Fintan Kelly

The Irish Times view on funding for nature: not an optional extra At both EU and national level, commitments on environmental spending are being scaled back

Irish Times echoes @envpillar.bsky.social on the cuts to nature support
www.irishtimes.com/opinion/edit...

I had long covid for two years. One of the consequences was I would get much sicker if my heart rate got too high. This closed off most of the things I love doing. Several years on Im greatful to be able to spend days in the mountains again. Dont waste your health when you have it.

Nature is worryingly absent from the National Development Plan review It is imperative that nature is adequately funded, writes Ciarán Brennan, communications officer at the Irish Environmental Network

Nature is worryingly absent from the National Development Plan review www.irishexaminer.com/opinion/comm...

Do you know a nature spot that needs a pick-me-up? The government wants to hear from you The government is developing a national nature restoration plan and is inviting the public to make submissions.

A dedicated website has been launched to allow the public to participate in the development of Irelands Nature Restoration Plan share.google/o56UClmo4ce4...

This reads like a clip from a documentary made in 2050 looking back on the more ludicrous sign posts of how a few select leaders, under a fossil fuel-induced-power-hungry-psychosis led humanity down a path to collective destruction.....

"Every day nature gets further away and hides itself from us because we are destroying it. Such a precious treasure, and people want to turn it into business. How far will they go with this destruction?"

From a letter from the Manduruku to the Brazilian government, 2013

Ambitious Denmark project starts farm-to-forest conversion In December 2024, Denmark embarked on an ambitious plan to cut carbon emissions and restore 250,000 hectares (617,763 acres) or almost 6% of the country into forested area. One local initiative is aff...

The main barriers to nature restoration are a lack of political leadership & a lack of vision. Denmark lack neither.
news.mongabay.com/short-articl...

You could contact the author. She is on social media.

Dam removal restores aquatic ecosystem within three years | Cornell Chronicle Water resource managers are increasingly investigating removing dams to restore connectivity and improve aquatic habitats, water quality and fish passage.

The ecology of an upstate New York stream rebounded to its natural state within three years after a small dam was removed, highlighting how quickly aquatic ecosystems can recover.
news.cornell.edu/stories/2025...

Sub-contractors?

Hannah Quinn-Mulligan: Time to call timber on forestry targets and use €1.3bn on other schemes Farmers are never going to plant enough trees to meet the target of 8,000ha per year and it’s time the Government accepted that and thought of a new way to pay farmers to store carbon.

Time to call timber on forestry targets and use €1.3bn on other schemes?

At a time we are looking for funding to incentivise farmers to restore nature there is a large pot of money sitting idle. share.google/PKW6IHDkAVDH...

My only regret is that I didn't unlocked 'growing salad in a container' as a life skill much earlier in my life.

Genocide tourism! Has there been a more twister chapter in human history?

Environment group slams 'gutting' of nature funding in NDP The Environmental Pillar said the "gutting" of nature from the infrastructure, climate and nature fund is very alarming.

Environment group slams ‘gutting’ of nature funding in NDP www.agriland.ie/farming-news...

22, 2025 If I must starve, let it be with dignity in my children's eyes, not with my hands tied by silence. Let the world witness that I did not bow to the hunger but stood, even as the sky emptied and the earth closed her mouth. If I must starve, let it be while I still cradle my child's hope, not as a number lost in footnotes. Let the sea carry my name to shores that forgot my people, and let the wind whisper: she fed love when bread was gone.

If I Must Starve by Nour Abdel Latif
(from Reefat Writes Back)

Mapping the hidden black gold that is peat soil The maps we use have profound implications for calculating greenhouse gas emissions from our land sector

An excellent article by Yvonne Buckly on the political decision to not use the best available map we have to map peat soils. www.irishtimes.com/environment/...

My understanding is that hunters in Wicklow have a lot of issues hunting on public land. The core issue might be public safety. We need these issues to be resolved for the Nature Restoration Plan to be impactful for Old Oak Woodland restoration/re-establishment.

I think what it does do is put extra onus for the government to address the issue on public land. Maybe an easier sell to the public as well when it come to addressing an invasive sp in National Parks.

Saving Abbeyleix Bog 25 years ago, 37 locals protested to save Abbeyleix Bog, now a local centre for locals, tourists and nature.

"Stick at it and stay together!"
Sage advice from the Abbeyleix community, who fought for eight years to successfully protect their bog.
www.rte.ie/radio/radio1...

Environmental Pillar shocked and alarmed at gutting of nature from the Infrastructure, Climate & Nature Fund in NDP environmentalpillar.ie/environmenta...

YouTube video by Rewilding Sweden The Puzzle Analogy of Rewilding

This is a great animation by Rewilding Sweden on rewilding and the importance of keystines species.
youtu.be/_l-k2DHY3pM?...

More pollinators!

Ive seen some awful greenway applications, effectively building a new road through sensitive habitat, often the last fragments in an intensively managed landscape, with poor assessment, poor consultation. I do think ones on disused railway lines are generally good.

I think privacy is an interesting one. Why should someone living in rural Ireland have the expectation that the state will provide them with a protective shield of privacy when a large proportion of society live within metres of each other? Is there any evidence linking Greenways to security issues?

Some routes aren't appropriate for Greenways and yes the public should always be consulted but some of the concerns raised in this article are bizarre.
www.irishexaminer.com/news/munster...

The nature part of the Climate and Nature Fund was to help implement the State's first Nature Restoration Plan but it would appear that healthy, connected habitats and nature rich, productive farmland aren't really viewed as critical to economy.

Commission amends State aid rules to provide public access to justice in environmental matters The European Commission has adopted today amendments to its State aid rules to provide public access to justice in environmental matters in relation to EU State aid decisions. For that purpose, the Co

In 2019 BirdWatch Ireland used EU State Aid Rules to make a complaint against IRL Forestry Programme. This resulted in new environmental safeguards within the current programme.

In May 2025 the Commission normalised the of use of SA rules to provide access to justice
ec.europa.eu/commission/p...

I'm pleased to report that DCEE have now been in touch to say they have contacted the Roscommon People regarding the illegal advertising of turf sales. Another win for the EPA 'See it? Say it!' App.

Ban on inshore fishing of sprat to protect whales, birdlife and other sea mammals Cabinet approves ‘actions to safeguard Ireland’s marine biodiversity and coastal communities’

Ban on inshore fishing of sprat to protect whales, birdlife and other sea mammals www.irishtimes.com/politics/202...

Unprecedented Collaboration As Fishing and Environmental Groups Call on Minister McConalogue to Reinstate Inshore Fishing Ban - BirdWatch Ireland In an unprecedented response to the recent decision by Ireland’s High Court to overturn the ban on fishing vessels larger than 18m from operating within six nautical miles of...

A lot of people worked hard to make this a reality. One unsung hero is Alex Crowley, former chair of the National Inshore Fisherman’s Association (NIFA), who took a lot of abuse for his decision to align himself with NGOs in calling for a ban. It was all worth it
birdwatchireland.ie/unprecedente...