{
  "id": 18042307,
  "title": "Govt criticised over lack of funding to restore habitats",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/04/govt-criticised-over-lack-of-funding-to-restore-habitats",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-11-04T00:01:01.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "RTE News",
    "slug": "rte-news",
    "url": "https://www.rte.ie/news/ireland/2026/1104/1597885-climate-biodiversity-review/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Climate Change Advisory Council has strongly rebuked the Irish Government for failing to allocate dedicated funding to restore the nation's damaged natural habitats. In its latest annual biodiversity review, the council reveals that 90% of Ireland's EU-protected habitats and 42% of protected species are in poor condition. More than half of these habitats are continuing to decline.\n\nCouncil members express particular concern over the worsening state of wetlands, peatlands, grasslands, and coastal ecosystems. They warn that this degradation is heightening Ireland's vulnerability to severe weather events like floods, droughts, wildfires, and coastal erosion. The council estimates Ireland faces a yearly biodiversity investment shortfall of about €700 million.\n\nProfessor Yvonne Buckley of the council notes that the government's actions have not matched its commitments to biodiversity protection. She emphasizes the need for long-term funding to turn the situation around. The council acknowledges that funding for the National Parks and Wildlife Service has increased significantly in recent years, reaching €112 million in Budget 2027. However, they argue that additional long-term investment is urgently required to tackle the scale of the biodiversity crisis.\n\nThe council points to Ireland's draft National Restoration Plan, which estimates that restoring damaged ecosystems could bring €32.9 billion in economic and social benefits from 2024 to 2050. These benefits include reduced flood risks, improved water quality, increased carbon storage, healthier ecosystems, and stronger resilience against climate change impacts. The council treats Ireland's natural environment as vital infrastructure akin to housing, transport, energy, and water services. They argue that healthy wetlands and floodplains absorb excess rainfall, while coastal dunes and saltmarshes offer natural protection against erosion, rising sea levels, and storm surges.\n\nThe council welcomes the Irish Government's €715 million commitment to flood-risk management between 2026 and 2030. They urge similar levels of ambition for restoring natural habitats that can help protect communities from flooding and coastal erosion. Nature is seen as critical infrastructure that aids in achieving climate mitigation and adaptation goals with numerous co-benefits. The council recommends establishing a targeted funding programme for farmers and landowners to restore natural water-retention systems like wetlands and peatlands. They also call for stronger legal protection for Ireland's 689,000 kilometers of hedgerows, which are in poor condition in many areas. The council advocates for local authorities to expand urban green spaces and tree cover to mitigate flooding and heat in towns and cities. They emphasize the need for public bodies to take a more active role in restoring biodiversity on state-owned lands. The council warns that shortages of ecologists and biodiversity experts could further delay efforts to meet Ireland's conservation and climate commitments. They stress that nature restoration must be given the same strategic priority as other critical national infrastructure.",
  "summary": "The Climate Change Advisory Council has strongly criticised the Government's failure to provide dedicated funding to restore Ireland's damaged natural environment.",
  "key_points": [
    "Irish government criticized for insufficient funding to restore habitats",
    "90% of EU-protected habitats and 42% of species in poor condition",
    "Council urges €700 million annual biodiversity investment shortfall"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}