the louder we are the more likely we are to be heard.

Join or donate today to make a real difference to Irish nature. Members also get a quarterly copy of our award winning magazine ‘Irish Wildlife’ and free entry to the vast majority of our events.

Thanks!

The IWT aims to conserve wildlife and the habitats they depend on throughout Ireland, while encouraging a greater understanding and appreciation of the natural world and the need to protect it.

The Irish Wildlife Trust was founded in 1979 as a charitable conservation body. We provide the public with information about wildlife, run education and training programs like SAC Watch, carry out habitat and species surveys like the IWT National Lizard Survey, campaign and lobby around biodiversity issues, restore natural habitats, consult with industry, agriculture and Local Authorities to maintain our natural heritage and contribute to national and international forums for the protection of biodiversity. The IWT is a nationwide organisation with a strong membership base, staff and Board of Directors, with branches in Dublin, Limerick, Waterford, Louth/Monaghan and Cork.

The Irish Wildlife Trust is governed by the ‘Council’, a board of directors that are elected and nominated by members at the Annual General Meeting.  The Council are responsible for the overall strategic direction of the IWT. There are currently three members of staff i.e. Office Manager, Education Officer and Development Officer that respond to the public requests for information and fulfil the IWT activities and commitments on a daily and annual basis.

The IWT’s affiliations:
We are active members of the European Environmental Bureau, Irish Environemntal Network formerly EENGO Core Funding Ltd, Sustainable Water Network (SWAN) and Working and Educating for Biodiversity (WEB).

The IWT’s Affiliated Groups
The Irish Wildlife Trust has conservation groups that have become affiliated with the organisation over the years as we share in our mission to conserve Ireland’s wildlife and habitats.  The groups are Groundwork (International Volunteer Conservation Work Camps in National Parks), Bat Conservation Ireland (Umbrella Organisation for Bat Groups around Ireland) and Badgerwatch Ireland (Organisation involved in Badger Conservation, Welfare and Awareness).

Links to our affiliates websites: www.groundwork.ie,  www.batconservationireland.org,  www.badgerwatch.ie