Three environmental organisations have said Ireland’s ‘Hen Harrier Threat Response Plan’ published today (Tuesday, September 10), is a “failed opportunity” to put in place measures to prevent the extinction of the bird.
The plan to address the decline of the hen harrier is “vague and lacking in detail and ambition”, BirdWatch Ireland, the Environmental Pillar and An Taisce have said.
The hen harrier is a territorial ground-nesting bird of prey that typically breeds in open upland bog, heather moorland, and their associated habitats. The breeding population is now estimated to be between 85 and 106 pairs.
The plan sets out a roadmap to reverse the decline of this rare bird of prey and will implement a series of coordinated actions across the agriculture, forestry and wind energy sectors to improve its long term prospects.
Hen harrier
The environmental groups said the plan is “sorely lacking in ambition and in targeted actions”, and believe “it will not meet the legal requirement nor press pause on the losses of the hen harrier, never mind restore its population”.
A public consultation on the plan conducted earlier this year received over 2,000 submissions. The groups claim the “shortcomings” they highlighted in the draft plan were “not addressed” in the final plan.
“It is particularly concerning that the plan has not improved, despite a massive response from the Irish public calling for an ambitious plan through the national public consultation,” according to the environmental groups.
The loss of habitat for nesting and foraging, and other pressures associated with the afforestation of Ireland’s uplands, is known to be one of the “main threats” to hen harriers, according to the organisations.
“Although the plan recognises this, it unfortunately fails to set out clear targets or a mechanism for restoration of habitats needed for the recovery of the species.
“Without these, it is difficult to have faith that the plan will deliver any meaningful change for hen harriers and upland biodiversity,” BirdWatch Ireland, the Environmental Pillar and An Taisce said.
The actions, which are to be taken both within Special Protection Areas (SPAs) and outside them, include measures across agriculture, forestry and wind energy development sectors, as well as recreation in important areas for the hen harrier.
The groups said that Coillte, as the “largest landowner” in the hen harrier SPAs, has a “golden opportunity to be a champion” for the birds by ceasing reforestation of its plantations and restoring its afforested peatlands.
The plan states that Coillte is the majority forestry owner within the breeding hen harrier SPAs, with its estate amounting to around 40% of their total land area, or 68,000ha.
Coillte is “committed” to redesigning 30,000ha of peatland forest for climate and ecological benefits by 2050. The plan states there is “significant scope” within those commitments to initiate habitat restoration measures for the hen harrier.
In order to restore Ireland’s hen harrier population, the three environmental organisations believe any plan must:
- Protect all nationally important hen harrier breeding and wintering grounds from afforestation, forest management activities, wind energy development and other pressures;
- Restore habitat across all nationally important breeding and wintering sites using clear restoration targets and timelines;
- Guarantee long-term support for farmers through well-funded results-based schemes across all nationally important breeding and wintering grounds.
Commenting on the published Hen Harrier Threat Response Plan (2024-2028), raptor conservation officer with BirdWatch Ireland, John Lusby said:
“The hen harrier is the canary in the coalmine for our upland ecosystems, and it is incredibly sad to think that many of our uplands can no longer sustain hen harrier populations.
“These are supposed to be some of our wildest and most important areas for biodiversity but clearly this is not the case, due to the loss of heath, blanket bog and grassland habitats and the associated declines of species like curlew and skylark, among others.”
Agriculture and land use policy and advocacy officer with the Environmental Pillar, Fintan Kelly added that “many actions in their current form are too vague and not targeted enough to ensure real change – change that is urgently needed”.
“We remain committed to ensuring that an effective threat response plan is delivered for the hen harrier and upland communities, and will continue to advocate for the necessary actions to save this iconic bird,” head of advocacy with An Taisce, Dr. Elaine McGoff said.