Coillte and the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) have agreed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to increase their collaboration on the delivery of biodiversity projects.
The MoU establishes a framework for the two agencies to work together on the delivery of nature conservation projects and the management of the respective estates of both organisations.
The first project that the two bodies will work together on under the MoU is the Slieve Blooms Nature Project, which will target conservation measures for the hen harrier.
According to the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, priority actions for Coillte and the NPWS will include the co-design and co-delivery of conservations measures through agreed site action plans, with a focus on protected habitats such as raised and blanket bog; heaths and wetlands; and lakes and rivers.
These action plans will also aim to protect threatened species such as the freshwater pearl mussel, hen harrier, merlin, and breeding waders.
Commenting on this MoU between Coillte and the NPWS, Minister of State for Heritage and Electoral Reform Malcolm Noonan said: “This agreement between NPWS and Coillte is a huge opportunity to restore nature at scale across Ireland.
“By bringing together the national agency responsible for biodiversity and Ireland’s state forestry company, two of the largest landowners in the country, to address shared challenges and maximise shared opportunities, we are prioritising actions to restore nature and meet our obligations under the [EU] Birds and Habitats Directives but also [delivering] for the Nature Restoration Law,” the minister added.
He also commented: “I have long been of the view that reversing biodiversity loss is not the sole responsibility of any one organisation. We need a whole of government, whole of society approach.
“That is why this strategic alliance is so important and I am excited at the impact for nature that will emerge. I’m particularly pleased that the first project to be undertaken through the new MoU will be to protect the hen harrier in the Slieve Blooms.”
According to the minister, areas of partnership and collaboration under the MoU include biodiversity enhancement and restoration; forest redesign and peatland restoration; the delivery of actions for site specific conservation objectives; supporting forest management; research and information date sharing; and funding and resourcing.
Also commenting on the agreement, Minister of State for land use and biodiversity Pippa Hackett said: “I believe the signing of this memorandum of understanding between Coillte and NPWS will ultimately prove to be a very positive step for the enhancement of our natural environment.
“Given the scale of their respective land banks and expertise, as well as the impending introduction of the Nature Restoration Law, closer collaboration between these two state agencies is a really welcome move, and I am excited to see the relationship between Coillte and NPWS go from strength to strength in the coming years,” Minister Hackett added.