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First published: 24 June 2026
Ireland’s nature is in crisis and your voice can help change that.
Ireland is at a turning point for nature. Right now, the government is finalising its first-ever National Nature Restoration Plan — a legally binding roadmap that will shape how we restore our landscapes, waters, and wildlife all the way to 2050. This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity, and public submissions genuinely matter.
The consultation is open now. The deadline to have your say is 1 July 2026.
Ireland is facing a nature and biodiversity emergency. 90% of our EU-protected habitats are in unfavourable condition. Half are actively deteriorating right now.
The EU Nature Restoration Law requires Ireland to submit a National Nature Restoration Plan to the European Commission by September 2026, setting out how we will:
The ambition and quality of that plan depends on public pressure. Every submission sent to the government sends a clear message: the people of Ireland expect a bold, properly funded, and fully accountable plan for nature’s recovery.
You are part of nature restoration. Make your voice heard.
The Irish Wildlife Trust is part of the Environmental Pillar — a coalition of 32 environmental NGOs. The Environmental Pillar has identified nine key priorities that Ireland’s Nature Restoration Plan must address. We invite you to adopt these recommendations in your submission, and to add your own voice and personal experience of nature in your community.
Ireland must produce a plan that fully delivers on the targets set out in the EU Nature Restoration Law — not a minimum-compliance exercise. The plan must be ecologically meaningful, time-bound, and measurable, with clear targets for each ecosystem type.
Ireland will not meet its nature restoration obligations without stronger, coordinated governance at the highest level. The Taoiseach should lead a whole-of-government approach, supported by cabinet oversight, to ensure accountability across all departments, aligned funding, and the elimination of any public spending that actively undermines nature.
Restoring nature requires serious investment. Dedicated national funding must be established to deliver the Nature Restoration Plan through to 2050 and beyond. EU funding streams post-2027 must be fully aligned with restoration objectives and must not undermine nature protection. The Independent Advisory Committee on Nature Restoration has recommended a minimum investment of €700 million.
Some of the greatest restoration opportunities in Ireland lie on publicly owned land. National parks, nature reserves, Coillte forests, and Bord na Móna bogs must be prioritised for ambitious restoration action. Many of our designated conservation areas are in poor condition and need urgent investment and management.
Communities, local groups, volunteers, and individuals must have a meaningful role in the planning and delivery of nature restoration — not just consultation. Civil society brings local knowledge, energy, and deep commitment. A strong plan will harness that.
The people who work our land and seas are essential partners in nature’s recovery. Farmers, fishers, and foresters must be empowered and fairly rewarded to lead from the front on restoration, through voluntary incentives, stable long-term funding, and schemes designed to deliver both environmental outcomes and resilient rural and coastal livelihoods.
The Nature Restoration Plan must sit within — and strengthen — Ireland’s existing environmental legal framework. Existing national and EU environmental law must be fully implemented. The Nature Restoration Regulation must be recognised as part of a broader framework that safeguards our ecosystems, climate, air, and water. There must be no weakening of existing protections in the name of flexibility.
Ireland has vast marine territory and a legal obligation to restore our seas. The plan must include a genuinely ecologically coherent network of marine protected areas that covers our most important coastal and offshore habitats and delivers real protection for marine wildlife.
Not all habitats can be restored at once — but those in the steepest decline must be first in line. The plan must prioritise the habitats and species that are most threatened, most ecologically significant, and where restoration action will deliver the greatest benefit for biodiversity and people.
Step 1: Submit your views in one of two ways:
Step 2: Use the nine recommendations above as the basis for your response. You are welcome to adopt them as your own, add your personal experience of nature in your area, or raise any additional issues that matter to you — there are no restrictions on what you can submit.
Step 3: Submit before 1 July 2026 — then share this page and encourage your friends, family, and community to do the same. The more submissions the government receives, the stronger the signal that people across Ireland want an ambitious, funded, and accountable plan for nature.
All submissions are published and become part of the permanent public record. Your voice will be heard.